Acupuncture Edina is often used to treat different kinds of symptoms, help in the healing from some type of health problems and help prevent recurrence of those health problems. It can also help in lessening complications and lessen dependence on pharmaceuticals or surgery. Often acupuncture is used to revitalize or restore the flow of energy in the body. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) refers to this energy as chi. Chi is more of a construct although a real one in Chinese way of life. It actually refers to the spiritual energy, life force or “air” of each and every living being.
TCM believes that chi constantly transfers itself between the chi of the body and the chi of the environment. One of the roles chi plays in the body is it helps prevent harmful chi from entering the body. The protective or beneficial chi if it is in a healthy state, provide resistance to diseases. Prior to the invention of microscopes, researchers and doctors could only imagine and compare chi systems which civilization built. This can be irrigation systems, man-made rivers, streams, canals and water courses. These systems were known as givers of life. For TCM practitioners, the human body more or less is like these systems. The fluid or water was chi and the canals, rivers, etc., were called meridians.
Acupuncturists believe that there are about 500 acupuncture points existing along the meridians of the body. These meridian points are stimulated by needles to induce physiological, biochemical and neurological effects in the body. Oftentimes acupuncture therapy may include the use of Chinese herbal medicine, physiotherapy known also as massage and even suction cups. The World Health Organization has officially acknowledged acupuncture to be an effective cure for dozens of conditions, illnesses and diseases.
Upon Initial consultation, the acupuncturist will interview the patient and review the latter’s past and present medical history. The acupuncturist needs to know the current symptoms and treatments the patient has and is undergoing respectively. Next, the acupuncturist performs a physical examination of the patient by inspecting the pulse on both arms as well as the patient’s tongue. The shape, color, texture and other present appearances of the tongue allows the acupuncturist a little insight as to what is happening to the patient. After doing all these procedures, the acupuncturist then gives a diagnosis which leads to the formulation of a treatment plan. The treatment session can be as fast as 5 minutes or can take as long as an hour. The acupuncturist can select different types of acupuncture techniques to treat a patient. The more common ones are needling, moxibustion, electropuncture and laser therapy among others. The acupuncture treatment can also include the use of herbal medicines or massaging as mentioned a while ago.