Many people are not aware of many of the facts surrounding the ancient Chinese medical practice of acupuncture. The features and uses for this therapeutic practice may be surprising to some.
Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that can do wonders for certain medical conditions. A thin needle is inserted along specific body points that run through the body's life force pathways. These meridians are where the body's energy or life force flow, and the insertion of the needles rebalance the flow of energy to accomplish healing goals.
Acupuncture can be thought of as "scary," though it need not be. Once the practice of acupuncture is better understood, people become more accepting of the procedure and find that their pain and discomfort can be better tolerated with these treatments.
Here are 10 things most people don't know or realize about the practice of acupuncture:
1. Acupuncture is recognized for treating at least 28 different conditions.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of 28 conditions, though that number may be much higher in actuality. Some of the conditions that WHO recognizes as treatable with acupuncture include hypertension, depression, and headache.
2. There are 350 acupuncture points on the body.
The body's life force is known as chi. Qi is the energy that flows along the body's pathways, and this energy flow can be accessed in 350 different spots. This many accessible points of entry allow acupuncture to work on specific body areas to relieve many varieties of conditions.
3. Acupuncture is related to neuroscience.
The needles that are inserted at the body's energy points can stimulate nerves, muscles and tissue, which in turn stimulates blood flow to enable the body's natural painkillers to be turned on, releasing endorphins and opioids, to relieve pain and aid with other ailments.
4. Utilizing acupuncture before and after surgery lessens pain and nausea.
Because of the efficacy of acupuncture to relieve pain and prevent nausea, fewer narcotic painkillers can be used when this Chinese medical treatment is employed during surgical procedures.
5. Acupuncture can also be useful for animals!
Veterinarians have been known to use acupuncture along with traditional therapies to treat pain and strengthen immune systems. A horse at The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech was successfully treated with acupuncture for an ankle infection, for example.
6. Pregnant women may benefit from acupuncture therapy.
The treatment can be very helpful in alleviating the indigestion that often accompanies pregnancy. Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy sometimes cause heartburn, stomach maladies and reflux. For severe cases, women can turn to acupuncture instead of resorting to medications, which may harm the fetus.
7. Acupuncture gained popularity in the United States in 1972.
Back when Richard Nixon was President of the US, he traveled to China. A New York Times reporter, James Reston, traveled with the President. Mr. Reston ended up required emergency surgery to remove his appendix in China. He received acupuncture to aid in his post-operative pain relief and wrote about how well it worked upon his return to America. This inspired many more Americans to try acupuncture over the years.
8. More than half of Americans who have employer-sponsored health benefits are covered for acupuncture treatments.
Health insurance companies recognize the benefits of acupuncture, and over 50% of health plans include benefit payments for receiving this type of treatment. Insurance companies such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Oxford, and United Health Care often cover these treatments, among other companies.
9. Acupuncture needles are so thin; they are not really painful.
Patients will feel a pinch upon insertion of these fine needles, but there is no major pain involved with acupuncture. The needles are inserted only less than half an inch into the skin. Thousands of years ago, when acupuncture was introduced in China, the needles were of materials such as bone, bamboo or even stone. These initial acupuncture tools were not used to pierce the skin, but rather to place pressure upon the acupuncture points. Modern-day needles are made of stainless steel that are very fine. In fact, they are about the width of two human strands of hair! The needles are sterile, come pre-packaged and disposable, so infection is not an issue either.
10. Acupuncture is an alternative to traditional medical procedures.
Acupuncture is a wonderful alternative to traditional medical procedures to help with nausea, especially useful during radiation treatments for cancer, for instance. This medical technique has not been around for thousands of years for nothing! Acupuncture works well for many people and many conditions. It is becoming more and more accepted in American and Western society in general.
Robert Vena is a top NJ Acupuncturist. Visit his website to learn more about acupuncture treatments.
The term Gua Sha itself is comprised of two Chinese characters, 'Gua' which means 'to scrape' or 'rub', and 'Sha', which is used to describe a 'reddish, elevated, millet-like skin rash,' also known as 'petechiae.'
Gua Sha is a scraping technique used to intentionally raise a reddish skin rash through repeated scraping movements and applied pressure while using a handheld tool.
The handheld instrument, sometimes in the shape of a ceramic soup spoon or a thin disc (such as a coin), must have a curved surface. Many practitioners prefer to use the traditional tool; a polished water buffalo horn made specifically for use in Gua Sha.
The tool is positioned over troubled areas of the body and skin which have been lubricated with massage oil and scraped repeatedly with firm pressure. Such compression of the soft tissue raises the 'Sha,' causing what appears to be a temporary bruising.
Although this apparent bruising can sometimes be mistaken for a painful injury, it is usually completely painless. The marks usually fade quickly (usually within 2 - 3 days), and are actually regarded as part of the treatment. The 'Sha' also provides a visual cue that cues the practitioner of the condition of blood flow in the area where treatment has been applied. This diagnostic indicator can act as feedback before beginning treatments for anything ranging from neck tension to sciatica pain relief.
Application of the Gua Sha technique requires some knowledge of the way the muscles of the body connect and move together. Without some understanding of the anatomy of the human body, a novice can do little good using this technique. But a student well versed in human anatomy and physiology possesses all the necessary skills needed to evaluate, treat, and relieve bodily issues caused by tension, stress, and illness.
In the hand of a proficient practitioner, the Gua Sha technique can be used to address many different bodily ailments. And, although used most often on the back, buttocks, shoulders, and neck, Gua Sha can also be used to enhance function of the immune system and rid the body of toxins and pathologies such as the common cold. When used to address sciatica, sciatica pain relief can come quickly, with relief of the numbness and pain associated with compression of the sciatic nerve.
When used in conjunction with acupuncture, the red marks associated with Gua Sha are often used to indicate the presence of bodily toxins, oxygen deficiency, and the stagnation of Qi, or vital energy. Following the application of Gua Sha, your acupuncturist should easily be able to read these diagnostic signs and tailor an acupuncture session to target the particular problems shown. This identification and narrowing of the treatment area can be a wonderful diagnostic aid, allowing for a more focused treatment when applying acupuncture for stress management or any other condition requiring treatment.
Gua Sha can be used as a treatment for many ailments and conditions and is generally considered a safe healing modality. But, Gua Sha should not be applied:
- To people with weak constitutions
- During pregnancy
- Immediately following surgery
- To people suffering with bleeding disorders
- To patients taking anti-coagulant medications such as warafrin
- Over varicose veins, open wounds, or skin diseases
In addition to answering the question, "What is Gua Sha?," it is also important to address some of the precautions that should be taken following a Gua Sha session.
Following the application of Gua Sha, the patient should rest for a short while and drink some warm water. It is also recommended that the patient refrain from taking a shower or bath for at least one hour following the session, and that a cold water bath or shower should be avoided for at least 24-hours. In addition, it is important for the patient to keep all treatment areas warm, covered up, and protected from windy conditions following treatment.
Robert Vena is a top NJ Acupuncturist. Visit his website to learn more about acupuncture treatments.
When most people think of Chinese martial arts they likely think of what are known as the external style arts. These are practices such as the popular Shaolinquan and Wushu, which are known for their extremely explosive movements, aerial feats and of course their use in self-defense and combat. External martial arts focus heavily on strength, power and speed. They are often used for taking down opponents just like other Eastern martial arts.
Neijia, or internal style martial arts, are quite different. The three most widely known and practiced of the Chinese internal styles are Taijiquan, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan. These practices relate not to physical strength, but mental, emotional and spiritual strength.
About The Internal Style Martial Arts
The most fundamental principle of the internal style martial arts is the use of a strong mind to generate power. All motion starts with the mind. This takes the emphasis away from pure strength and allows practitioners to have more relaxed muscles as they perform various skills and exercises. The philosophical life energy, or Qi, is involved in all Chinese martial arts, but is of particular importance in Neijia. Neijia promotes the flow of one's Qi and harnesses that energy to create more power. The internal arts are extremely difficult to master and they are not immediately beneficial as a form of self-defense, but these practices are not without their benefits - in fact, far from it. The internal arts are rising rapidly in popularity in the Western world.
The Health Benefits of Neijia
Internal style martial arts have a lot of benefits that are common with meditation as well as yoga and Pilates. Some people actually consider these practices to be a form of mediation rather than martial arts, since they are less immediately useful in self-defense and they are not seen extensively in competition. The movements are slow and deliberate, beginning deep within the body. This slowness allows for more accuracy and precision. It gives an illusion of effortlessness, but the exercises are actually quite difficult due to their increased demand for precision and exactness.
Mental and Emotional Benefits
A lot of the health benefits of Neijia are going to be mental and emotional ones. Practitioners have a greatly increased awareness of their surroundings as well as of their own bodies. In order to complete the exercises, one must be aware of every part of their body involved in the motion. Removing the emphasis from physical strength also leads to practitioners experiencing a state of enhanced relaxation. Even people new to the internal arts will begin to experience these benefits right away. The external martial arts are not particularly relaxing.
These feelings of awareness and a more relaxed mind contribute to an overall feeling of emotional well-being. More awareness and alertness also impact things such as your reaction time in certain situations and even your thought process when you need to solve problems. You will have more mental clarity and feel more energized. The internal arts, again like meditation, are a great way to relieve stress and unwind after a long day or even a way to get you centered and going at the start of your day.
Physical Benefits
You may be surprised to discover that there are a number of physical benefits to the internal style martial arts as well. Although emphasis is taken away from strength alone, it doesn't mean that the internal style won't make you stronger. The push-hands exercises common in the internal arts look very basic and are often misunderstood. They actually tone and develop muscle, but in a low-impact fashion.
Neijia is also an amazing way to improve your posture and your flexibility - much like yoga. Along with relaxing your mind, it relaxes your body too. It relieves muscle and joint tension and enhances your range of motion. Because of its soft, low-impact nature, it's great for those that may not be physically able to practice the more high-intensity martial arts. Practicing the internal style arts alongside the external arts can improve performance thanks to a unified body and mind.
Robert Vena is a top NJ Acupuncturist. Visit his website to learn more about acupuncture treatments.
