Acupuncture
Acupuncture used to be the only and primary medicine in Asia for over 5,000 years. In the primitive ages, people used to poke a sharp stone into the skin in order to squeeze the pus from a wound. Needling method was invented when they poked deeper into the skin by accident, and experienced the relief of pain. This convinced them that pressing a sharp stone into the body would produce a therapeutic effect and lead to the development of acupuncture meridian channels. Later on, they created silver, gold needles and found them less painful and more convenient than thick stone needles. Today, we use fine, stainless sterile disposable needles and there are many sizes and lengths, depending on the sensitivity and health conditions of the patients.
By analogy, let’s say there is a terrible traffic jam on the 5th Avenue in the NYC. There is an accident blocking the center of the street. Traffic will not flow even if the traffic lights are working. The cars cannot pass or move. Pedestrians cease to follow the traffic rules, they just cross anywhere. After a while chaos prevails. Somebody will call 911, the police will come to sort out the situation and everything will get back to normal.
When we are stressed, we tend to ignore what our inner body is trying to tell us. Maybe deep inside our body, there is a message that we need help. We might feel something is wrong, but not be sure how to seek help. Acupuncturists work in a manner similar to the police officer, we see the patient, try to sort out the situation and develop a treatment plan that will bring the patient to normal stage. Depending on whether the patient’s condition is chronic or acute, the treatment period can be only 1-2 sessions or can continue for a few weeks or even months.
Rare but possible side effects could be bleeding, minor bruises, heavy, achy sensation where the needles were inserted, but these normally go away within minutes or a day or two. A few patients may feel slightly dizzy, tired, sleepy or just very relaxed after a treatment.
