Research & Hope: Acupuncture

by Dr Rory Hafford

Acupuncture is all about equilibrium. Acupuncture originated in China, where traditional medicine believes that the body functions at its optimum when it is in balance.

To this end, the body is viewed as a collection of parts that live in harmony with each other. So, for instance, the stomach and the spleen complement each other from a functional point of view and so do the liver and the gallbladder. If one is not doing its job (or is prevented from doing so), then the other suffers.

Following this argument to its logical conclusion, it means that all organs in the body are interdependent on each other. Perfect health, according to the Oriental model, is when everything is in harmony. Ill-health is when the system is not in harmony.

It is the job of acupuncture to ensure that harmony. Qi, or vital energy, is the pathway by which acupuncture weaves its magic web. And acupuncture, through thousands years of testing, has found an ingenious way of doing this ... needles! By sticking special needles (or energy balancers) into select points on the body, the acupuncturist can influence the energy pattern of every organ in the body, and the body as a whole. Acupuncture can move blood around the system; it can dissolve phlegm; it can unblock stuckness and stagnation; it can calm the mind. Acupuncture is an entire system of healthcare.

While Western physicians think of blood flowing through a system of blood vessels, the acupuncturist thinks of energy flowing through a system of meridians, or channels.

When you visit an acupuncturist, the practitioner will take a detailed diagnostic history. He or she will be looking at all aspects of your life, from exercise to dietary habits. Based on this detailed history, the practitioner will select a number of acupuncture points that are most beneficial for your condition.

You will then be asked to lie down on a specially designed bed (you don't have to take your clothes off) and acupuncture needles will be placed on your skin. The needles do not hurt and, depending on the quality of the acupuncturist, sometimes you can't even feel them. Immediately afterwards, you might feel nothing at all, or you could feel different sensations, such as pain-relief or a feeling of calm and ease. It may take a number of trips to your acupuncturist before the condition rights itself.

For more information on acupuncture, visit: http://researchandhope.com/stroke/acupuncture