Acupuncture is a safe and natural form of alternative treatment for a wide range of illnesses and conditions. Acupuncture is a treatment that uses thin needles inserted through a person’s skin at certain points on the body. The needles are inserted at various depths on the skin depending on the condition it is treating. Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which believes that the balance of yin and yang and the unimpeded flow of chi, also known as the life force are essential for the well-being and growth of the person. According to TCM, the body has 350 acupuncture points where meridians are connected which in turn connect to the various the body’s organs and tissues.  Meridians are networks in the body where chi flows.  When a person becomes ill it is due to the disharmony of the body caused by the imbalance of yin and yang and blockage of chi in the meridians. Acupuncture is used to correct the imbalance and restore normal chi flow around the body.

The efficacy of acupuncture as a painkiller can be seen in some surgeries that employ acupuncture as an anesthetic aid in operations. Acupuncture is especially effective for back problems.  Misaligned discs between the vertebrae, spinal cord and nerves can cause back pain. Acupuncture has been known not only to bring pain relief but also increase a person’s tolerance of pain.  Acupuncture has also been treating people suffering from anxiety or depression. Anxiety and depression are extreme emotions stemming from helplessness in controlling one’s life.   Many studies and tests have documented the success of acupuncture in helping to improve and/or lessen anxiety or depression symptoms.

Fibromyalgia can also be effectively treated by acupuncture.  Fibromyalgia is a type of arthritis affecting the muscles.  Pain comes from the affected muscles.  Acupuncture can dramatically reduce the muscle pain making the need for prescription drugs virtually nil.
Many conditions that are treatable with acupuncture are rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, asthma, headaches or migraines, hypertension among others.  Acupuncture can likewise boost the body’s immune system and enhance the circulation of blood in the body. Acupuncture is 100% safe and carries no harmful side affects.

Acupuncture basically, does three things for the body.  First, acupuncture removes the blockage of chi to allow it to flow freely.  The proper flow of chi makes the body health and grow.  Second, acupuncture stimulates the brain to release endorphins, that relaxes and allows the body to suppress cravings and addictions it might have.  The endorphins also allows the patient to feel relaxed and elated helping the patient battle any extreme emotions the patient may have.  Third, acupuncture enhances blood flow throughout the body, allowing the body to feel energized and reinvigorated.

Steven Goldfarb is a licensed acupuncture doctor and the medical director of Goldfarb Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center in West Orange, NJ.