acupunctureThe intention of acupuncture therapy is to alleviate pain and suffering and promote health. The method, by which this is accomplished, though it might seem strange and mysterious by many, has been time tested for thousands of years and still continues to be validated today.

Acupuncture Promotes Overall Health

Many experts say that acupuncture is at least 2,000 years old. Its exact age, though, is less important than the fact that Oriental Medicine is the most widely used healing system today. Its roots are in China, but the fruits of its potential in helping the sick and injured are apparent in many places, including America, Europe and Asia. Today, the art and science of acupuncture is still not understood by many, and yet it continues to gain acceptance and popularity because of the simple fact that it works.

Here are 15 things you might not know about this ancient treatment.

1.    Originally, the acupuncture needles were not made of stainless steel. Instead, they were made of stone, bone or bamboo.

2.    Studies have shown that acupuncture points have significantly more electrical conductivity compared to the areas of the body without acupuncture points.

3.    Acupuncture has shown to increase the success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) to as much as 65%.

4.    The word acupuncture comes from the Latin ‘acus’ which means ‘needle’, and ‘pungere’ which means ‘to prick.’

5.    The United States FDA classified acupuncture needles as medical instrument and assured their effectiveness and safety.

6.    The acupuncture needles are sterilized, pre-packaged and single use.

7.    Acupuncture is one of the oldest practicing forms of medicine that is known to date.

8.    When performed by a properly trained and licensed acupuncturist, this procedure is safe and effective, and is free from negative side effects.

9.    Even if a needle is being inserted into the skin, acupuncture is virtually painless.

10.    Acupuncture needles are a whole lot smaller than standard hypodermic needles, and they do not draw blood because they are not hollow.

11.    Acupuncturists will feel your pulse and look at your tongue to get a better understanding of the things that are going on inside your body.

12.    Acupuncture is highly individualized. For instance, if 50 people with the common cold has acupuncture, all 50 of them will have different acupuncture points in their treatments.

13.    The benefits of acupuncture are sometimes difficult to measure when using Western research as they depend on a constant variable to measure all data against. This is something that goes against acupuncture treatment plans.

14.    Licensed acupuncturists attend an in-depth four-year program and get more than 1,000 clinic internship hours.

15.    Acupuncture is just one type of therapy used in the medical system known as Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is also made up of other modalities like physical therapy, nutrition, herbal medicine, and special exercises.

Always Look For A Reputable Acupuncturist

If you want to go try out the potential benefits that this ancient treatment has to offer, look for reputable acupuncture clinics in your area. Also make sure that you get your acupuncture treatments from a licensed acupuncturist who has gone through all the necessary education and training.