Although acupuncture had been studied and sometimes practiced in the west for years, its big breakthrough occurred in the 1970s during President Nixon’s historic opening to China. A member of the press corps was treated with acupuncture for a post-operative condition, and wrote about it.  That led to increased interest from western medical professionals and a gradual move toward acceptance as further studies were conducted by the National Institute of Health. 

HOW ACUPUNCTURE WORKS

The process of acupuncture treatment is fairly simple. Acupuncturists use thin needles and insert them into various points on the body, sometimes heating or using electrical current on the tips. They may also use pressure, suction or electromagnetic energy. Once the needles are in place, they are left in for a variable time period, generally no more than 30 minutes, then removed. Many patients report that the procedure is pain-free and leaves them energized or relaxed. You may only need one treatment, but some severe cases may extend treatments for several months.

The use of acupuncture as a medical treatment is growing. The national Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) reported that 3.1 million people tried the method in 2007, up from a million in 2002, the last time the method was surveyed.

WHAT WILL ACUPUNCTURE DO?

Acupuncture works by stimulating the points on the body where sterile needles are inserted. It is hoped that by stimulating these points, which correspond to various organs and locations in the body, that the Qi will be restored to balance. This will ostensibly help “unblock” the energy that is being thwarted in specific locations, thereby restoring the balance (or yin and yang) of your body’s energy, leading to natural healing.