Acupuncture is a practice that has been used in China and across Asia for thousands of years. Today, it is one of the most popular and effective natural therapies across the world. Acupuncture is the main component of the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which also includes the use of tui na (Chinese remedial massage), cupping and moxibustion.
Acupuncture is a holistic approach to the treatment and prevention of a range of diseases. The treatment involves the insertion of fine and sterile needles into specific points on the body. The points belong to meridians that cover the entire body, and applying acupuncture to a combination of these points are used to treat different illnesses.
Traditional Chinese medicine uses the concept of Qi, or life force, to understand the body's state of health. Qi flows along the meridians throughout the body and illness or pain occurs when the Qi is blocked or imbalanced. The use of acupuncture to stimulate points is believe to remove obstruction of Qi and promote the free flowing of Qi.
Physiologically, the effects of acupuncture can be explained by the stimulation of nerves and connective tissue, increase blood flow to muscles and tendons and reduced inflammation. Acupuncture has also been proven to increase the production of the hormone oxytocin, which is the body's natural pain killer.
Acupuncture can also affect the body's homeostasis. This refers the body's ability to regulate its internal environment and maintain balance. All diseases and illness can be traced to a disturbance of homeostasis. If pain, inflammation and homeostasis is at the root of all illness then we can begin to see how acupuncture can be effective for a number of conditions.
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