ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture is among the oldest healing practices in the world. As part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture aims to restore and maintain health through the stimulation of specific points on the body. In the United States, where practitioners incorporate healing traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries, acupuncture is considered part of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Acupuncture has risen above all other alternative medicines because of its incredible healing ability, minimum side effects, and cost-effectiveness.
However at first, the respect that Acupuncture deserves and holds today was not easily won. Various Conventional Medical Practitioners viewed the practice of acupuncture to be a fake, believing this treatment to be “witchcraft, or wizardry.” The problem is that Western scientists want to know exactly what is happening when an acupuncture treatment seems to get results. The point was well taken, but American practitioners quickly moved beyond reflex rejection of acupuncture to a willingness to learn more about it. Whatever the practice was, witchcraft or wizardry, it was overwhelming with curiosity.
And so finally, the following year, 1973, in May, the first demonstration of Acupuncture took place in San Francisco, California. The meeting was held at Stanford University to which it drew 1,400 practitioners nationwide. After the manifestation of the treatment was presented, many minds had changed their views of its practice. The initial question of acupuncture being “witchcraft” had changed to “where can I buy some needles?” Doctors have become less skeptical of the benefits of this ancient Chinese therapy in recent years as well because they have realized how extremely effective in a wide variety of condition through its power to stimulate the minds and body’s own healing response, despite their lack of knowledge about how it actually works.
In 1976, a Canadian Physician named Bruce Pomeranz conducted a series of experiments that provided the first physical evidence that acupuncture stimulates endorphin release. He theorized that acupuncture killed pain by stimulating the release of endorphins. Subsequent experiments were directed at measuring pain intensity and how well acupuncture could control it. These experiments demonstrated that pain sedation actually occurred in a time release fashion as endorphins with varying molecular structures were produced and released. Soon after, a panel of international experts was appointed by the National Institute of Health to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture therapy. Best of all, the experts concluded that acupuncture “has virtually no side effects.” This new discovery even made the headline news of Time Magazine, proclaiming, “acupuncture works.”
Today in America, acupuncture, which was believed to be a magic back in the days, has grown into a common form of pain managemnt in many clinics and hospitals. It is estimated that 15 million Americans or roughly 6 % of the American population, has visited an acupuncturist for a variety of symptoms including chronic pain, fatigue, nausea, and digestive problems. In 1995, the FDA classified acupuncture needles as medical instruments and assured their effectiveness. Then in 1997, insurance companies began to provide full coverage for the treatment of certain conditions using acupuncture.
However at first, the respect that Acupuncture deserves and holds today was not easily won. Various Conventional Medical Practitioners viewed the practice of acupuncture to be a fake, believing this treatment to be “witchcraft, or wizardry.” The problem is that Western scientists want to know exactly what is happening when an acupuncture treatment seems to get results. The point was well taken, but American practitioners quickly moved beyond reflex rejection of acupuncture to a willingness to learn more about it. Whatever the practice was, witchcraft or wizardry, it was overwhelming with curiosity.
And so finally, the following year, 1973, in May, the first demonstration of Acupuncture took place in San Francisco, California. The meeting was held at Stanford University to which it drew 1,400 practitioners nationwide. After the manifestation of the treatment was presented, many minds had changed their views of its practice. The initial question of acupuncture being “witchcraft” had changed to “where can I buy some needles?” Doctors have become less skeptical of the benefits of this ancient Chinese therapy in recent years as well because they have realized how extremely effective in a wide variety of condition through its power to stimulate the minds and body’s own healing response, despite their lack of knowledge about how it actually works.
In 1976, a Canadian Physician named Bruce Pomeranz conducted a series of experiments that provided the first physical evidence that acupuncture stimulates endorphin release. He theorized that acupuncture killed pain by stimulating the release of endorphins. Subsequent experiments were directed at measuring pain intensity and how well acupuncture could control it. These experiments demonstrated that pain sedation actually occurred in a time release fashion as endorphins with varying molecular structures were produced and released. Soon after, a panel of international experts was appointed by the National Institute of Health to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture therapy. Best of all, the experts concluded that acupuncture “has virtually no side effects.” This new discovery even made the headline news of Time Magazine, proclaiming, “acupuncture works.”
Today in America, acupuncture, which was believed to be a magic back in the days, has grown into a common form of pain managemnt in many clinics and hospitals. It is estimated that 15 million Americans or roughly 6 % of the American population, has visited an acupuncturist for a variety of symptoms including chronic pain, fatigue, nausea, and digestive problems. In 1995, the FDA classified acupuncture needles as medical instruments and assured their effectiveness. Then in 1997, insurance companies began to provide full coverage for the treatment of certain conditions using acupuncture.