Acupuncture is an alternative form of treatment which originated from China, and is now being used all over the world to treat and manage a variety of bodily disorders. With the use of fine, slender needles inserted at strategically located acupoints, acupuncture aims to restore “vital energy” and its balance inside the body. Years and years ago, the Chinese believed that illnesses and ailments are caused by energy imbalances and, in an attempt to restore the balance, employed the use of fine needles to go down to the root of the problem by identifying acupoints and stimulating those points so as to bring back good health. Until the present time, acupuncture is utilized as an alternative medicine, with more and more people going to acupuncture clinics to avail of the procedure.

What to Look for in an Acupuncturist

People who practice acupuncture are called acupuncturists. They are professionals who have undergone the required number of hours of training and have gotten educational requirements to comply with the standards set by their licensing body, the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). If you are looking for an acupuncturist, make sure that you carefully choose the right person. Otherwise, the treatment may do you more harm than good. Here are some tips for you if go looking for an acupuncturist:

• Some acupuncturists have their own specialty. One may be good with muscular pains and the other in relieving stress so it is important to know your acupuncturist’s specialty.
• It is equally important that you already know the reason why you need an acupuncturist’s help before you go looking for one. This would help you narrow down your choices.
• If you have already selected an acupuncturist, ask for credentials. It always pays to be careful and thorough. Ask for the number of hours that they have undergone training because some acupuncturists have only practiced for 50 hours which is the minimum number of hours to get certified while licensed acupuncturists have undergone 1,800 hours of education and training to get their license. Note that being certified and being licensed are two different things. Should you choose between one, go for the acupuncturist that is licensed.

Health Benefits of Acupuncture

More and more people have realized the benefits of acupuncture, and this form of procedure may just be the right one for you too. Here are some of the health benefits which you can easily benefit from having acupuncture done on you:

• It helps with the management of balance disorders

  Our everyday functions can be done properly when our balance is not impaired. Getting up out of bed and standing up to face the world would be very difficult if we have balance disorders. Not only does this affect our quality of life but this also predisposes us to falls, fractures and immobility. In cases such as balance disorders, acupuncture can help.

  According to a study conducted way back in 2004, researchers revealed that acupuncture can help treat balance disorders. The results of the study, which was conducted among balance disorder sufferers, were published in the International Tinnitus Journal. People who suffered from whiplash injuries were also effectively treated by the use acupuncture.

• It helps with angina treatment

  Angina pectoris, or also commonly called simply as angina, is a medical term for chest pains – the one that is too uncomfortable to ignore. Angina is brought about by abnormalities in the heart, specifically the lack of blood to the heart muscles. Remember that your heart is always contracting which is mostly made up of muscular tissues. The lack of blood to the heart can deprive the organ of its much-needed oxygen and nutrients, and if this goes on for a long time, the heart may soon cease to perform its function well.

  The results of a research study were published in the American Journal of Physiology, revealing that electro-acupuncture can help in angina treatment. Electro-acupuncture makes use of batteries connected to needles used in acupuncture which are then inserted to the acupoints.

• It helps relieve morning sickness

  Morning sickness may be a normal part of pregnancy but still, women may find it difficult to deal with. Waking up really nauseous and vomiting until your insides seem to turn out is not very pleasing at all and it is easily understandable if pregnant women may look for ways to help them deal with morning sickness.

  Good news for morning sickness sufferers: a study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management revealed that pregnant women complaining of morning sickness who decided to undergo acupuncture reported lesser symptoms. Plus, nausea was relieved too.

• It is used in carpal tunnel syndrome treatment

  Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition where the median nerve which passes through your wrist is trapped, pressed or compressed, causing symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling sensation and as the condition progresses, grasping things become difficult. This is usually caused by repetitive wrist motions such as typing in a computer’s keyboard for long periods of time.

  In addition to physical therapy, application of splints and rest, another form of carpal tunnel syndrome treatment is acupuncture. This is supported by a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, saying that people with carpal tunnel syndrome who underwent acupuncture reported relief from the syndrome.

• It promotes weight loss

  If you have been having problems shedding off your excess weight, then acupuncture may help you achieve the weight you have always wanted. According to the results of a study conducted among obese individuals, acupuncture helped by suppressing a person’s appetite thereby helping him to lose weight. The study was published in the Australian Family Physician journal.

• It deals with headaches

  If you are one of the million sufferers of migraine headaches, then acupuncture is good for you. This is according to a study published in the British Medical Journal. Migraine sufferers reported a lesser frequency of migraine attacks after they have received acupuncture treatment.

Sources
naturecure.ygoy.com
ninds.nih.gov