Acupuncture has many positive benefits. It is among the oldest healing practices in the world and has been practiced in China and other Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia for years.
As part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture aims to restore and maintain health through the stimulation of specific points on the body. It is effective for a wide variety of health problems, and it is virtually free of side effects.
Acupuncture treats patients by insertion and manipulation of needles into acupuncture points in the body. The needles remain for 15 to 40 minutes. Some acupuncture points are known to stimulate the flow through the whole body. Other points tonify specific organs that are vulnerable during the "crisis." The needles are very fine, sterile, single-use only and stainless steel. The most common response to acupuncture is relaxation, allowing our energy to flow and alleviate symptoms.
In TCM, the body is seen as a delicate balance of two opposing and inseparable forces: Yin and Yang. Yin represents the cold, slow, or passive principle, while yang represents the hot, excited, or active principle. According to TCM, healthy state is brought by the right balance between yin and yang. Illness is due to an internal imbalance of yin and yang. This imbalance leads to blockage in the flow of energy along pathways known as meridians. The TCM diagnosis identifies the impaired organ(s) and the location of blocked pathways between them. The circulation of this energy can be unblocked. According to TCM, by using acupuncture at certain points on the body that connect with these meridians, it will re-direct and normalizes the flow of energy. The treatment encourages and restores health by transporting fresh energy throughout the body, particularly in the bottlenecks.
Relatively few complications have been reported from the use of acupuncture. There is general agreement that acupuncture is safe when administered by well-trained practitioners using sterile needles. Anyway, acupuncture may cause potentially serious side effects if not delivered properly by a qualified practitioner.
Acupuncture can be used to cure or treat a very wide range of diseases and disorders. Clinical studies have demonstrated that acupuncture is effective in treating a host of diseases and disorders, including depression, facial pain, headache, hypertension, nausea, knee pain, lower back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, allergic rhinitis, and stroke, according to the World Health Organization. Scientific literature now also supports the use of acupuncture as a way to reduce nausea among people receiving chemotherapy, for example. Acupuncture can also be employed to tonify the body, improve sleep, relaxation and to give an enhanced feeling of well-being. It promotes natural sleeping patterns, and does not have the hangover effect that most sleeping pills do. Acupuncture can help relieving pain, treats infertility, treats disease, prevents disease, or promotes general health.
As we all know, each individual is unique. We all have our own genetic strengths and weaknesses. Depending upon those pre-existing conditions, each body responds to rigorous activity differently. As such, during your first visit to Asia TCM clinics, our TCM practitioner may ask you at length about your health condition, lifestyle, and behavior. This is to ensure that our practitioners have a complete picture of your treatment needs and behaviors that may contribute to your condition. It is also important that you inform the acupuncturist about all treatments or medications you are taking and all medical conditions you have so far. This will help in your treatment at our clinic.