There are many people who are either fascinated with ancient medicine methods, alternative therapies, or even those who want to learn about other cultures. In addition, non-western medicine approaches and other techniques are also a major interest to many people. Fortunately, acupuncture therapy falls under all of these categories and there is much to be learned from this ancient medicinal technique. The ancient Chinese civilizations started using acupuncture when there was any physical or mental ailment that needed to be cured. There are all sorts of reasons why this ancient method was also moved from the Middle East where it originated, but a whole plethora of countries have definitely benefited from it.

Nevertheless, there will always be those people who are fascinated with the basics and fundamentals of acupuncture. In reality, acupuncture truly is an amazing therapy. For starters, acupuncture isn't like any other therapy because it doesn't involve anything that any other traditional Western therapies involve. For example, some traditional Western therapies involve focusing on an individuals interactions with the environment and other people; however, acupuncture deals with the person and the body itself, including bringing the state of the body back to equilibrium where it belongs.

What Does Acupuncture Believe?

Just as there are a great number (and growing, too!) of people who are fascinated with what acupuncture is, those people are the same individuals that need to realize that acupuncture is truly a belief system. In other words, acupuncture just simply isn't a therapy technique that requires a person to undergo needles in their skin and that's it. On the contrary, acupuncture is a whole belief system that entails beliefs about the body and the whole healing process.

For starters when it comes to acupuncture, the Chinese believed that there was one basic source in the body that was responsible for the whole body's energy source. This energy source is called the Chi, and this spot in the body is also responsible for any type of pain that is felt. Knowing all this, however, enables a person to also know that in order to stop pain from being felt then those spots on the bodies must be removed. Thankfully, the Chinese culture figured out that their were pathways that run along the Chi line. In order to combat any number of illnesses and diseases one has to undergo the process of having needles placed in the skin in order for those pressure points on the body to help the process of healing.

The Science of Acupuncture

Even though acupuncture is not an exact science, more doctors and alternative therapy practitioners in the West are using acupuncture as a reference point and study guide to look at the practices of alternative therapies in a different light. Perhaps the reason that traditional Western medicine doesn't embrace acupuncture as much as the Chinese does is because there are no hard facts to go off of. But those who don't practice it also don't realize what they're missing out on. When it comes right down to it, thought, acupuncture is not only amazing, but it's also a therapy that everyone should be grateful for!

Styles of Acupuncture:

JAPANESE ACUPUNCTURE: There are actually 30 different styles of acupuncture under the umbrella of Japanese acupuncture. The type that I follow belongs to the Meridian Therapy School. This classical approach is based on the 3rd century text Nan Jing (The Classic of Difficulties), and revived in Japan in the 1930s. Meridian Therapy proposes that health is dependent on an equal distribution and movement of qi throughout the channels. This is to say that all twelve acupuncture channels should have an equal amount of qi in them. Disease and disorder - whether it is due to organ weakness, trauma, toxic microbes or emotional stress - will be seen as excesses and deficiencies of energy in various channels. The job of the acupuncturist is to restore all twelve channels to equal levels. Then the body heals itself efficiently and quickly.

Korean Hand Acupuncture: Points in the hand correspond to areas of the body and to certain disharmonies.

Auricular Acupuncture: Points in the ear correspond to areas of the body and to certain disharmonies. This system is commonly used for pain control and drug, alcohol, and nicotine addictions.

Traditional Chinese Acupuncture (TCM): Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the most common form of acupuncture studied and practiced in the United States.