MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture is practiced widely in Asia
and Europe, and it is gaining popularity and respect in the United
States. Scientists have determined that
acupuncture triggers signals in the nervous system to adjust the
activities of the body's internal organs and to change the pain
signals sent to the brain. Researchers have shown that acupuncture
increases the brain's production of natural painkillers called
endorphins. These substances are morphine like chemicals that
influence the body's perception of pain. Much of
acupuncture's influence, however, is not understood.
It is an ancient Chinese method
of relieving pain and treating a variety of diseases by lightly inserting
thin needles into specific places on the body. According to
Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture influences a life force that flows along
12 paired and 2 unpaired meridians, channels of energy that run
longitudinally in the body. Specialists called acupuncturists
insert needles at points along these meridians. Since it is
believed that disease and pain occur as a result of imbalance
between the forces, insertion of the needles is said to restore
balance between two principal forces of nature called yin and
yang.
It is most often used to relieve pain resulting from chronic
illness and severe injury. Some common afflictions acupuncturists
treat include headaches, sinusitis, chronic respiratory
infections, digestive disturbances, and drug dependencies. Doctors in China have used acupuncture to relieve
pain during major surgery.
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