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ACUPUNCTURE - BRIEF HISTORY Acupuncture has its roots in ancient history. It has been archaeologically discovered that acupuncture existed in ancient Egypt over 4000 years ago. It was the Phoenicians who then brought acupuncture to India and from there it spread through Tibet into China where it has been extensively utilized for the past 3500 years. During the Middle Ages, the Dutch East India Company merchants, trading in China, brought Chinese acupuncture methods to Europe. However, it wasn’t until the mid 1970’s that acupuncture became an accepted form of health care treatment in the U.S.
HOW DOES IT WORK? Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), including acupuncture, views the treatment of various human conditions vastly different than Western medicine. Western medicine considers the body by separating it into individual, unrelated “parts” and treats each “part” separately and distinctly. In addition, Western medicine mainly treats the patient’s symptoms without considering or determining the actual cause or root of the disease or illness. Conversely, acupuncture treats the whole body in its entirety in order to relieve the body of a particular unhealthy condition. Acupuncture does not treat just only the symptoms, but instead, it treats the whole body. This holistic view of the human body is one of the major differences between acupuncture and Western medicine. Acupuncture considers the human body to be comprised energy, or Qi (pronounced Chee), which circulates through various, but specific, channels or meridians. Whenever there is a disruption of energy flow in this circulating energy mechanism, there can be disease anywhere in the body. Acupuncture treats the entire body by reestablishing the proper flow of energy, or Qi, circulating throughout the body, thus restoring the body’s state of homeostasis or self-regulation. Acupuncture by itself does not cure diseases or degenerative conditions; it merely awakens and reestablishes the body’s self-healing mechanisms and abilities. In other words, acupuncture insures that Qi is flowing properly so that the body can heal itself, without drugs and without invasive surgeries or interventions.
TYPES OF ACUPUNCTURE Acupuncture treatments consist of two types of acupuncture available at Benham Chiropractic. First, body acupuncture consists of inserting very thin, sterilized, stainless steel, disposable needles into specific acupuncture points on the body. (As an alternative to needles, Dr. Benham can utilize a low lever laser to stimulate the acupuncture points without the use of needles). Body acupuncture is concerned with restoring the Life Force or Qi that normally circulates through the body within specific pathways called “meridians”. These “meridians” or pathways serve two purposes: first, to energetically nourish the tissues (muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints, bones etc.) in their immediate vicinity and secondly, to provide the energetics necessary for the proper functioning of specific organs deep within the body. Each meridian is specific to an individual organ. Whenever a meridian is deficient in Qi or Life Force, or if the Qi is stagnant and not moving, then there will be pain in the area of deficiency or stagnation. In addition, the functioning of the related organ will also be detrimentally affected. By needling or treating specific acupuncture points on the body, the flow of Qi through can be properly regulated and thus relieving pain or restoring proper functioning to the specific organ.
In contrast, ear acupuncture (auriculotherapy) deals with an entirely different energy system. The ear represents the entire human body from a reflex point of view. That is to say for example, if a patient has a problem with his/her elbow, then it's specific location on the ear will exhibit tenderness when palpated or probed. Every bone, muscle, organ, etc., has been thoroughly mapped and has a specific location on the outer ear. Thus by examining the ear, Dr. Benham can diagnose the problem area and treatment of the problem area from the ear can be accomplished with acupuncture techniques. The treatment can consist of inserting very thin acupuncture needles (½ to 1 millimeter deep) into the point, or by treating the point with low current electrical stimulation, or with a low level laser. Either way, treatment of an active acupuncture point on the external ear sends a signal via the nervous system to a specific area of the cortex of the brain (which also maps out as the elbow, vertebrae, lung, or what ever body part is being treated) and then the brain sends a signal via the nervous system to that specific part of the body being treated. It is this communication between the brain and the specific body part that institutes the natural healing abilities of the body within that specific area. Auriculotherapy is also utilized in the treatment of substance abuse and addictions, including weight loss and smoking cessation, to assist the patient with his/her withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
TYPES OF CONDITIONS COMONLY TREATED Patients report highly favorable results with such conditions as pain, colds and flu, respiratory disorders, digestive disorders, urinary tract disorders, headaches, migraines, skin conditions, muscle spasms, joint problems, allergies, food sensitivities, just to name a few. At Benham Chiropractic, the goal is not only to relieve the symptoms, but also to also treat the whole body and restore the body's self-healing abilities. Once the body’s self-healing mechanisms are restored, an improved state of health can emerge.
DOES ACUPUNCTURE HURT? The majority of patients respond that acupuncture needles do not hurt. However, a minor few report that there is a slight sensation while the needle is being inserted, but that the sensation fades rather quickly. Depending upon the individual’s pain threshold level, the sensations felt do vary from patient to patient. For the vast majority, however, it is not a painful experience.
WHAT ARE THE ANTICIPATED BENEFITS? With either body acupuncture or auriculotherapy, there are absolutely no side effects. Often times the patient reports a relaxing feeling and an overall improvement in bodily functions. The goal of acupuncture is to treat the whole body, and when properly treated, all functional aspects of the body can improve.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS? With needle acupuncture, there is minimal risk of infection. All steps are taken to further minimize this risk. For instance, all areas to be treated are first cleaned with an alcohol swab prior to needle insertion. In addition, only sterilized, disposable needles are utilized. These needles, when once used, are properly discarded and disposed. In addition, other risks may include: minor bleeding at the acupuncture site, which is uncommon and easily controlled; slight to mild tenderness or soreness in the area of the needle insertion, which is also relatively uncommon and also fades rather quickly. Again, there are no side effects with any acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture is even safe to use on those women who are pregnant.
WHO SHOULD CONSIDER ACUPUNCTURE? Any person who is interested in their overall health should consider supplementing their existing health treatment with acupuncture. Any person with a specific complaint or condition should discuss with their natural health care provider as to the benefits of an acupuncture treatment. In addition, acupuncture treatment should also be considered as a preventative measure for maintaining one’s health. By reestablishing and insuring the proper flow of Qi throughout the body, acupuncture can maintain the body’s defense mechanisms against future disease states. Once again, acupuncture is a holistic treatment and thus, it treats the entire body, not just the symptoms.
At Benham Chiropractic, acupuncture is often combined with other treatment modalities, such as Chiropractic, Applied Kinesiology, Cranial Sacral Therapy, and Neuro Emotional Technique (NET), in order to provide to you, the patient, a safe and natural treatment approach to assist you in achieving a healthier state and in maintaining that healthy state.
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BENHAM CHIROPRACTIC
CHIROPRACTIC * ACUPUNCTURE * APPLIED KINESIOLOGY NEURO EMOTIONAL TECHNIQUE |
