Picking up a few acupuncture basics can help you decide if it’s right for you.
The holidays are upon us, so there is no doubt that our stress levels will be taken to new heights. The stress of conquering our shopping lists and preparing for family visits has many of us on edge. As such, Dr. Ashley Hoyt will share some acupuncture basics and its therapeutic benefits to help get you through the holiday season.
Acupuncture Basics — A History
The art of acupuncture is recorded as early as 2,000-4,000 years ago. The Chinese believe that the practice of acupuncture began during the Stone Age when stone knives or sharp edged tools were used to drain abscesses in the body.
According to The Mayo Clinic, traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy, or life force (known as qi or chi (CHEE)). Chi is believed to flow through pathways in your body called meridians. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance. Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. Many believe that this stimulation boosts your body’s natural painkillers and increases blood flow.
Acupuncture Basics — The Benefits
Acupuncture has multiple benefits including the relief of discomfort associated with a variety of diseases and conditions, such as these examples:
- Chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea and vomiting
- Dental pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches, including tension and migraine headaches
- Labor pain
- Low back pain
- Neck pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Menstrual cramps
- Stress
Why acupuncture?
Acupuncture is not typically the first choice when treating certain things with conventional medicine, but many who choose it do so because they prefer a more holistic approach to their ailments. Since they want treatment without the use of medicinal prescriptions and love the idea of treatments without any real side effects, acupuncture fits this need to a T.
And that’s not all. It’s just as affordable and accessible as going to your primary care physician. Now we would never recommend not seeing your physician for any health reason. But, you might be surprised to know we think it’s a great idea for medical doctors and doctors of acupuncture to work together to provide great care for their clients. It’s all about helping individuals live their best life, not just without illness but with active wellness.
And acupuncture isn’t a new trend. As we said before, this profession has been around for thousands of years. Acupuncture is becoming more refined with each generation.
But you don’t have to take our word for it. Read the Key West Citizen interview with Dr. Ashley Hoyt and see how acupuncture is becoming more mainstream all the time.
If these symptoms affect you, or if you have questions about how acupuncture might help you, book an appointment with Dr. Ashley Hoyt today.
