Vitality News Health Articles

Acupuncture - as a treatment - is a kind of ancient Chinese medicine which originated more than 8000 years ago. This kind of treatment is based on Taoist spiritual philosophies, that consider our lives as made of a constant flow of a spiritual energy called chee (qi) and that human beings are able to heal themselves if they channel this energy properly. Acupuncture is done through the insertion of needles - specially designed - into particular points of the body, resulting in benefits and healing. Acupuncture is often used as a method for pain reduction, or to combat substance addiction, or as a treatment for chronic fatigue.

Acupuncture techniques found their way to the West in the early twentieth centaury, where they have steadily been gaining popularity ever since. Acupuncture was first popularized in France, and then spread through Western Europe. Acupuncture treatment became popular in the United States in the 1970’s after President Nixon’s diplomatic trip to China.

Arthritis is one of the illnesses that respond well to acupuncture treatment. Traditional treatments for arthritis involve the use of pain medications, but these have many side effects and can also be addictive. Acupuncture uses needles that theoretically release blockages in the qi energy in the body, thus relieving the problems caused by such blockages. The pain of arthritis is apparently one of the ills caused by these interruptions in energy flow and many sufferers have found natural, non-drug relief of their symptoms.

Acupuncture has been found to be very beneficial in the treatment for chronic fatigue. Acupuncture does this by releasing the flow of qi energy. This generate a positive aura of energy that flows through and around the body. Your body can then use this newfound energy, regenerate the cells and bringing about clarity to the mind.

Acupuncture has also been utilised successfully as a treatment for addictions. It has been shown to be efficacious in assisting smokers to stop smoking, alcoholics to renounce alcohol and has even helped heroin addicts. This is attributed to the change in qi energy induced by acupuncture resulting in small changes to the brain chemistry of the addicts, which has an influence upon their addictive behaviours.

With the recent success of acupuncture there is good reason to expect that acupuncture will continue to flourish as a natural treatment for pain, fatigue, and addiction. Acupuncture for me represents a fantastic treatment, with little or no side effects, whose popularity will continue to grow in years to come.

Keith Ferris has been practicing and teaching acupuncture in Bristol, England since the 1980s.

- Keith Ferris