September 12, 2022

What Is Acupuncture and Is It Right for You?

written by: KEFI Wellness

Acupuncture is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is more than 3,500 years old. It is based on ancient beliefs that the human body is a representation of the overall universe with vital energy called Qi flowing throughout the body to maintain health. When Qi is in a state of imbalance or blocked, the result is chronic pain. The goal of acupuncture and other forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine is to balance the flow and correct the imbalance.

A Basic Guide to Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the most commonly used and oldest alternative and complementary medical treatments found in the world. It originated in China in 1600 to 1100 BC during the Shang Dynasty. It has become increasingly popular in the west ever since 1971 and its popularity continues to increase every year as more and more people discover the benefits of the treatment.

It all began with the discovery that the body’s physiological functions could be affected by stimulating different parts of the skin. This led to a scientific healing system to restore and then maintain health. By 1993 more than 12 million visits were made annually to an acupuncture clinic in the United States.

Acupuncture involves manipulating and inserting needles into the skin’s superficial layer, the muscles and the subcutaneous tissue at different points along the body. The acupuncturist has at least 2000 points to choose from when providing a treatment. There are 12 primary meridians that connect these different acupuncture points running through the body. It is these meridians that connect the Qi between the internal organs and the surface layer of the skin.

Acupuncture addresses the natural balance between the Yang and the Yin. The Yang has an association with the sympathetic nervous system while the Yin has an association with the parasympathetic nervous system. By balancing the Yin and the Yang, Qi is able to flow naturally, which in turn helps both the mind and body heal.

Acupuncture Is Recognized by the World Health Organization

The World Health Organization was first formed in 1948 with a vision to help people live productive healthy lives no matter where they lived in the world. There are offices in more than 150 countries and the organization works with advisors and policymakers with the goal of ensuring the best attainable health level for everyone.

Acupuncturist administering treatment

This is the organization that sets the standards for large organizations and governments to follow. In 1979 a symposium was held on acupuncture and a list was created of 43 diseases that acupuncture may help. This was based on readily available research at the time. Now, however, the WHO is recommending acupuncture for more than 100 different conditions.

According to scientific research that has been accepted by the World Health Organization, acupuncture is widely accepted by the medical field. While everyone can expect different results from this treatment technique, it is definitely worth trying for yourself if you are experiencing any pain or another condition that is making you feel uncomfortable. 

How an Acupuncturist Administers a Treatment

 

The acupuncturist uses needles to provide the treatment but these are much different than the regular needles you may be used to receiving in a doctor’s office. Acupuncture needles are hair-thin and solid and they are inserted approximately a centimetre into the skin, depending on the treatment you need. In most cases the visit to the acupuncturist will take anywhere from 30 minutes up to 60 minutes and follow-up visits may be recommended.

Acupuncture is completely safe when it is being done by a trained and licensed acupuncturist. To make sure that you receive a safe treatment and to get the most benefits from it, make sure that you are visiting an acupuncturist that has the required credentials in the area where the treatment is being performed.

Acupuncture and the Ear

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the ear has a special role to play. It is seen as a representation of the whole body and has many acupuncture points on it. Each one of these points is related to one of the body’s structures and is given a name that represents the structure’s function. For example, there is a calming point that is used to help people that are feeling the negative effects of stress, a hunger point that can help a person deal with weight loss and a lung point that is used to help a person quit smoking. Don’t be surprised to visit an acupuncturist and receive a part of the treatment in your ear. A needle will be inserted there to help address a problem you may be experiencing with a certain structure in your body.

Visit an Acupuncture Clinic Oakville

 

At Kefi Wellness Clinic we go the extra mile to provide calming and effective acupuncture treatments to our clients. You’ll know that you are in the best of hands based on our clinical experience and reviews from our patients. Our acupuncture clinic Oakville provides treatments for problems with fertility and conception, pain relief, gastrointestinal and digestive problems, chronic fatigue, cosmetic acupuncture, addiction withdrawal and many other health related problems.

If you are currently suffering from an unwanted, painful condition and are searching for relief, acupuncture may be the answer you have been looking for. You probably know family members or friends that have experienced good results from this treatment method and want to try it for yourself. We encourage you to go ahead and make an appointment to find out why so many people worldwide choose this form of treatment.

If you have any questions at all, please give us a call or visit our website now at kefiwellnesscentre.com. We are dedicated to providing the best customer service to all of our clients and we take pride in servicing the Oakville area. We also offer a wide range of other services including massage therapy, chiropractic care and physiotherapy. We are 100% committed to offering the best services that can help you with your overall health.