Acupuncture

The earliest recordings of Oriental Medicine that is similar to the way we know it today was during the Zhou Dynasty (1045 - 221 BCE). It has evolved significantly over the last 2,500 to 3,000 years, but the great thing about the eastern culture of medicine is that new knowledge accumulates as new ideas evolve, rather than new ideas replacing the old.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs work with the body's meridian system (also called channel system). Western science seems to think that the use of acupuncture needles stimulates the nervous, arteriole and venous systems of the body causing a chemical reaction in the brain to stimulate circulation. This isn't untrue, however, I think our bodies are much more complicated than that and we still don't yet know from a scientific perspective exactly what is happening. All I know is that acupuncture works...and works well.

Acupuncture can treat a wide range of ailments from allergies to digestive issues to mood and beyond. Acupuncture is also great for general wellness and maintenance. Maybe you don't have a specific condition, and you generally feel pretty good; acupuncture can still be beneficial for keeping the Qi flowing properly and helping you stay in balance. Acupuncture needles are very fine compared to the needles used for shots and drawing blood. Some acupuncture needles are as thin as a human hair. Getting acupuncture does not usually hurt. The sensation of Qi flow is often felt as a heavy or dull ache. Acupuncture should not feel sharp, burning, stabbing, etc. Sometimes an electric feeling may happen and it should dissipate instantly. The electric  sensation is the Qi moving strongly through the meridian (channel) and is a good thing. Always tell your acupuncturist if there is pain or discomfort.

Another integral part of Oriental Medicine that works with acupuncture are Chinese herbal formulas. Chinese herbs are plants, minerals, and sometimes animal products that are used to assist the body's balancing mechanism internally.

Meditation and some form of Qi cultivation practice can also be a nice piece of "homework" that your acupuncturist might send you home with. Meditation can take years, if not a lifetime to accomplish, but once you start incorporating it in your daily life, you will have less stress and learn some amazing things about yourself. Qi cultivation is often in the form of Qi Gong or Tai Chi. Both are moving and stillness practices that look like a beautiful dance. Although these practices may look simple, to do them right (just like yoga) can be extremely challenging. Usually when people begin practicing, they may not look so graceful. But with practice and development, you will eventually feel the movements correctly and simpleness will follow. Within stillness, there is movement.