Introduction to Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a part of Chinese Medicine (CM) according to Anlong Xu the president of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine,” Chinese Medicine (CM) is a combination of ancient sciences and holistic approaches dealing with human life and diseases in China, and can be traced back to about 5000 years ago. According to CM, the human body has an energetic and informatics constitution in addition to its body structure and its normal physiology follows the changing rhythm of time-space in different displays of health. Thus, any disturbance of such normal physiology results in diseases we called today. In history, Chinese civilization has never been interrupted by the pandemic diseases and the loss of massive human life has never occurred in about 500 years and in any recorded books, suggesting that CM played key roles in maintaining human health and combating against various diseases during a long history of China.                                                                              Today, Chinese medicine is taught in many universities and is practiced in many hospitals and clinics all over the world since it has the well-recognized capability in diagnosis and treatment of diseases clinically, many of which may not be able to be dealt with by the conventional medicine”.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese Medicine whereby tiny, thin acupuncture needles are inserted painlessly into acupuncture points in the body to help ease pain cure diseases.

How does Acupuncture work?

The life energy (Gi or chi) between the complimentary extremes of yin and yang is said to flow through 14 meridians or chakras (pathways) and is balanced in a healthy person.  Illness results when one or several meridian(s) or chakra(s) is (are) blocked.  By unblocking the chakras or meridians, balance between yin and yang is restored and, as online edition of Nature Neuroscience demonstrated that the effects of acupuncture needling include influencing the activity of adenosine, an amino acid which becomes active in the skin after an injury to ease pain. This may explain why pain relief is often experienced as one of the benefits of acupuncture. Some acupuncturists argue that the therapy triggers the release of endorphins which is the body’s natural functions and painkillers.

Does Acupuncture work?

Yes, acupuncture is very effective and has therapeutic benefits it can help to a wide variety of conditions, from emotional disorders (anxiety, depression) to digestive complaints (nausea, vomiting, irritable bowel syndrome). It can be beneficial for pain syndromes associated with physical injuries or chronic degenerative diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. It can also be helpful in treating neurological problems like migraines or as a rehabilitation strategy for individuals who suffered a stroke. Acupuncture has also proved beneficial for reducing fatigue and addictions, and for promoting overall well-being.

What is Acupuncture used for?

Neck pain             Migraines                 Depression

Shoulder pain       Headaches               Anxiety

Elbow pain            Allergies                   Fertility

Knees pain            Quit smoking           Arthritis

Back pain               Weight loss             Insomnia

How long does one Acupuncture treatment last?

At Nell Clinic, one acupuncture treatment in Toronto lasts 45min.-1hr.

How many treatments of acupuncture will I need?

The number depends on the severity of the condition; it varies from person to person. Generally, a patient will be seen once or twice a week for 2 – 4 weeks or more depending on the conditions.

Is acupuncture safe and what should I expect?

The FDA regulates acupuncture needles as medical devices and requires that the needles be “sterile, nontoxic, and labeled for single use by qualified practitioners only.” The needles will usually stay in for a short period of time while the patient’s energy is reworking and balancing itself. After the needles are removed, the patient can go about their day and are usually advised to drink plenty of water to help the detoxifying process.

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