Odenton Chiropractic & Holistic Wellness Center
325A Gambrills Road
Gambrills, MD 21054
More Complementary & Integrative Healthcare Articles
Ancient Medicine For the Modern World
We live in America melting pot of the world. Our culture has followed a twisting path of development. It is the creation of millions of individuals, each bringing his or her unique experience over decades and centuries. This has made the America that we see today. Whether in music, art, architecture or medicine, we have taken some from here and some from there and created something new. Given that, we take from cultures from all over the world, it comes as no surprise that acupuncture, one of the most long-lived of Chinese traditions, has found a home in the United States.
Acupuncture was introduced to mainstream America in the 1970's as a result of Richard Nixon's visit to China. One of the men in his party became very ill and was famously treated with acupuncture to excellent results. This big story, along with endorsements from individuals on the fringe who were reaping the benefits of acupuncture, helped to propel acupuncture into the homes of many Americans. Part of the reason that acupuncture is so appealing is the fact that it is tried-and-true. This ancient medicine has been used in its present form for over 2,000 years, and has survived the test of time.
Acupuncture works using vastly different principles than those of Western medicine. While Western medicine focuses on the mechanics of the human body, acupuncture taps the flow and distribution of life energy, called qi, in our bodies. Acupuncture works to improve not only our physical health but also our mental and emotional health. Although acupuncture is a 2000-year-old tradition, it has become increasingly popular with Americans because of how well suited it is to our fast-paced, high-stress lifestyle. Stress is a major contributor to serious illness. Acupuncture is highly effective in helping to manage this. It can be used as a preventative medicine helping us deal with our fast-paced world.
An acupuncturist takes the time to listen to his or her patient and design a treatment tailored to each patient's unique needs. Some people are initially concerned about the needles, fear that typically dissipates after the first treatment. The needles are no thicker than a cat's whisker and cause only a mild sensation. Acupuncture is used to treat countless conditions. It can be combined with and work synergistically with Western medicine. If you are curious, contact an acupuncturist and discuss your needs.
