There is probably no alternative treatment procedure more misunderstood by Westerners than acupuncture.
It has mysterious beginnings that are generally assumed to be Chinese, and it has been associated with bloodletting and demonology.
Stories handed down for hundreds of years paint fanciful notions of how the procedure saved the lives of many people when no other treatment was available.
Much of the use of acupuncture is still associated with Asian society because Western medicine has not embraced its validity.
Some studies have been done on this treatment, but the only agreement some scientists have reached is that in certain circumstances, the procedure relieves nausea and pain.
Even those conclusions are not proven unequivocally to the entire scientific community.
The Basis of Acupuncture Traditional Chinese medicine infers that Qi is the energy flow that regulates the body.
When it is flowing as it should a person is healthy and happy, because happiness is a part of the essence of Qi.
Illness and injury interfere with the correct flow of Qi and acupuncture is used to restore it once again.
The body has points or channels called meridians, which correspond to the flow of the energy.
The placement of needles in these areas in the right sequence reconnects the Qi, healing the patient and restoring good health.
Western research has been unable to find any biological or physical existence of Qi or the meridian points.
It has been suggested that acupuncture simply has a placebo effect on those who believe in it, but there is not enough information to rule it out completely.
How Safe is Acupuncture? The United States has guardedly endorsed the procedure for some conditions, although there are some risks attributable to it.
The World Health Organization also given its endorsement, as has the UK through its National Health Service.
If the procedure is performed by qualified practitioners who have sterilized needles to work with, it is safe for the mass majority of those who choose to use it.
Acupuncture Today At one time, the procedure was proclaimed to be an anesthetic, used on patients during operations and after traumatic injuries.
Most scientifically trained Chinese doctors no longer use it for those purposes.
They view it more as an analgesic or pain reducer than they do as an anesthetic, which blocks the pain.