Most people experience significant pain at some
point in
their lives - whether from injury, illness, or an
unknown cause. Pain is a warning signal - an alarm that
goes off when your body is trying to tell you that
something is wrong and out of balance.
Often, people suffering from pain try to cover it up,
either by ignoring the pain or taking medication.
However, treated in this way, the source of the pain
will never completely go away. It's like hitting the
snooze button on an alarm. Unless the cause of the pain
is treated, our body will keep sounding the alarm and
reminding you that something is wrong. Eventually, the
pain may get worse or become chronic.
One
approach is to get plenty of bed rest in hopes that the
pain will just disappear. This may help for a while but
could possibly delay recovery and make the problem
worse.
Another choice is to take medication that dulls the pain
for a short period of time. This is understandable when
pain is constant and unbearable. It may be helpful, but
it won't get at the root of the problem and correct it.
Also, many medications may cause unwanted side effects
and further compromise your health.
Surgery may be another option. At times, this approach
may make sense, but it could be both expensive and
risky, and there is no guarantee that it will be
effective.
Acupuncture is a time-tested, safe, effective, natural
and drug-free way to eliminate pain. Unlike other
methods for handling pain, there are no side effects.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) acknowledge the benefits of
acupuncture in treating and eliminating pain due to a
wide range of causes.
|
An
acupuncturist's approach to pain |
|
Acupuncture practitioners recognize
that there is a vital life energy, called Qi (pronounced
"chee"), circulating within the body. Qi flows through a
series of pathways called meridians. Meridians are like
rivers within your body. Wherever a river flows, it
brings with it water that provides nourishment and life
to the land, plants and people around it. Likewise,
meridians transport life-giving Qi that provides
nourishment to every cell, tissue, muscle, organ and
gland in the body.
|
|
|
 |
It
is important for Qi to flow freely
throughout the body. Think of water flowing
through a garden hose. A blocked hose will
not provide an adequate supply of water to a
plant. Eventually, the plant will be unable
to thrive, grow and blossom. |
|
|
|
Similarly, a blockage in the flow of Qi
anywhere in the body will inhibit the amount
of nourishment that reaches our cells,
tissues, muscles, organs and glands. |
 |
|
|
Under normal circumstances, your body can easily return
to good health and vitality. But if the disruption of Qi
is prolonged or excessive, or if your body is in a
weakened state, the flow of Qi becomes restricted and a
variety of symptoms - including pain may arise.
|
Many things can cause
Qi to become blocked: |
|
|
|
What does
acupuncture do? |
|
By
inserting fine, sterile needles at specific points, an
Acupuncturist is able to break up blockages that have
hampered the smooth flow of Qi. Once this is done, Qi
can travel freely throughout the body, promoting
pain-free health, well being and vitality.
Not
only can acupuncture treat signs and symptoms of pain
and discomfort, it can also get to the root of the
problem. When the initial cause of the pain is
corrected, your body can begin to heal on deeper levels.
Massage,
stretching, yoga, herbal supplements and dietary changes
may enhance treatment, speed healing and support acupuncture care.
