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Acupuncture, a 3,000 year-old form of Traditional Chinese Medicine has become quite popular in the US over the last 20 years. Probably best known in the US as an effective therapy for pain relief, acupuncture is now being covered by many insurance providers and has been endorsed by the US National Institutes of Health (NH) for its safety and efficacy in treating a wide range of conditions.
How Acupuncture Works
By stimulating specific acupuncture points, or acupoints, acupuncture helps the body improve various functions, and supports the body in the process of natural self-healing. Most commonly, fine needles are inserted into the skin at the appropriate acupoints and generally left in their position anywhere between 5 and 40 minutes. Other methods used by acupuncturists include mild electrical stimulation, moxibustion, manual massage or acupressure, and herbal medicines. These methods cause either no pain or minimal discomfort. The effectiveness of acupuncture treatments vary between people, so does the frequency and number of treatments that will be required to achieve results. For some, long-time chronic symptoms may require several months of frequent treatments, whereas others with acute problems may experience immediate relief.
Achieving Balance With Acupuncture
Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on the opposing forces, yin and yang. It is thought that when the 2 forces are in balance, then the body is at an optimum state of health. Energy, or “qi” flows through the body along the meridians, which are specific pathways, keeping the yin and yang in balance. But when the flow of qi becomes blocked, the disrupted energy can result in illness or pain. The use of acupuncture works to release the blocked qi to stimulate proper function, thus improving the body’s natural healing process. It has been found that by accessing certain acupoints, acupuncture can help treat pain, and improve digestive function, sleep and general well-being.
Conditions Commonly Treated By Acupuncture
There are numerous conditions that bring patients in for acupuncture therapy. Clinical studies have shown that it is successful when treating many conditions including the following:
- Seasonal Allergies
- Headaches
- Induction of labor
- Lower back pain
- Morning sickness
- Sciatica
- Anxiety
- Tennis elbow
- Depression
- Hypertension and hypotension
- Postoperative pain
- Rheumatoid arthritis
There is a long list of conditions that thus far, have limited but probable evidence supporting benefit by acupuncture therapy:
- Female infertility
- Labor pain
- Obesity
- Schizophrenia
- Cancer pain
- Earache
- Tobacco dependence
- Tourette syndrome
Find The Right Acupuncturist For Your Needs
If you are ready to discover how acupuncture therapy can help you and improve your life, a great way to find out if this type of therapy is right for you is to schedule a consultation with Metro Detroit Acupuncture. Our highly trained Detroit area acupuncturists will provide you with medically proven techniques from a variety of our skilled backgrounds in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Contact Metro Detroit Acupuncture at 248-432-2846 for a safe alternative to pain medications.