Unsure About Acupuncture? Read This!

Chances are you’ve heard of acupuncture, but the truth of the matter is that most people don’t know much about it. You may know that it involves sticking needles into the body to help relieve pain or address other issues. You may also think that the idea of getting stuck with acupuncture needles sounds painful. However, this is not really the case.

Acupuncture is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM. The framework of TCM begins with the belief that our body is a balance of two opposite yet inseparable forces – the yin and the yang.

Yang represents heat, excitement, and other active forces. Yin represents forces such as the slow, the cold, and other passive forces. In TCM, it is the combination of these forces and the balance between them that determines our mental and physical health and well-being.

In addition to yin and yang, there is another cornerstone of TCM: The concept of ‘chi’ (pronounced chee). Simply put, chi is the life force of the universe, it is the vital energy that creates and animates life. In TCM, it is believed that chi moves throughout the body in channels called meridians. There are twelve main meridians and eight minor meridians, and over 2000 acupuncture points that connect these meridians.

The amount and quality of chi in the body depends on the state of our mental and physical health and balance - as represented by the yin and the yang. Thus, chi is blocked by imbalances of the yin and yang in the body. The practice of acupuncture unblocks chi pathways, ensuring the constant and free flow of energy through the body. The result: optimal wellbeing, both physically and mentally.

The word “acupuncture” literally means “to puncture with a needle”. Acupuncture involves the insertion and manipulation of needles into specific acupuncture points on the body to restore health, balance, and well-being. Acupuncture originated in China more than 2000 years ago, making it one of the oldest and most commonly practiced medical treatments in the world.

Scientific research has examined the use of acupuncture for a range of health issues with many promising results, including the efficacy of acupuncture for sleep issues, pain management, mood, energy, migraines and headaches, chemotherapy side effects, menopause symptoms, and more. Research into acupuncture is still ongoing, but already showing great promise.

Have you tried acupuncture? Schedule your next Orlando acupuncture appointment now!