Acupuncture- An Explanation of the Use of Acupuncture in Healing

Christine Krause, Dipl., Ac, Lac, RN, Wellness Solutions

Acupuncture is over 2000 years old. The aim of acupuncture is to restore the proper flow of Qi, which is the body's energy or life force. It also brings the body back into balance on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels, by stimulating the body's own self-healing abilities.

Oriental medicine is a broad category that includes other modalities besides acupuncture. It also uses diet, exercise, physiotherapy techniques and herbs. It is a holistic approach to health, healing and regaining balance.

A licensed Acupuncturist will attend a school that specializes in Traditional Chinese Medicine training. The programs usually take 4 years and award a Master's Degree in Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs.

Acupuncturists are trained to understand the basics of western medicine, but the primary focus is on understanding and addressing a pattern of disharmony causing the symptoms that bring a patient to them. It is important to understand western medicine and medications so as not to aggravate the patient's condition when applying acupuncture treatment methods. Some may include recommendations for dietary changes, herbs, or supplements, or even specific exercises to be done to help correct the pattern of disharmony that is identified.

In TCM (including acupuncture), the body is viewed as an energetic, vibrating whole. Qi is the body's energy or life force, it is what animates us, helps us draw our first breath and begin moving. Blood is what warms and nourishes us. The two work together to maintain balance and harmony within the body. In TCM/acupuncture, we view the organ systems energetically and this is what makes TCM/acupuncture so unique.

TCM / acupuncture addresses 6 organ systems, 5 of which correlate to actual physical organs in the body. Each organ system also has a paired organ that it works with. Each organ also correlates to specific seasons, colors, tastes, emotions, sounds and parts of the body. Each of these organ systems needs to be in balance to work with all of the others, and when one system is out of balance, then the other organ systems will eventually become out of balance also.

Wellness Solutions' collaborative treatment approach incorporates traditional, functional, and integrative (acupuncture) healing options to help our patients experience their best health.

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