Acupuncture

A method of treatment that has been practiced for thousands of years in China and other Asian countries.  It is used as a means of treating and preventing disease through the application of needles to the body.  Although introduced to the Western world about three centuries ago, it has only gained momentum in the last few decades.  While the debate over the theories and usefulness of the treatment continues among medical scientists, the popularity of acupuncture therapy has continued to grow and it is now practiced throughout the world.  Benefits of acupuncture include its effectiveness in healing a wide range of problems with few side effects, and its use in anesthesia.  Its low cost is attractive to individuals as well as large health-care organizations.

Acupuncture itself is a very simple procedure administered by inserting very fine and thin needles into the acupoints along the different meridians (or pathways of energy).  To achieve the best results, the method of treatment used and the selection of acupoints must be based on proper diagnosis and treatment principles, according to the theories of traditional Chinese medicine.

The practice of acupuncture began in ancient times in the very primitive stages of human history and, like all the other components of TCM, its techniques have undergone more than 5,000 years of refinement.  The earliest known acupuncture instruments from the New Stone Age were stones with sharp edges, known as "bian".  Science and technology have enabled us to continue the quality of the acupuncture instruments from bone and bamboo needles to bronze and iron ones to gold and silver.  Now, disposable sterile stainless steel needles are commonly used.  Just as the structure of the needles has been refined, so have the methods of application.  A recent development is "electro acupuncture" where electrodes are attached to the needles in order to conduct small amounts of electric current increasing the stimulating effect of the treatment.  The number of points on the body where acupuncture can be applied has also increased.  Specific disciplines have developed within acupuncture so in addition to body acupuncture a wide range of acupuncture therapies is now practiced in many parts of the world, even in Tulare county, including ear needling, scalp acupuncture and hand acupuncture.