The FDA in 1997, reclassified acupuncture needles as medical devices (that used to have an experimental classification) giving acupuncture official credibility and implicitly acknowledging the needles to be effective and safe medical instruments. The NIH (National Institutes of Health), in the same year endorsed acupuncture for several types of conditions.
Unfortunately, there are so many ancient alternative treatments that have been derogatorily termed as quackery by Western conventional medicine “experts.” However, results and science pouring out of clinical studies began to prove alternative treatments’ conventional wisdom and legitimacy by showing their efficacy. One of these proven and enduring treatments is acupuncture, a healing procedure in which needles are used to treat illnesses. This treatment has gone from being termed quack science to a proven medical procedure, and a growing number of persons who have tried it are now enjoying its benefits.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Researchers in Korea headed by Professor Kim Bong Han during the 1960s strove to provide evidence of the existence of energy channels in the human body known as meridians. They utilized micro-dissection procedures. Their work led to a discovery of a series of independent, duct-like, fine tubes that corresponded to traditional acupuncture meridian pathways.
This system contained fluids that occasional moved in a direction same as lymph and as blood, although it also tends to travel the opposite direction from time to time. They found that these ducts are totally distinct from the lymphatic and vascular systems identified by Western medicine, and that the meridians might be found within them.
Pierre de Vernejoul , a French researcher was able to validate this meridian system . He injected radioactive isotopes into acupuncture points of people and monitored their movement using a gamma imaging camera. The isotopes moved a foot along the meridians within four to six minutes. He then did the next step by injecting the isotopes into blood vessels instead of the acupoints. He discovered that the isotopes did not move in the same manner as when they were injected into acupoints. This implied that the energy channels do contain a system of distinct pathways inside the body.
Acupuncture’s Electrical Component
Recent studies suggest a specific relationship between the electrical currents, energy channels (meridians), and the acupoints of the body.
Maria Reichmanis, a biophysicist and Dr. Robert O. Becker, in the 1970s, demonstrated that a quarter of the acupoints exists along ancient Chinese meridians and that electrical currents did flow along those meridians. They argued that the acupoints serve as amplifiers to increase the weak electrical signals as they circulated along the body; when a needle is inserted into those points, it could disrupt the circulation and obstruct the movement of the pain signals.
Conditions Acupuncture Can Treat
The WHO (World Health Organization) states acupuncture can treat over 40 health conditions some of which include:
– Eye inflammation
– Insomnia
– Myopia
– Osteoarthritis
– Sciatica
– Paralysis due to stroke
– Tennis elbow
– Gastrointestinal disorders
– Addictions
– Asthma
– Allergies
– Tonsillitis
– The Common cold
– Sinusitis
– Migraines
Being found effective in the treatment of a number of rheumatoid conditions acupuncture can also bring relief to 80% of osteoarthritis or arthrosis sufferers. Evidence also proves that the treatment can help resolve illnesses induced by the environment (air pollution, toxic compounds, pesticide poisoning, and radiation).
Even gallstone attacks, kidney stones, appendicitis, and other acute stomach conditions, acupuncture can be a preventative measure against the progression of these health issues that may result in surgery.
Acupuncture is also deemed to be a viable alternative veterinary medical procedure that can replace anesthesia and help relieve both acute and chronic pain in animals. It has been proven to help relieve the symptoms of about 85% of animals suffering degenerative joint diseases such as arthritic pain.
Ni Nan Healing Art Center
2579 Merrick Rd
Bellmore, NY 11710
Phone: (516) 442-7408
www.ninanhealing.com
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