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The Basics At least 5,000 years of history
and tradition are wrapped up in what most people now refer to as acupuncture.
Although acupuncture is indeed part of the medicine, it is only one part.
 Acupuncture
is a very large part of Oriental medicine, especially here in the United States,
and has been popularized in such movies as "Hard to Kill" and Jet Li's "Kiss of
the Dragon." While there are many times that acupuncture alone is a good
protocol for a patient's treatment plan, it is not always the case. Acupuncture
works best when it is used as part of an Oriental medical diagnosis and
treatment plan. This often includes herbs and Tui-na.
The Chinese medical pharmacopoeia contains tens of thousands of herbs, all of
which have been tried and tested. Herbs are quite powerful, and form the basis
for many pharmaceuticals (sans petroleum distillates). In the hands of a trained
herbalist and as part of a comprehensive treatment program, herbs can aid the
healing process immensely. It is inadvisable to ever embark on an herbal program
without the guidance of someone trained in the intricacies of their use and
effectiveness, as well as their contraindications.
Tui-na (twee-nah) is a form of Chinese bodywork. With a history rich in Oriental
medicine and the martial arts, Tui-na plays an integral part of the healing
process. Whether it is re-establishing the flow of blood and energy to an area
of the body, repairing an injured shoulder or other joint, or healing through
the power of touch, Tui-na is used to some extent on every person who enters our
clinic.
There are times when one modality alone, or more than another, will make great
progress in the healing effort. However, a combination of all three allows for
quicker healing, and ultimately greater health.
Acupuncture
Although well known in the United States for pain relief, acupuncture is
effective for a wide variety of problems. It has been endorsed by the World
Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations and the National Institute of
Health (NIH). These bodies have declared acupuncture an effective treatment for
the following conditions:
| addictions |
arthritis |
back pain |
| carpal tunnel |
chemotherapy nausea |
depression |
| digestive problems |
ear aches |
fibromyalgia |
| headaches |
infections, cold & flu |
insomnia |
| female disorders |
muscle & joint pain |
post op. dental pain |
| sinusitis |
skin disorders |
stroke rehabilitation |
| tinnitus |
urinary problems |
and more... |
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How old is Acupuncture? Although many
scholars date acupuncture around the time of the Yellow Emperor (2690-2590 BCE),
there are two historical discoveries which push the date of acupuncture back
even further!
Archaeologists have discovered stone and bamboo shoot needles in caves that
date back to the New Stone Age (9-8,000 BCE).
5,300 year-old mummy, called Ötzi, has acupoint
tattoos for back pain.
Artist representation of Ötzi
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