For over 5,000 years, Eastern medicine practitioners have utilized acupuncture as a method of correcting the body’s flow of Qi (pronounced “chee”) in order to improve health and eliminate disease. While Western medicine practitioners may not agree with the means by which acupuncture works, they are finally recognizing that it does work, and for many conditions – anxiety, depression, chronic pain, allergies, and headaches – it works quite well.
There are many theories on how Acupuncture works, but its true mode of action remains a mystery. The ancient Chinese explanation is that acupuncture corrects the flow of Qi, our vital energy. The Western explanation is that acupuncture stimulates blood flow, the release of endorphins, and other physiological processes that temporarily relieve pain. Regardless of how it works, millions of people have utilized acupuncture successfully, and research continues to reveal more of its benefits.
The actual procedure involves inserting hair-thin needles into certain points along your meridian, the path through which your Qi runs. Needling these points – called acupuncture points – stimulates the body’s natural healing mechanisms, and certain points are associated with specific pathologies.
A typical acupuncture session lasts between 30-60 minutes. After an initial medical history to determine your symptoms, you lie down and relax in a dark, quiet room. The acupuncturist places the needles in the appropriate spots for your condition, and the needles are so thin there is no pain, only slight tingling or pressure. The actual process of inserting the needles takes 5-10 minutes, and the rest of the time you lie still, relax and let the needles work their magic.
At Human Health Specialists, we have had numerous clients with a wide variety of ailments try acupuncture – many of them for the first time – with great success. At the very least, an acupuncture session provides thirty minutes to an hour of profound mental and physical relaxation which will be beneficial for anyone with any condition.
If you decide to give acupuncture a try, be sure the acupuncturist is licensed and uses only single-use, sterile needles. If you’ve tried acupuncture before and you’re looking for an Arizona acupuncture specialist, Human Health Specialists is the place for you. Give us a call today – (480) 883-7240 – to schedule your acupuncture appointment.