Acupuncture

The other day, a friend asked me for my opinion on Acupuncture. I think it's common for people in this area to view things like Acupuncture as a scam run by a quack, but there is actually a lot of science behind the theory of Chi (energy) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

To de-mystify the term energy, let's think of it in terms of physics. You know how when you have your eyes closed and someone puts their hand REALLY close to you and you can feel the heat before they actually make any contact with you (or when someone is being mean and wants to put their ice cold hand on the back of your neck- YIKES!)? Well, that's the transfer of energy. Same with things like gravity or getting the feeling you're not alone/being watched or instinctual/intuitive urges. For some reason, there is a great separation between physics-related energy and the idea that energy is actually part of the human body. The first step in recognizing the legitimacy of Acupuncture is to erase this separation.

Next is the idea that all Acupuncturists are quacks when in fact, most colleges of Acupuncture require applicants to have a Bachelors degree as an admissions requirement. They then go on and get a 2nd degree in Acupuncture, and many actually go on to receive a Masters or even a Doctorate. That's a lot of schooling just to be a quack, don't you think?

So what IS Acupuncture? This is my favorite definition found on Google: "Acupuncture is based on Chinese traditional medicine. It is the strategic insertion of fine needles into points on the body's surface for the purpose of stimulating healing. This practice is believed to promote the healthy flow of "Qi" or life force, through the body."
www.thenewmedicine.org/resources/definitions

You'll notice the use of the word Qi in this definition- it is pronounced the same as Chi and has the same meaning. The strategic points of insertion are called acu-points and correlate to specific points along energy pathways in the body called Meridians. I'm honestly not sure how ancient China discovered or mapped these meridians, but over hundreds of thousands of years, these acu-points and Meridians have been proven to have effects on our physical and emotional health in pretty much ever aspect of our lives, making Acupuncture a treatment source for a wide range of ailments.

I'll admit that some of the claims of Acupuncture seem pretty far-fetched and downright silly (Acupuncture is better than Botox to get rid of wrinkles, anyone?), but there are many studies that prove certain health conditions can benefit from Acupuncture, such as:

• Headaches
• Stress and anxiety
• Depression
• Low back pain
• Insomnia
• Addictions, particularly smoking
• PMS/menstrual disorders
• Weight loss/craving control
• IBS/digestive disorders

The list goes on, but this gives you a pretty good idea of the types of things that Acupuncture can treat. I learned what is called Acupressure which is the same basic principle of Acupuncture but using topical finger pressure to affect the Acu-points with no needle insertion. I have never experienced Acupuncture but as a follow-up to this post, I plan to sometime soon and will note my thoughts and results when I do!