In a world of over diagnosing and a heavy dependency on the pharmaceutical industry, I personally make it my mission to mend my every one of my multiplying ailments sans prescription medication (whenever I can). Hence me stumbling upon and wanting to know more about the ancient practice of acupuncture.
“Simply put, acupuncture is the insertion of sterile single-use needles into specific acupuncture points along the meridians (sometimes called acupuncture channels) for the purpose of promoting the body’s intelligence to restore balance,” says Christopher Peacock the Clinic Director at The Yinova Center.
He continues, “Acupuncture originated in China around 3,500 years ago and remains one of the oldest, most commonly used systems of healing in the world. These days, science can explain its effectiveness. For example, Doppler ultrasound shows that acupuncture increases blood flow and circulation. MRI readings can help demonstrate that acupuncture prompts observable changes in the brain, and thermal imaging reveals that acupuncture reduces inflammation.”
The practice is methodical, based in Chinese medicine theory which considers all aspects of a person’s health, from their specific points are chosen based on your specific diagnosis.
“Once the needles are in, most of our patients feel a sense of deep relaxation & even sleepiness!” says Peacock.
Acupuncture is commonly used for a myriad of ailments; pain, fertility, gynecological issues, digestive issues, circulatory issues, respiratory issues, stress relief and so much more.
Personally speaking, I was looking for a way to alleviate my debilitating PMDD (a health problem similar to PMS but with more serious effects including depression and anxiety), which Peacock says is something The Yinova Center sees every day.
“At the Yinova Center, we treat patients as young as a few weeks old, senior citizens, and everyone in between. That being said, the most common issue that we treat is fertility. We also treat a wide variety of complaints from musculoskeletal pain to mental health issues as well.”
“The beauty of acupuncture lies in its ability to prompt the body to heal itself. Each acupuncture treatment and herbal formula differs from person to person, so what is unique about Chinese medicine and acupuncture is how specifically tailored to the patent it is.”
When it came to PMDD, specifically, Peacock said that most of the patient’s top complaints were mood-related, with better mood, less fatigue, better sleep and increased vitality in about 8-12 weeks with weekly acupuncture treatments and Chinese herbs.
At The Yinova Center, about 80% of their patients are being treated for women’s health-related issues.
“With acupuncture and Chinese medicine, we try to fix the root of the problem, whilst also addressing any symptoms you could be experiencing as well. Many other treatment modalities can end up simply masking symptoms without ever solving an issue. While that kind of intervention does have its uses, our approach is to fix the problem and not mask the symptoms,” says Peacock.
Acupuncture is a great route of treatment when there are many systems involved in the ailment you want to treat. The basis of Chinese medicine is to restore harmony among the systems to create homeostasis, in order for our bodies to function properly those systems need to be communicating with each other and that is what acupuncture does.
So whether you’re looking to heal your aching muscles, looking to an alternative way to treat a chronic illness, or treat your mental health, acupuncture is for you.
Be sure to check out Christopher and The Yinova Center at their website https://www.yinovacenter.com/
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