What Do Acupuncturists Do
The acupuncturist is the specialist who conducts acupuncture. He or she may use needles or some other instruments depending on the type that will be used to create harmony and balance in the body.
Before this person does anything, you will first have to answer a few questions. You will then be given a physical exam to check your pulse and observe the shape, color and coating of your tongue. Other things that are checked will be the color and texture of the skin and your posture as this will give clues to your health.
Only then will you be told to lie down on a padded examining table and the needles are inserted to the skin. The difference with this kind of needle is that they twirl and jiggle each time they are pushed further into the body.
You may not feel them at all and if you do, it will only be a twitch that soon goes away. Once they are in place, this will be left there for 15 to 60 minutes that may make you feel very relaxed and sleepy that you may even doze off. Once the session is complete, the needles are removed and you will be on your way.
In some cases, acupuncture is more effective when the needles are first heated. This technique is known as “moxibustion.” Here, the acupuncturist lights a small bunch of the dried herb called moxa or mugwort and holds it above the needles. The herb, which burns slowly and gives off a little smoke and a pleasant, incense-like smell, will never directly touch your body.
Another variation is electrical acupuncture. Here, electrical wires are hooked up to the needles and a weak current runs through it which may cause no or little sensation at all.
It is also possible that herbal medications will also be prescribed by the acupuncturist for your treatment to be successful.
When looking for an acupuncturist, make sure that person is licensed. Before he or she can obtain one, they have to complete 4 years of training at an approved college of oriental medicine. In the state of California, one governing body that gives the person the title is the California Acupuncture Committee.
If they get this from another organization, a copy of their license must always be clearly displayed in the practitioner’s office. One example is the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
When choosing an acupuncturist, there are a few things you should ask aside from their credentials. You should know what styles of acupuncture is used as there are some techniques that do not use needles to treat a patient.
Although there are no studies which prove that one technique is better than the other, some patients are more comfortable with one type over the other.
Another question you should ask and discuss further is the length of the treatment. Patients who are suffering from a chronic illness will have to be treated over a period of months before any improvements can be seen. This will help you plan your schedule since you need to go to the clinic 2 to 3 times weekly.
The acupuncturist just like a medical doctor is there to help you get better. If you don’t see any progress with this person, perhaps you should seek the help of another specialist.
Tags: acupuncturist acupuncture anything
Acupuncture: Real or Myth?
There are hundreds of thousands of individuals within the United States and elsewhere who have seemed to embrace the idea and practice of acupuncture as something that is real and can be used to treat a wide variety of issues. On the other hand there are hundreds of thousands of other people who are on the exact opposite of the fence. Some people believe the idea of acupuncture is a myth, while others know to the core of their being that acupuncture therapy is real, not imagined. Whatever the case in your belief system, though, chances are that you have at least heard of the acupuncture myth controversy that some people have started in the United States and throughout the world.
Why Acupuncture is Considered a Myth
Many people consider acupuncture to be a myth because there are already so many myths in the Chinese culture that have not yet been debunked. Further to that, many people logically process the thought that just because the Chinese considered the acupuncture therapy to be real thousands of years ago does not mean that the traditions were carried on and the affects were real. For many, the idea of acupuncture leads to imagery of ancient Chinese people concocting special recipes that only serve as to buffer the whole myth of acupuncture therapy. Some people say that these people simply don’t know what they’re talking about. Acupuncture professionals in the Chinese culture have rejected those who say that acupuncture therapy is a total myth.
Why Acupuncture is Considered Very Real
As mentioned, by professional and authoritative Chinese experts in Asia as well as other countries throughout the world reject the idea that the whole concept of acupuncture therapy could be a myth. What is the reason that they reject that notion, though? The main reason, and perhaps the most important reason, too, is the fact that these acupuncture experts have actually experienced the healing properties of the process of acupuncture. For these people, they are confident by the fact that they are able to heal through this very delicate process and are confused as to why anybody would doubt the whole miracle!
Any Middle Ground?
We have heard arguments for the myth side of acupuncture and we have also heard arguments for the reasoning behind believing in acupuncture, but is there any middle ground to the issue? Is it possible that there could be some myths associated with the medicine techniques, but most of the acupuncture therapy is actually a real thing? On the contrary, though, there can hardly be any middle ground to something or some idea that is either false or true. Many acupuncture defenders contend that their way of healing is the absolute right way and they also say that if one is to be too skeptical about the whole issue then the best thing to do would be to try it out for themselves! Indeed, personal experience is what is most important, and the issue of acupuncture certainly warrants the experience!
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An Alternative to Prescription Drugs: Acupuncture
There are thousands of individuals who are inflicted with physical and mental ailments and many people are diagnosed with these problems every year. What is troubling, though, is the fact that many times these patients are simply given prescription medications to treat the symptoms that they have as though prescription drugs are the miracle workers of society prancing around giving help to anyone who needs it. However, one method that many people don’t give weight to is acupuncture. There are many reasons that even the mention of the alternative therapy of acupuncture may make heads turn, but it seems as though Western society is becoming too dependent as a whole on prescription medications. Everything from Zoloft to Xanax is given to patients in order to treat everything from Major Depression to common viral infections.
However, there needs to be more studies done about the effectiveness of the therapy of acupuncture and how it would eventually be able to help, if not replace, prescription drugs altogether. Just about 10 years ago, though, in 1998, the University of Arizona completed a double-blind study about the effectiveness of acupuncture.
In this study, patients who were suffering from Depression were treated with acupuncture while the other group was subjected to bouts of psychotherapy and prescription medication. In the end of the study by the university, they found that the patients who were inflicted with Depression had most of their symptoms relieved by the therapy of acupuncture. There have been other private studies done since then, however, none large enough that really attracted any authorities in the medical field. But still, the fact that the research at the University of Arizona pointed in the favor of acupuncture, it begs the question of why nothing has been done about it.
Since it has been shown that acupuncture can successfully treat Depression symptoms then there must definitely be more fund money and research that sheds light on the fact and reaches the conclusion that America and Western society must incorporate the therapy of acupuncture more wholly into the treatment of different ailments.
One of the problems with replacing prescription drugs with acupuncture, though, is the fact that prescription drugs are scientifically based. Whereas the effects of prescription drugs can clearly be seen by monitoring the pictures in patient’s brain, acupuncture can not be readily studied, therefore, the physiological affects of such a therapy is not readily embraced. But why does Western society and America in general have a fear of the unknown? Perhaps the reason lies that many people consider their wealth to lie in the information and knowledge that they know.
All in all, though, acupuncture has already been proven to be effective by the thousands of people living in America and Western society who care to learn more about the therapy. It is now time to infiltrate the medical field and bombard all the researchers and physicians with accurate pictures of just how it works, and how it can be an effective way to get rid of the need for prescription drugs!
Tags: acupuncture prescription patients
Acupuncture For All Those Simple Aches And Pains
If, like me, you have quite a fear of needles and injections, then acupuncture, that practice of sticking needles onto different parts of your body to cure sicknesses might seem scary at first.
However, if you’ve been long been suffering from some problems like headaches or chronic pains and your regular visits to the doctor don’t seem to be helping you, then why not consider a trip to an acupuncture specialist? After all, who hasn’t heard of somebody’s aunt somewhere suffering from arthritis and trying out everything that the doctors recommended all to no avail, only to finally be cured by a really good acupuncturist?
Perhaps you were wondering if it could actually work for you. You might feel a bit skeptical since traditional Chinese medicine doesn’t immediately coincide with theories in modern Western medicine. In fact, the use of needles to cure people was discovered thousands of years ago in China long before microscopes or x-ray machines were invented or before bacteria and germs were discovered.
When you think about it, that might be something that the practice has going for it. If it has existed already for thousands of years and is still being practiced by millions up to now, then it must have worked already for quite a number of people.
What typically happens when you go to an acupuncturist?
When you go to an acupuncturist, you would typically first be asked about your medical history, how you’re feeling and any symptoms of sicknesses you might have. The specialist would observe features of your face, including your tongue. According to specialists, your tongue is a good indicator of the health of your internal organs. The acupuncturist would listen to sounds that your body makes like the sounds coming from your lungs. How your body smells could also be an indicator of your overall health for the acupuncturist’s diagnosis.
Based on what the acupuncturist finds out about your sickness, he or she would then formulate the treatment that your body needs. With traditional Chinese medicine, sicknesses are seen as a kind of imbalance and loss of harmony between your bodies’ organs. You can consider the use of needles on your body as just a way to push your body and its organs back into balance.
The specialist would begin inserting very thin needles into the right places in your body. To many people, inserting these needles doesn’t really hurt. After all, an acupuncturist’s needles are usually much thinner than the needles that are used for injections. Many have claimed that inserting these needles actually calms them down and relaxes them.
How does the use of these needles help you?
A lot of problems have been claimed to have been alleviated through this practice. These include headaches, the common cold, arthritis, back pains, asthma and even infertility.
Even though acupuncture isn’t part of Western medicine, Western medicine experts have studied it extensively. Some theories as to why it works involve acupuncture perhaps stimulating the brain’s release of the body’s natural painkillers. Acupuncture could also stimulate proper circulation in the human body.
Western medicine is still studying acupuncture and trying to find out how to best integrate it with practices in Western medicine. That is why, along with Western medicine and trips to the doctor, one could certainly try acupuncture.
It couldn’t hurt and it might actually be the one to finally relieve you of a lot of your body’s aches and pains and even make you healthier.
Tags: medicine acupuncture acupuncturist
How Acupuncture Can Change You
The “Chi” is what acupuncture is all about. Okay, so there is more to acupuncture therapy than simply muttering the word “Chi,” but the concept of it does have a great deal, if not all to do, with the therapy of the acupuncture way. Ancient Chinese cultures did believe that the “Chi” was found in the body to be the sole energy source in the body, and there were also different energy paths and lines that ran across this “Chi.” Anytime anyone experiences pain it is usually believed that the “Chi” is responsible. By placing plenty of needles along the most precious spots along the paths to the “Chi,” many people in Chinese cultures believe that acupuncture can truly change the body’s perception and response to what is going on inside it and around it.
The Acupuncture Way of Life
One way that acupuncture is supposed to change you, though, if you truly believe in the therapy, is that your whole life will change instantly. Instead of acupuncture being only a form of therapy that you treat yourself to whenever your sick, many people and Chinese professionals in the art and therapy of acupuncture believe that it should truly change your way of life. Instead of looking upon acupuncture as simply a treatment remedy, the whole idea of the therapy should change your life in the way that you go about your job, attend to your family, and even drive down the highway. Just as yoga is meant to teach patience and meditation, so too is acupuncture also believed to instill the practice of relaxation in the body. However, this relaxation technique does need fostering and there are many people who continue to relax themselves everyday, long after they receive acupuncture treatments.
Belief Can Change Everything
There are still others throughout the acupuncture culture who contend that one must actually believe in the therapy for it to start to take effect. Even though this aspect of believing in the art of acupuncture does go along with your way of life, believing in the therapy is certainly the building blocks for letting your trust in the therapy take over. There are many people who already believe ideas about themselves and the world without actually seeing them. Take into consideration that God exists, Heaven and Hell are real, and the Bible or other book of faith is absolute truth. All of these things are rarely able to be seen, but they are still believed. On the other hand, there are still some people who see the positive effects of acupuncture, yet they still do not believe in the therapy. Belief in the system of acupuncture has a great deal to do with whether or not it will work for you!
All in all, though, there are many opponents as well as defenders of the great art and therapy of acupuncture. Many people are on one side of the fence insisting that acupuncture is fake, while those on the opposite side of the fence insist on that the ancient Chinese knew what they were doing when they founded the idea and treatment of acupuncture. In the end, though, it all comes down to personal belief and whether or not one has enough faith in the system to let him or her truly experience the benefit of acupuncture. But while trying to decide whether or not the whole therapy is real, though, just remember that thousands of people have already been cured by the system, and one should try it out before rejecting the whole idea!
Tags: acupuncture cultures believed
Is Acupuncture The Remedy for You?
With the growing acceptance of alternative medicine in Western cultures, acupuncture is quickly becoming a popular practice. More and more people today are choosing acupuncture over western medicine to treat bodily pains, relieve stress, or to promote overall health. If you are thinking about trying acupuncture but are wondering if it is safe or if it’s the right treatment for you, the following information may aid you in making a more informed decision.
Description and Origin
Acupuncture is the practice of inserting fine needles into specific points in the body for therapeutic purposes. According to theory, these specific points called “acupuncture points” lie along pathways of the body along which one’s vital energy is said to flow. The needles are used to promote free-flow of energy in areas of the body that circulation may have stagnated. Although acupuncture is practiced in many Asian cultures such as Japan, Tibet, and Korea the practice is commonly known to have originated in China.
Acupuncture in the Western World
One of the most debated issues between the East and the West is the use of acupuncture as a western means of medical treatment. Even though this form of medicine has been used as an effective method for over five thousand years in China, there is no concrete evidence from scientific research studies that have proven the healing properties of acupuncture.
Skeptics shrug off the positive effects of acupuncture as merely placebo effects. Believers in acupuncture, however, say that the benefits have simply not yet been proven. Believers promote that the treatment is harmless and can be used as a complement to western medicine.
Unfortunately, standards of acupuncture have not been fully approved by the FDA due to many unregulated practices that still exist such as the re-use of needles. Furthermore, acupuncture certification today is mostly a sham, used to make money on desperate patients who have not benefited from western medical treatments. The National Council Against Health Fraud has even declared acupuncture as an unproven means of treatment whose concepts of healing are primitive and false.
Should You Try It
One thing that Western science can agree upon is that there are no proven harmful effects of acupuncture. Many doctors agree that as long as a medication is not detrimental to one’s health, then there is no reason why it should not be used if there are noticeable benefits. Most scientists would also state that it is simply due to a lack of research that the therapeutic properties of acupuncture have not yet been proven.
Although many forms Chinese medication remain debated concepts in Western society, there is a growing interest in these medications and perhaps as the acceptance of the practice grows, so will the discoveries about its medical properties.
More Information on Acupuncture
You can find more information about acupuncture at an acupuncture center close to you. You can easily locate nearby centers or practitioners by searching online. An appointment may be necessary as acupuncture centers are usually busy with long wait lists.
So if western medicine is not working for you and you are looking for an alternative, give some thought acupuncture. More and more people are discovering the therapeutic benefits of this ancient medicine. Acupuncture is safe and harmless, and therefore you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
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Acupuncture: Questions and Answers
Whether you are new to finding out about acupuncture or you are a professional in the field, chances are that you’ve always loved to learn about new therapies and training techniques. In the American society, acupuncture is one therapy that has recently been introduced and has been made more popular by a whole lot of people. On the other hand, the Chinese civilizations have long known about acupuncture and its effectiveness on the body. This is just the tip of the iceberg, though, and there is plenty more to learn about the age-old therapy of acupuncture.
Question 1: Will Acupuncture Work for Any and All Ailments?
Answer 1: There are many people who believe that Acupuncture will work for any and all ailments, but there are probably some diseases and ailments that just simply are not cured by acupuncture. For starters, little research has been done to see whether or not the acupuncture therapy will work for those who are suffering from HIV and AIDS. Other than those two diseases, though, there are probably hundreds of other common ailments that aren’t cured by the age-old technique, too. In addition, it’s not possible that every single disease and ailment could be studied by the therapy of acupuncture, so there are just some cases and diseases that are not known whether or not acupuncture is successful!
Question 2: Will Acupuncture Prevent any Illnesses?
Answer 2: The Chinese believe that the pressure points along the body are the ones that are responsible for most of the bodily pain that we feel. In believing this, though, the theory would also have to go by the fact that by practicing acupuncture then there are naturally going to be some illnesses that are automatically avoided? Of course, avoiding these types of illnesses usually requires strict adherence and practice of acupuncture almost daily, if not just regularly in an attempt to foster preventive care within the body.
Question 3: Why Did Acupuncture Originate?
There are many theories as to the reason of when acupuncture originated and how it came to be in the United States, among many other countries, but not many discussions shed light on the matter of why this therapy came to be. Most likely, however, the absence of any types of medications in the ancient Chinese civilizations brought about a yearning for a medical therapy that would work for almost any disease, illness, or ailment that humans felt. Even though this therapy is not scientifically based, there is still much to be learned from the therapy that Chinese cultures have relied heavily upon for so many years.
These are just some of the questions and mysteries surrounding the practice of acupuncture. There are plenty of acupuncture professional therapists around the world, especially in the Chinese culture, which will also help answer any other questions that one may have. In the end, though, it comes down to the real benefit of acupuncture which should lead people to their trust in this therapy that has come all the way around the world!
Tags: acupuncture ailments diseases
Weight Watchers Dieting
When it comes to dieting there are very few organizations that have achieved the lasting success of Weight Watchers. They have been around quite a while and show no signs of stopping. More importantly, their success stories speak volumes for those who join and stick with the program. So what makes this program so successful when many others come and go?
Community
Believe it or not, one of the most important things about Weight Watchers secret to success, so to speak, is the sense of community that is forged between the men and women who are trying to lose weight. There is something humbling and exciting about standing in front of the scale week after week and sharing not only your personal successes and failures but also the failures and successes of others.
Far too often we those who are dieting simply do not have an adequate support system at home. The bonding that is done during the Weight Watchers meeting is a strong bond of men and women who may come from different backgrounds and walks of life but who share a common goal for their futures-weight loss and better health. That is not a bond to be taken lightly particularly when they laugh and cry together. They are in their own way going through the trenches together and the success of this type of program for motivating and encouraging is nothing short of phenomenal.
Evolution
Weight Watchers has a pattern for success but they are not beyond evolving with the needs of the time. While they will be the first to state that the most successful participants typically attend the meetings, Weight Watchers also offers alternatives for those with busy schedules and even those that are simply too afraid to go to the meetings. For these people there is the anonymity of online forums, message boards, and support groups.
Weight Watchers hasn’t limited its evolutionary process to this alone, they’ve also in recent years added a points system that allows dieters participating in their program to more easily gauge how well they are doing by their dietary standards and requirements without needing to count every single calorie or weighing their food. We live in a world of busy people and it is often more hassle than many dieters find to be worth the effort to count every single calorie (particularly when dining out).
The Weight Watchers website is another example of their commitment to evolve and accommodate the diverse needs of the men and women participating in their program. If you haven’t checked it out in a while you really should take a look and see what amazing insights and information they have to offer.
Commitment to Fitness
Weight Watchers knows that it isn’t just diet that gets results. When you combine diet with exercise the results are much more immediate and more profound. The fact that Weight Watchers stresses the importance of exercise and physical fitness in addition to proper nutrition and changing your way of thinking when it comes to food is yet another reason for their widely known success.
Weight Watchers is just one of many different weight loss and dieting programs in the market today. The fact that they have made a name for themselves and stand out above the rest in many ways is nothing to take lightly. It seems that there is a new weight loss program cropping up every other month or so and yet Weight Watchers continues to achieve visible and sustainable results in those who really work the program. Very few programs can make that claim for as long as Weight Watchers has been able to.
When you combine all of the things mentioned above with the pre packaged foods that are offered by Weight Watchers, the extensive recipes that are available for Weight Watcher’s participants, and a solid track record for success you would be robbing yourself of the potential for lasting success if you didn’t at least see what the plan has to offer you.
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What is Laser Acupuncture?
In the United States there is currently an obsession with research that needs to go into the study of acupuncture in order to realize just how beneficial the process can be. However, even before the full benefits of acupuncture could be realized within the United States the whole process of the therapy is about to change. Even though this change has not been real widespread, one of the major changes within the acupuncture world is the fact that lasers have now been added to the already overly-complicated technique of acupuncture. There are many reasons why lasers have been added to the process and some of those reasons will be focused on within this article. But the fact of the matter remains that the whole face of acupuncture has changed, but whether it has been for the better or for the worse still remains to be seen.
Why Lasers Were Added
There are many theories on the issue why laser acupuncture evolved into the United States, but the most popular theory and perhaps the most reasonable one, states that laser have been added to the acupuncture process in order to be more accurate in the treatments of patients. For example, many people already know that sticking and pricking needles into a body can be a hard process to duplicate over and over. However, with lasers that are added to the process they can be pricked into the body through the use of a laser beam and computer. The laser beams are not only beneficial to the whole process of acupuncture because the lasers can be adjusted to each individual’s body, but they have also been beneficial because it is the quickest way to undergo acupuncture therapy.
How Lasers Have Changed Acupuncture
Many traditional people who have been advocates of acupuncture for quite some time in the Chinese culture have said that the addition of laser therapy to acupuncture techniques have been great for the growing number of people that have shown an interest in the healing technique. On the other hand, there have also been acupuncture professionals who have said that combining two totally different forms of therapy should never have been done. The main reason that laser therapy is guarded against when using acupuncture is the fact that the whole acupuncture process has not yet been mastered by many people in the United States. This addition to the whole process will not only complicate matters, but it will also make the original procedure of acupuncture a lot more difficult to perform.
All things considered, though, it is definitely true that many people agree that laser therapy, combined with acupuncture therapy, are two totally different therapies that should or should not have been added together. Even though there are plenty of differentiating opinions on the matter, what matters most is whether the process of acupuncture and the effectiveness of the treatment is any different with the lasers added. Many people say that it has taken away the effectiveness of acupuncture, but it is ultimately up to the person to realize whether or not acupuncture has changed!
Tags: acupuncture beneficial different
Teen Dieting
We have the highest teenage and childhood obesity rates today than at any other point in the world’s long history. Much of the blame for this is on the fast food, low energy society that we have become. Far too often we feel that it is safer to keep our children inside our homes rather than out and about in the great outdoors. The things we are doing for the protection of our children are actually detrimental to the health of our children.
There are things however that are being done to address the problem and get our children more involved, more active, and better educated about making the proper choices about diet, nutrition, fitness, and overall health. The problem for most teens is getting them off the computer, phone, or away from the television long enough to get active.
Even video games are getting in on the act of getting children up and active by creating games such as Play Station 2’s Dance Party Revolution and the new Nintendo Wii gaming system that seem to be taking the market by storm. These systems allow consumers, to actively participate in the game play adventure rather than sitting back and playing the game in a static environment. It is a great way to get teens off their seats and active. These games are also fun for adults and will have the same effects when it comes to activity. Whoever thought we’d be actually encouraging game play for exercise?
Get Outside and Get Active
Teens learn by example and whether they care to admit it or not, they typically enjoy doing things as part of the family. Go rock wall climbing or mountain climbing. Go bike riding as a family. Camp in the great out doors and go hiking, boating, or biking yet again. Learn a new sport together. It’s amazing how much fun you can have learning how scuba dive and while you are at it, neither of you will be consuming empty calories. Even if the sport you take up together doesn’t involve a lot of physical activity it is quite likely more active than sitting in front of the television.
Have your teen join a recreational sports team. We have all kinds of sports teams available in our community in which our teens can join. Even those with no skills at all can join and play in some of the leagues while other leagues are competitive. Getting out and about for a softball game, soccer game, and even volleyball can be a great way for the family to do something together and the games and practices are opportunities for your teen to be active.
Lawn work is another way to get out and get active with your teen. The key, as always, is in your teen burning more calories than he or she consumers. It is often easier said than done but it is quite possible if you work to get them out and about. Find things however that will be interesting to your teen and focus on those rather than torturing them with activities that hold no interest at all (well maybe not the yard work). At any rate, filling their time with activities is also allowing time that they aren’t consuming calories as well and that is something worth considering.
Encourage your teen to eat healthier foods. Eliminate calorie-loaded sods, fruit juices, and energy drinks from your pantry shelves, and encourage your teens to drink plenty of water each day. Introduce as many vegetables as possible to the diet of your teens and get rid of the prepackaged convenience goodies that teens are notorious for depleting in one sitting. Also having your teens actively participate in the preparation and clean up for meals will help them pay more attention to the things they put into their mouths as well as the messes they make in the process.
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