When people ask me a question about acupuncture, the topic usually is about the needles used in the treatment. Some have asked is there something on the needles? I answer no and immediately explain to them why the needles are used and why it is the most important tool for acupuncturists. I basically tell people that the needles are inserted into points where nerves that are responsive to the needles are located. The nerves in turn, send signals to the brain telling the brain to release certain chemicals that would help relieve illnesses, pain, and ailments.
Chinese medicine acknowledges the tremendous healing power of the body and is able to set off these processes. The fact is, acupuncture doesn’t treat you per se – it assists your body to heal itself. The needles strengthen, prod, and assist those healing responses. Acupuncture in Bellingham helps balance the body and when the body is in balance, it works correctly allowing it to resolve any problems it may have.
This is the most important aspect of Chinese medicine in general, and acupuncture, in particular. Words such as natural and ‘holistic’ are thrown around a lot these days. But in Chinese medicine, these words take a very real meaning since the core belief of this ancient healing system is that each part of our mind and body are connected, and that we as person are inter connected to the people and the world around us.
Disease and illness is an indication of your body being in a state of imbalances. Disease and illness do not occur in isolation and the almost always have an underlying cause. Properly diagnosing and addressing that imbalance can only be possible when you look at your whole self on a larger perspective. This is essentially what holistic means – viewing the whole rather than the parts. This is what’s beautiful and true about Chinese medicine. Acupuncturists and other practitioners of Chinese medicine don’t do things to people, they work with them to regain that lost balance in the best way possible.
Most acupuncturists will give time to their patients for advice and recommendations on things that they can do themselves. These practitioners are skilled in the healing art of meditation, herbal medicine, acupressure, self massage, tui na, and qi gong. All these therapies are essentially balancing practices.
An imbalance (be it emotional, mental, or physical imbalance) in a specific part of the body, can affect all the others parts of the bodily systems and when your body is in balance, you keep sickness at bay and stay well.
Chinese medicine can do much more than merely keeping you healthy every day, it can help you become centered and grounded, calm, and balanced. You can do so much more than just relieve the pain in your back when your flow and balance is restored. You can also experience profound but subtle changes at the deepest level. Although the effects can sometimes feel magical, they are not and are the effects of what Chinese medicine and acupuncture can do for your whole being, physical, mental, and emotional.
So, I recommend that you try these ancient healing arts especially herbal medicine, acupuncture, and tui na in order to attain and maintain health and well-being. Let’s be thankful for these wonderful effective treatment modalities as they can help bring balance into our lives.