Fantastic Reasons To Try Acupuncture!
By
Editorial Staff in
Facts
On 12th August 2016
Acupuncture is a form of ancient Chinese medicine in which fine needles are inserted into the skin at certain points on the body.
It is a complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). This means that acupuncture is different in important ways from treatments that are part of conventional western medicine. Unlike conventional treatments, the use of acupuncture is not always based on scientific evidence.
Acupuncture is based on the belief that an energy, or 'life force', flows through the body in channels called meridians. This life force is known as Qi (pronounced 'chee').
Practitioners who adhere to traditional beliefs about acupuncture believe that when Qi cannot flow freely through the body, this can cause illness. They also believe that acupuncture can restore the flow of Qi, and so restore health.
Some scientists and acupuncturists believe that acupuncture may stimulate nerves and muscle tissue, and that this may be responsible for any beneficial effects.
#1
8 things an acupuncturist knowsPHOTOGRAPH BY ARTISTICCO/SHUTTERSTOCK
Sometimes the things an acupuncturist notices about you can seem like a magic trick. If something is off, say, in your knee, an acupuncturist knows you may also be feeling it in your shoulder. How does she know? In ancient Chinese medicine, different points on the body correspond with one another, and, as the thinking goes, all symptoms are the manifestation of an underlying root problem. "I'm constantly collecting information about my patients, which I piece together into specific patterns to form a diagnosis. Then I can address the problem with acupuncture and herbal treatments," says Anna Folckomer, a licensed acupuncturist and board certified herbalist in New York City.
Here are just a few of the things you'd be surprised to learn acupuncturists know about you.
#2 You’ve Got Thyroid Problems
In case it's been awhile since you last sat through an anatomy class, the thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your throat that helps regulate many of the body's daily functions by steadily releasing hormones into the bloodstream. When something is out of whack, acupuncturists can see the clues in your physical features. For example, you're likely to have a sallow complexion, puffy tongue, and low appetite if the thyroid is underactive. An overactive thyroid will display opposite symptoms, like redness in the face and tongue, an increase in appetite, and rapid pulse. Folckomer says that these patterns aren't enough to make a formal diagnosis, but they're a good bet something is going on and you should schedule a test with your doctor.
#3 You’re About To Catch A Cold
One of the key things acupuncturists always do is read the pulses. In traditional Chinese medicine there are six basic pulse positionsthree on each wrist. You can feel them by placing the tips of your first three fingers on your opposite wrist below the thumb, with your first finger in the wrist crease. Each finger represents a different position. Folckomer says an acupuncturist may be able to actually feel that your body is trying to fight off a cold, even if you haven't consciously realized it yourself. The tip-off is a fluttery, floating quality in the top position that disappears when you press harder.
#4 You’re Pregnant
Folckomer says that sometimes acupuncturists are the first to know when their clients become pregnant. "You can feel it in the pulse. It's what we call ‘slippery,'" she says, which she describes as a forceful, rolling quality. "It's an abrupt change from a typical pulse. I'm not going to be the one to tell my patients they're pregnant, but I may ask them if they're trying to conceive and just smile to myself."
#5 You Have Joint Pain
Acupuncturists can learn a crazy number of surprising things about your health just by looking at your tongue (seriously, here's what my acupuncturist could tell just by looking at my tongue). In fact, your tongue can even tell them if you're experiencing musculoskeletal pain somewhere else in the body. "If the sides are red, that's an indication of neck and jaw tension. If your tongue deviates to one side, that's also a sign you have pain on the opposite side of the body," Folckomer says. So if your tongue leans to the right, there's a good chance you're experiencing strain in your neck or shoulder on the left side of your body.
#6 You Had A Restless Night
Redness at the very tip of the tongue (an area associated with the heart) indicates you probably didn't have any sweet dreams the night before. "When I see this, I would definitely ask about the patient's sleep patterns," Folckomer says.
#7 You Have Digestive Distress
There are many signals of stomach troubles that acupuncturists pick up on, but one of them is, surprisingly, nail fungus. "It can be indicative of fluid metabolism or digestive imbalance due to not processing nutrients correctly. Chinese medicine refers to it as 'dampness,' " Folckomer explains.
#8 You Have A Blood Disorder
According to Folckomer, there are many signs of imbalances in the blood the can lead acupuncturists to a subclinical diagnosis. For example, brittle hair and nails along with pallor in the face and tongue can indicate anemia.
Acupuncturists can pick up on these signs even before the disorder is diagnosable by a medical test.
