| Acupuncture
What
is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture
has been developed from the ancient Chinese discovering
that stimulating certain points on the body surface
affected other areas of muscular or internal function.
They
proposed a system of energy, which they called 'Qi' flowing in channels
or 'meridians' throughout the body to explain this.
It
doesn't matter whether Qi really exists or whether it represents
a complex expression of nervous system stimulation, the fact is
that the concept of Qi and channels is a good framework to understand
why acupuncture has the effect that it does.
Maybe
the most dramatic example of this is using certain points on the
limbs to completely numb the abdomen or torso allowing surgeons
in China to operate without anaesthesia or pain.
Acupuncture
seems to work well with the body's 'control systems' i.e. nervous
and endocrine systems and therefore disorders of these systems.
It
can also be very effective in treatment of joint and muscle pain,
in fact a whole branch of acupuncture treating localized muscle 'trigger
points' has developed in Western pain clinics to treat frequently
found muscle pain which, without this system, is often undiagnosed.
Acupuncture
is usually painless as the needles used are very fine, and although
some people may be a bit apprehensive on the first occasion, they
are usually pleasantly surprised and even find the procedure relaxing.
For
more information see www.acupuncture.org.uk
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