In order to facilitate easy insertion, the point of an acupuncture needle is sharpened.
Although the sharp tip of a hypodermic needle's bevelled edge makes insertion into the skin easier, it also causes a ripping or cutting sensation when the needle is inserted. In contrast, the rounded or dowelled edge of an acupuncture needle allows for a much smoother insertion and lowers the possibility of scarring.
Because a hypodermic needle must be hollowed out in order to insert or remove fluid from the body, it is significantly wider than an acupuncture needle.
The acupuncture needle is extremely thin and substantial.
Your acupuncturist begins by discussing the meridian lines on your body with you. You inquire about them from him. What would be the most likely response from him?
Okay, granted, your doctor would most likely use one of the other responses if he was a sarcastic one, but the reality is that meridians are invisible lines that permit energy to flow through your body. Twelve main meridians and eight "extra" meridians exist. There are two 'extra' channels and 12 main lines that contain your main acupuncture points.
According to TCM, these are present in the equilibrium between yin and yang. The 'yin' life force is Blood, and your 'yin' organs are solid, like your liver.
Since TCM links blood to but does not identify it as "physical" blood, blood is written with a capital "B." The "yang" force is your "qi," which is equivalent to life force, and the "yang" organs are hollows, such as your intestines."
Acupuncture would not be advised as a course of treatment for any three of the following; who would benefit from it in general?
Pregnant women might be at risk from some manipulations and acupuncture points, and people who are impaired by drugs or alcohol are more likely to give false or misleading information during the diagnosis stage. A child may become extremely afraid of needles protruding from their skin, but acupuncture has no age restrictions and is a safe treatment for smaller patients.
Instead of using needles in these situations, the practitioner might turn to acupressure, which is a technique that involves massaging the acupuncture points.
By what specialized agency have the definition and properties of acupuncture points been standardized?
You may wonder how the acupuncture points know where they are when you consider that these meridians are invisible and that the acupuncture points are located on these imaginary lines. I'm not sure I can respond to that, but I'm fairly certain that someone else has considered and investigated the same idea.
361 acupuncture points have been identified and described by the WHO, and more are progressively being found. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) has compiled a list of about fifty distinct conditions that are legally treated with acupuncture.
A first-time patient would tremble at the thought of all those needles sticking in their body, but do the needles hurt for the majority of people?
Typically, a slight sensation will be felt when the needle is inserted. There shouldn't be any pain at all after the needle is inserted, but keep in mind that each person will have a different pain threshold. Furthermore, certain patients might be suffering from a condition that increases their pain sensitivity.
During the diagnosis stage, a skilled practitioner should be able to determine this through questioning.
What steps should *NOT* be involved in your search for a qualified acupuncturist to treat you?
When administered by a certified and skilled acupuncturist, this method of therapy is incredibly safe. It can't be emphasized enough that you should make sure the person you ask to insert pins into your body is qualified, experienced, and using clean instruments. After all, you are asking them to put pins into your body.
You can change the life energy in your body through acupuncture. What other name would you give this "energy"?
Qi is referred to in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a "vital energy" that permeates all living things. It's sometimes thought that a blockage in your qi is the cause of an illness. In order to remove these blockages and restore balance, acupuncture uses needles that are inserted into the body at specific points along lines known as meridians. The needles are then spun or otherwise handled.