Have you heard about acupuncture, or have you already had experience with it but would like to know more?
It certainly is an uptrend modality, especially in the last decade, as it is promoted by even celebrities, and the insurance plans have broader coverage with more acupuncture clinics opening up in the neighbourhood. It is now uncommon to hear your family physician suggesting you see an acupuncturist with stubborn hip pain or tinnitus.
So what is acupuncture? It is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which includes herbal formulas, massage techniques, exercise routines like Qigong and Tai Chi, and various other applications like moxibustion, gua sha, and fire cupping. TCM is an ancient healthcare system with roots going back to as early as the beginning of the first civilization as we know it. However, the first-ever treatment with needles was discovered to have been conducted in ancient Egypt, which aimed to be a contraceptive with insertions in the ear. Acupuncture is widely practiced almost in eastern Asia, with each country having developed multiple disciplines in all aspects of what I would rather refer to as eastern or oriental medicine. Those complex systems of diverse medical applications helped mankind survive for at least 5000 generations when little was known about viruses and bacteria. Yet the medical practitioners had to have been trained even back then, and continuous research was conducted and documented. The genius of the Chinese kept those archives in good condition over the centuries despite all the wars and disasters.
Insertion of needles in various lengths and diameters activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is part of the central nervous system. Inserting needles next to the nerve beds sends signals to the brain to activate the parasympathetic nervous system that is responsible for relaxing the whole body for digestion and maintenance. Recent studies show that the body communicates through the fascia, which is the white wrapping around the muscles and the internal organs. The other pathways of bodily communication are the nervous system which operates on electric impulses, and the blood network through the hormones and various chemicals the blood conveys. Acupuncture is now undergoing a new evaluation after the recognition of fascial lines. The needles help connect the internal organs and different body parts if they are used along related fascial lines.
In the modern acupuncture world, more than 40 different styles are being utilized by practitioners worldwide. Taiwanese Master Tung, Korean hand acupuncture, auricular (ear), scalp, abdominal, Japanese esoteric, orthopedic, and classical TCM acupuncture are most commonly practiced. With the help of technology and growing interaction between eastern and western medicines, acupuncture has advanced rapidly and diversified, getting integrated into the public health care systems outside of its conventional zone, like in France. The World Health Organization acknowledged and announced acupuncture as effective in various disorders backed by scientific research. Please click the link below for the list of conditions treatable with acupuncture, according to WHO.
Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine view and treat the body as a whole. The holistic approach and pattern diagnosis, unfortunately, have been ignored by western medicine, which focuses on treating the symptoms alone. Since the root cause is not investigated, the conditions turn into chronic cases over time, thus making the treatment more costly and the condition irreversible.
As a holistic practitioner, I focus on and value not only the individual health of my patients but the collective wellness of our entire community. We can only expect to be healthier and more resilient if our communities stay strong. Eastern Medicine has a profound understanding of our physical. mental and emotional bodies that have been road-tested over the course of time. Traditional holistic medicine also ensures a firm bond between strong individuals and sustainable society.