Acupuncture...

Acupuncture is a medical therapy that originated in China over 2,000 years ago.  Acupuncture uses the insertion of sterile, hair-thin, single-use needles into specific points on the body to stimulate the body’s own healing systems. Stimulating a specific combination of points promotes the circulation of blood and 'Qi', which can be translated as 'bio-electrical energy', which activates the body to heal itself.

What is health according to acupuncture? It’s not the absence of pain or symptoms. Pain and symptoms are signals from the body that something is wrong and out-of-balance. The goal of an acupuncturist is to detect and correct the underlying imbalance that have caused the body to express the various symptoms.

What causes symptoms? A variety of factors can lead to ill health, such as the environment, physical trauma, emotional trauma, falls, accidents, inherited dysfunction, unbalanced diet and/or emotions. These factors, when unaddressed for a period of time can result in an imbalance in the homeostasis of the body. The medical model for the past 100 years has been to remove symptoms, and not really look at the underlying factor(s). The acupuncture paradigm is to detect and correct the cause(s). The acupuncturist works to diagnose and naturally correct the imbalance in order to return the body to health.

Chinese Medicine can also help those who wish to improve their overall health and energy.  Acupuncturists treat patients with prevention in mind.

Acupuncture is a therapy and can take several treatments to be beneficial.  The number of treatments depends on the condition and the health of the patient.  Patients can feel a difference right away or in 3-6 treatments.

Wall Street Journal Article:  "High-Tech Tools Show How Acupuncture Works in Treating Arthritis, Back Pain, Other Ills"

 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704841304575137872667749264.html

 Recent News Video on Acupuncture that is quite good:

 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/37166304#37166304

Modern Research...

There has been much scientific research into the mechanisms of how acupuncture works.  

Such studies have shown that acupuncture:

• causes the release of endorphins and other neuro-peptides that suppress pain.

• stimulates the endocrine and immune systems through the hypothalamus-pituitary system, as well as the connective tissue, which can affect the muscles it surrounds.

• changes brain chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters.
  

• points are strategic conductors of electromagnetic signals.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

is part of the National Institute for Health, which is an agency under the Department of Health and Human Services. They host a great page about acupuncture and some very common questions people might ask.

 http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture

Information on Acupuncture:

 http://www.acupuncture-treatment.com/index.html

Acupuncture: Can it help?

Acupuncture is one of the oldest therapies in the world, but does it really work?

 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/acupuncture/SA00086

Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo IVF:

 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11937123&dopt=Abstract

 Acupuncture's success at treating back pain:

 http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/news/20090511/acupuncture-may-ease-chronic-back-pain

 Is Acupuncture Safe?

Acupuncture is safe practiced in the hands of a licensed professional. Practitioners must pass medical board exams and a national licensing examination in order to meet all state licensing requirements before they can legally perform acupuncture. We are certified by the Committee on Acupuncture for Clean Needle Technique. We use disposable, sterile needles. There are relatively few side effects from acupuncture.

What can I expect from an acupuncture treatment?

Many people find acupuncture to be very relaxing. Falling asleep during a treatment is not uncommon.  The first treatment lasts an hour and twenty minutes and the following treatments last one hour. The practitioner will ask questions as well as perform other diagnostic procedures such as taking the pulse or  looking at the tongue. Other therapies are utilized including cupping and moxabustion. Patients leave the treatment room feeling relaxed and rejuvenated with a greater sense of balance.

 Acupuncture Therapy

Falmouth, MA

1-508-457-5855