Shen Nong Ben Cao Acupuncture

Acupuncture is part of a broader system of healthcare that is known as Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is meant to restore one’s own natural balance and allow the body to heal both physically, mentally and emotionally. Using energy pathways or channels, the acupuncturist devises an individualized treatment plan based on the unique constitution of the individual.

The treatment consists of inserting sterile, disposable needles which are very thin and usually bring about a deep, relaxation without any pain. Occasionally, the person will feel the flow of “ qi ” (chee), or energy moving in response to the treatment. A typical treatment lasts anywhere from twenty minutes to an hour, depending on the condition.

Some of the conditions that are treated with acupuncture include: depression, weight loss, infertility, pain management, chronic diseases, autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue, high blood pressure, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis. These are just a few of the problems that patients have had remarkable results with by being treated with acupuncture.

Acupuncture is a way to lead us back to our true selves. It restores the awareness of how thoughts and emotions have manifested in our physical bodies and how the essence of who you truly are remains untouched by the stresses of life. Acupuncture brings us home to our true, virtuous nature, to live a life that we were meant to live.

What is Qi?

While difficult to define, Qi is often translated as breath, life force, energy or simply that which makes us alive. No Qi, no life. Acupuncture recognizes a subtle energy system by which Qi circulates through the body in a network of channels, or “ meridians. ” Along these meridians lie the acupuncture points, and when the needle is inserted, it is the Qi that is affected. Acupuncture studies Qi in detail and understands that the proper quality, distribution and even flow of Qi is of the utmost importance in health. The Chinese describe the body as a flute. Good health is the same as a pure clear note from this instrument, and illness as discord, which can be corrected by stimulating different points or holes, thus altering the quality of the note. Western medicine has published many studies on the efficacy of acupuncture in many areas of interest, including drug addiction, women ’ s issues, sports injuries and more.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

This is probably the most frequently asked question. Some patients show very little sensitivity to the needles and do not feel anything when they are inserted. Others have increased sensitivity in a particular area relating to an energy imbalance. For most, the experience induces great relaxation. Western medicine might explain this as the release of serotonin in the brain.