The answer is yes, Acupuncture can help with anything you can think of. First, let's get to the basics of acupuncture. Acupuncture comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been practiced in china for over 2000 years. Acupuncture is the practice of inserting and manipulating needles into points on the body to restore health, treat pain, and disease. When examining acupuncture theory, we can understand how it helps treat various conditions.
There are two ways to look at the practice of acupuncture. The TCM version: Your body is made up of energy called Qi. Qi runs in channels that we call meridians (like highways) all over the body. When there is an imbalance of Qi - you can have repercussions such as feeling sickness or being in pain. Acupuncture needles get placed in specific spots to help move the energy creating more balance to let the body heal itself. There is also the Western Medicine Version: Acupuncture works in a manner called “gate control theory” made by stimulating peripheral nerves with the needle we shut the “gate” on pain signals traveling through the spinal cord and thus to the brain. This changes the neurotransmitters that release in the brain and blood flow to areas involved in sensing pain. Essentially acupuncture sends a flare to the traffic jam for assistance to help remove that stuck pattern.
There are 12 primary Meridians or pathways that run throughout your body. Each meridian has its own primary actions and roles. When there is a traffic jam, it causes disruption to our bodies homeostasis. These stuck patterns can cause a host of different concerns. The good news is, that TCM treats the body as a whole and there are supporting foods, nutrients, and treatment protocols to help with these concerns. Utilizing TCM combined with Chiropractic care to address subluxations can be beneficial in whole body healing.
Stay tuned for additional, more detailed information and a series called Element Spotlight. In this series, I will be delving deeper into the five elements and the meridians within them, their roles, and what you can do to support your body.
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