The idea of acupuncture is grounded on the flow of energy or chi in the body.  Traditional acupuncturists believe that good health is only achieved when the natural flow of balanced energy exists in the body.  When chi stagnates or is blocked along the energy vessels that carry it, then pains and diseases arise.  Acupuncture is then needed to remove the blockage and restore the smooth flow of energy to attain harmony and balance and therefore good health to the body once more.  The natural flow of chi means a normal and natural fertility cycle enhancing the chances to attain successful fertilization and conception.

Research into infertility treatment with acupuncture shows that acupuncture can greatly increase the chances of a female attaining pregnancy within a month or two.  Several approaches are available for infertility treatment with acupuncture.  The acupuncturist needs to determine what type of infertility problem the patient has before choosing one or more types of treatment.  The acupuncturist needs to know whether the person has fertility problems such as fallopian tube blockage, frequent miscarriages, ovulation disorder, low sperm count or poor egg quality among others.

For couples unwilling to spend a fortune on specialized infertility therapies, acupuncture is the best option by far.  The treatment although done with needles is not painful when done by a licensed and well-trained acupuncturist.  The depth of the insertion is just a few millimeters or less.  The needles are as thin as reed and non-hollow so that their insertion is relatively pain-free.  Acupuncture for the treatment of infertility is very safe and always effective.  The insertion points for infertility treatment are in the ears, fingertips, eyelids, earlobes and eyebrows.  The needles are allowed to remain in the body for 45 minutes.  Typically a whole acupuncture treatment for infertility requires 4 sessions to be effective.

Acupuncture has many approaches.  Some of the more popular ones are ear, electric/electronic, moxibustion and manual treatments. Ear treatments are more geared for the treatment of hormone disorders which make fertility conditions difficult to obtain.  Before embarking on acupuncture treatment, always talk to your OB/GYN to see if acupuncture is best for you.  Still, because it is totally safe and truly effective, acupuncture can be used by anyone seeking solutions for their fertility problems.

One of these new approaches is acupuncture.  Acupuncture Louisville is a relatively new concept in the West in the battle to lose weight.  However, acupuncture has been around for many thousands of years and is used by Asians to help combat addiction and cravings.  One craving it can help curb is food craving.  This treatment may seem scary at first particularly for people who have never heard or known about this treatment as it uses needles to help treat sickness and disease.

Knowing how acupuncture works is important to see how it can be a very effective way to lose weight.  The needles are inserted in parts of the body that sends energy and blood to the meridians and lymphatic system and this helps calm the mind and body. Using acupuncture as a weight loss program will help you control your food desires, which means you can control your craving for food the whole day.  People react differently to acupuncture for weight loss; some feel their cravings completely vanish while others may still feel the cravings albeit to a much lesser degree.

For acupuncture treatment for weight loss, always select a licensed and well-trained acupuncturist.  This is to prevent the rise of unforeseen problems, complications and injuries that might likely occur with an unlicensed and therefore poorly trained practitioner.  Acupuncture is a medicinal art that takes time to perfect especially when involving the insertion of needles into sensitive parts of the body.

In the age of fast foods and junk foods, obesity is now not only a United States health concern, but a global concern as well and the desire to lose weight has become a necessity since it can potentially cost a huge amount of money in health expenses and lost production time.

The acupuncture needles lessen the stress levels in the body along with any pains and aches. This is very important since people who are highly stressed often find comfort and relief in eating and the more stress one has, the more food one eats.  The need to control food cravings and the lessening of stress are just some of the benefits acupuncture gives to combat weight gain especially obesity.

Acupuncture for the treatment of sciatica is a natural form of alternative medicine.  There are no drugs or surgery used in its procedures.  The only thing it uses is needles that are as thin as human hair and which are inserted into specific points in the body to allow energy, which that Chinese call chi to freely move throughout the body.  Once impediments to chi flow are removed, people experience relief of their body pain.  This has been proven for sciatica patients who have tried and benefited from acupuncture.  Because of this, many doctors are now even suggesting or recommending their patients sciatica acupuncture for their sciatic pain.

Sciatic pain is felt largely in the lower back. The pain from the lower back also travels and affects the legs and the buttocks.  This is due to muscle spasms near the sciatic nerve which is probably brought about by aging and/or lack of exercise.  Sometimes numbness around the affected areas may also manifest.  This happens because certain types of degenerative diseases which may include a slipped or herniated disc can cause sciatica.  Fortunately, acupuncture for sciatic pain has been a tested and effective treatment to take away spasms and to give prompt relief from sciatic pain.

Acupuncture for treating sciatic pain has benefits that provide more than just relief of sciatic pain.  It can greatly improve circulation of blood in and around the lumbar area as well as the spinal cord.  This greatly helps in reducing muscle stiffness and spasm and also affords strength and flexibility to the bones.  It can also raise the energy level of the body which often compels the person to be active.  However, being a natural form of treatment, the effects of acupuncture may not often be immediate and can vary from person to person.

In understanding how acupuncture works for sciatica, we need to know how sciatica originates.  Sciatica is brought about by inordinate pressure on the sciatic nerve caused by a number of factors.  The pain can also originate from spasms from muscles where the nerve is connected.  Another cause may be from the inflammation of the nerve itself due to infection or injury and lastly, it can be due to degenerative joint diseases around the spinal cord which can affect the sciatic nerve.

Acupuncture is a great way to remove the pain of sciatica.  It is one of the most natural and safest treatments for it.  It is much safer than drugs since it has no side effects and definitely surgery to address sciatic pain.

Acupuncture Miami has been with us for more than 4,000 years albeit it has been exclusively used in the Orient for thousands of years before it was introduced in Europe hundreds of years ago.  The World Health Organization has listed over 40 health issues, including chronic pain they state can be treated with acupuncture.  It was during the 1970’s that acupuncture was introduced in the United States as a relief for pain.

Acupuncture is a verified treatment for types of conditions listed below:

• Post-surgical pain
• Lateral Epicondylitis
• Fibromyalgia and muscle pain
• Tooth pain
• Migraines
• Pelvic pain
• Neck and low back pain
• Degenerative arthritis of the joints

With regard to risks, as long as it is performed by a licensed and well-trained acupuncturist, acupuncture is entirely safe and relatively painless. Nevertheless, here are some tips to avoid experiencing any unforeseen problems or complications during treatment:

Before embarking on an acupuncture treatment, talk to your doctor about it.  Your doctor often knows a really good acupuncturist who can address your specific problem.

It is very important that the acupuncturist uses only disposable, single-use sterilized needles.

If herbal medicines are required for treatment, you must ascertain whether it is good for you and whether it is not tainted with other harmful substances such as arsenic.  There have been reports of herbs that were mixed with harmful substances such as lead and arsenic.  One should seek herbal products with a UPC certification stamped on the label.  Furthermore, talk to your pharmacist or doctor to verify if the herbs you may need will not negatively interact with the medications you are taking or will not cause negative impact to your present health status.  Therefore, it important to inform your acupuncturist of your current health status and the drugs you are presently taking.

You need to choose an acupuncturist who is licensed by the State.  Do some research and see whether your acupuncturist is a member of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture or the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

If possible, find a licensed acupuncturist who has extensive experience in the treatment of your specific condition.  This will ensure that the acupuncturist will address your health problems in a satisfactory way.

Acupuncture stimulates the body’s self-healing mechanisms by enervating the body with energy the Chinese calls chi.  Chi can be manipulated by acupuncture needles inserted at sites known as acupuncture points wherein lies the energy vessels called meridians that carry chi all over the body.  Chi and blood are what essentially makes the body healthy, grow and glow.  They nourish and energize the organs and soft tissues and the skin.

As we age the flow of chi slows down and with it the other body functions as well.  The body produces less collagen which causes the skin to sag, age, dull and wrinkle.  The factors of the environment and stress just cause the aging factor to produce ugly and more negative effects to the body.  Acupuncture can restore good and normal chi flow to the body allowing the body organs including the skin to function and be healthy once more.  Vitality is added to the body and the aging process is slowed down

Actually the National Institutes of Health and World Health Organization have recognized acupuncture as a treatment for the effects and symptoms of Bell’s Palsy which include facial sagging.  Facial acupuncture treatment for the paralysis of the face has also been reported as highly successful.  The potential of facial acupuncture as useful for the treatment of facial conditions and for correcting facial sagging can also mean it can benefit the face aesthetically.  With this in mind, acupuncture can be as potent as Botox or cosmetic surgery without the very invasive, painful risky procedures involved.  However, being a natural form of treatment, there are no instant overnight results with this treatment.  It will probably take around 10 sessions for three to five weeks before substantial results can be seen.  If Chinese herbal medicine is included in the treatment, the outcome might entail a lesser time period.

Once the treatment takes effect some of the improvements that can be seen are:

• Some sort of a “face lifting“ effect due to the revitalizing of the facial muscles which can again stretch the skin removing the facial sagging.
• Puffiness, deep wrinkles and fine lines are removed or greatly decreased
• Skin elasticity and color is improved and rejuvenated.
• Acne and other skin problems are treated
• Stress is greatly reduced and a feeling is tranquility is experienced.

One of the reasons why acupuncture is useful in treating infertility is its ability to improve blood flow to the reproductive organs and endocrine system.  The organs such as the uterus and ovaries are nourished making them function efficiently.  Also the endocrine system is regulated by acupuncture. This helps in normalizing a woman’s menstrual cycle preventing amenorrhea, anovulation and irregular menstruation and increasing the chances of successful fertilization.  Blockage in the fallopian tube is not within the power of acupuncture to treat.  Surgery is probably the only effective treatment for this disorder.  It is highly recommended to consult with a physician who is also a licensed and practicing acupuncturist to be better informed of why acupuncture can be quite advantageous for you.

Male infertility such as erectile dysfunction, low sperm count, sperm DNA fragmentation, low libido and poor sperm motility can all be effectively addressed by acupuncture treatment.

Many people who have tried acupuncture consider it a much safer treatment than most conventional treatments around.  Acupuncture does not entail any use of medications or surgery and therefore, no possibility of adverse drug reactions will ever occur.  To be assured that one is getting a truly safe and effective treatment, one should consult with a licensed acupuncturist who specializes in infertility cases to know what procedures are involved in acupuncture therapy for infertility.  The needles used are not hypodermic needles nor are they used for vaccinations or blood transfusions.  Acupuncture needles are as thin as human hair, non-hollow and do not elicit any painful sensations when inserted into the skin.  The needles are disposable and properly sterilized to prevent the occurrence of cross infection.

Acupuncture for infertility treatment as a stand alone treatment or used in conjunction with assisted reproductive technique (ART) programs such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) is probably the best alternative treatment to achieve pregnancy.  Acupuncture benefits the body in other ways besides treating infertility by strengthening the immune system, relieving stress and helping the body get quality sleep by basically relaxing the mind and body through the release of natural painkillers known as endorphins.

The practice of acupuncture for infertility has been used for several thousands of years in the Far East.  The procedure itself involves the insertion of very thin non-hollow needles into certain points in the body commonly known as acupuncture points. Energy vessels called meridians located just beneath these points are stimulated by the needles that revitalize major organs in the body.  When one understands acupuncture and its underlying concepts, the association of acupuncture to fertility becomes crystal clear. Infertility occurs because of various factors; however, the most common reason of infertility is the dysfunction of the thyroid glands.  The dysfunction can result in conditions; hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.  When acupuncture is used to treat these disorders, the thyroid gland function is normalized and regulated making pregnancy easily achievable.

Acupuncture functions very well without any fear of causing serious side effects to the body.  Acupuncture does not involve the use of drugs; it is however, combined with the use of Chinese herbal medicine to expedite and further increase the efficacy of the treatment.  Acupuncture has made assisted reproductive techniques (ART) such as in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination reliable programs for achieving pregnancy.  Women nowadays are encouraged or even required to undergo acupuncture for at least three months before receiving any ART programs.  Even after a successful ART treatment, they are then encouraged to undergo another three months of acupuncture to prevent or minimize any chances of miscarriage.  Prior to the integration of acupuncture into their programs, these ART programs have a success rate of just above 40%; when acupuncture was included, the success rate dramatically increased to 75%.

To achieve successful and safe pregnancy, always seek treatment from a licensed and well-trained acupuncturist.  Only a licensed acupuncturist is trained enough to know the correct acupuncture points to be treated for certain types of disorders including infertility.  Also, when a woman is already pregnant and still undergoing acupuncture care, there are certain acupuncture points that should be left untreated because needling them can induce early labor which can result in miscarriage.  Under a licensed acupuncturist, risks like this will never occur.

All in all, acupuncture for the treatment of infertility is one of the best treatment programs couples who want to be parents can choose from.

How does acupuncture exactly treat infertility?  Numerous studies regarding the role of acupuncture in treating infertility have been published and most of their results point to the positive effects of acupuncture in treating infertility either as a stand-alone treatment or as a complementary treatment to enhance the success rate of other infertility procedures. Acupuncture helps improve fertility in individuals particularly females by normalizing and regulating their body functions and systems.  The needles stimulate the increase of blood flow to the internal organs such as the uterus thickening the endometrium walls and supplying the eggs with vital nutrients and blood.  This creates a better environment for egg transplantation procedures since a thickened endometrium lining increases the chance of ovulation.

Some other positives that acupuncture gives a person in treating infertility are its role in balancing the hormones and the better production of eggs.  These factors are very important for women who are undergoing infertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization since they assure pregnancy without any pregnancy problems to be totally guaranteed.  Acupuncture as a stand alone treatment is used to treat spasmed tubes, polycystic ovarian syndrome and frequent miscarriages.

Male infertility such as sperm DNA fragmentation, erectile dysfunction, low sperm count and poor sperm motility can also be addressed with acupuncture. So, since both male and female infertility can be treated with acupuncture there is no reason why infertile couples would needlessly search for other medical alternatives to treat their condition.  Acupuncture is the only treatment they will ever need for their non-structural fertility disorders.

Couples should seek help from a licensed acupuncturist, especially those who specialize in infertility conditions to prevent unnecessary complications which can further worsen their condition and also to prevent miscarriages because of the application of needles at wrong acupuncture points.  If the female is pregnant acupuncture maybe a dangerous treatment for the unborn child.  If a woman is pregnant, it is best to seek guidance from her gynecologist before embarking on any type of acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture is around 5000 years old, long before stainless steel was invented.  The needles used before the dawn of metal were made of bamboo shoots and even long before bamboos were used as needles shaped stones were used as acupuncture needles.  Traditional acupuncture states that acupuncture points are sites in the body where meridians, invisible energy channels that connect to every major organ in the body, are located.  The needles are inserted into the acupuncture points to stimulate the nerves within the meridians.  The meridians connect to organs such as the heart, kidneys, liver large and small intestine, etc.  The needles cause an effect in the body that helps remove body pain.

With regard to back injuries and lower back pain, the use of traditional acupuncture in treating pain, acute and chronic in the back, back spasms and aches has been used for millennia and even today with great efficacy.  Chronic pain and back spasm, often the symptoms of low back pain can be addressed with acupuncture in a long-term and even permanent basis.

For several years, acupuncture has proven its potency that it is now widely accepted in the West as a treatment for body pains such as back and neck pain or headaches.  Now it is used to treat certain types of infertility.  A new type of acupuncture has arisen from years of research into the needling process of acupuncture and how it actually works in a Westernized technique known as dry needling.  Dry needling is acupuncture therapy that works almost immediately in treating and giving relief to muscle spasm, back spasm, buttock pain and back ache.

Muscle Spasm – The back muscles to protect the back from further injury will tend to spasm causing series of back aches and back spasms to individuals.  The pelvis is prone to muscle spasm after an injury to the back resulting in pain in the buttock with lower back pain and back aches exacerbating the buttock pain.  These painful conditions are not detected by MRI or x-ray.

Muscle spasms can increase in the body and trigger points can develop in the muscles because of this increase.  The rise of trigger points mean more back and buttock pain.  Dry needling acupuncture works effectively against trigger points, eliminating these sources of pain and thus allowing the body from further back spasms and aches and lower back pain.

The cause of further pain after suffering from a back injury are the trigger points and muscle spasm.  Since many back injuries self-heal, dry needling is a fast and effective way to rid the body of further pain.

Practiced in China for over 4000 years, acupuncture is part and parcel of traditional Chinese medicine albeit a very important one.  It is widely used in the Far Eastern countries of Korea, Japan and Thailand as a modality to treat pain and illnesses.  It was introduced in the 1970’s as an alternative procedure to relieve painful conditions.  Now it is used for various medical conditions and is slowly being accepted by a wide sector of mainstream medicine.  In fact, many doctors in the United States are now practicing medical acupuncturists who offer their acupuncture service in their clinics.  Many detox programs are using it to rid the body of harmful chemicals including nicotine. Using acupuncture to quit smoking is one of the more popular benefits of acupuncture in helping an individual achieve a healthy and balanced life.

The acupuncture points selected for smoking cessation treatment are the mouth, airways and lungs among others.  The whole treatment may take several sessions depending on how severe the addiction is.  The treatment causes a weakening of the desire to smoke and makes the smell of burning tobacco unpleasant which makes it easier for the patient to quit smoking altogether.  Also, as mentioned, acupuncture cleanses the body of the toxins from cigarette smoking especially the nicotine which greatly reduces the effect of nicotine to the brain and releases the person from the desire for more nicotine intake.

The needles used for treatment are as thin as human hair and are much smaller than the needles used for vaccinations and injections.  They are non-hollow and transmit bioelectrical impulses to the nervous system to stimulate therapeutic benefits to the body and mind.

With a licensed and experienced acupuncturist, no needle sting is felt when administering acupuncture. It may seem uneasy looking at people lying down with several needles stuck in their faces.  However, if you ask those patients they would tell you how relaxing or invigorating the treatment is for them and how acupuncture has set them free from their nasty dependency to cigarette smoking.  If you can get over your primal fear of needles and allow acupuncture to help you overcome your smoking addiction, then you will find that acupuncture is a very effective, safe and painless way to break away from the nasty habit of cigarette smoking.