Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture is just part of a larger body of traditional Chinese medicine that integrates many therapies, and is applied by practitioners to treat illness and diseases. Of these therapies, Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology are the most popular in the United States. Some additional therapies include: diet, nutrition and lifestyle counseling, as well as Tai Qi and Qi Gong (physical exercise), and Tui'na (manual therapies).
Acupuncture first developed during the Chou dynasty (1030 BC to 221 BC) of Chinese history, as a system of therapy involving the needling of precise points on the body derived from the philosophical concepts of humanity and its relationship to the natural environment.
It has been scientifically determined that human beings are unique bio-energetic systems. For thousands of years traditional Chinese medicine has acknowledged that there is a vital life force that flows through all things which is called "Qi" (pronounced ‘chee’). In western culture, it is often referred to as "energy." Energy (Qi) flows along pathways in the human body, which are related to the organs, the muscular system, and nervous system. When the balance of this energy is disturbed due to trauma, poor diet, medications, stress, hereditary conditions, environmental factors, or excessive emotional issues, then pain or illness results. Traditional Chinese medicine focuses on correcting these imbalances, which stimulates the body's natural ability to heal itself. In other words, traditional Chinese medicine focuses on treating the factors that cause disease.
The following is just a short list of commonly treated conditions:
Allergies/Asthma
Anxiety/Depression
Arthritis/Joint Problems
Back Pain
Bladder/Kidney Problems
Childhood Illnesses
Colds/Flu
Cough/Bronchitis
Dizziness
Drug Addiction/Smoking
Fatigue
Frozen Shoulder
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Gynecological Disorders
Headache/Migraine
Heart Problems/Palpitations
High Blood Pressure
Immune System Deficiency
Infertility
Knee Pain
Macular Degeneration
Menopausal Discomfort
Neck Pain/Stiffness
Pre-Menstrual Syndrome
Paralysis/Numbness
Rhinitis
Sciatica
Sexual Dysfunction
Shoulder Pain
Sinusitis
Skin Problems
Stress/Tension
Tendonitis
Vision Problems