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	> What is Acupuncture
	> Where Did it Originate
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	> Special Equipment Used
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Acupuncture

What Are the Benefits?

Acupuncture is safe for people of all ages, including children and the elderly, although treatment for the elderly is usually done to reduce discomfort and in management of various conditions related to aging.

Acupuncture is inexpensive and non-intrusive. Often those who undergo Acupuncture have issues which resist modern medical solutions, or have issues which Medical Doctors struggle to formally diagnose.

Acupuncture can be effective as the only treatment used, or to support other medical treatments. Medical Doctors may combine Acupuncture with fewer conventional drugs/anesthetic drugs to control surgery-related pain. Using such combinations, some doctors have found it possible to achieve complete pain relief for some patients.

With drugs, people often develop a tolerance, or the need for an increased dosage to achieve the same required effect. However, this does not happen with Acupuncture.

Adding Acupuncture sessions to antihistamine treatments, for example, can achieve comparable results to higher doses of medication alone. Side effects such as drowsiness are also decreased. Similarly, post-operative Acupuncture can reduce the nausea and vomiting caused by anesthesia and narcotic painkillers.

Although Acupuncture is not a "cure-all" treatment, it is often associated with pain relief and in resolving physical problems related to tension, stress, and emotional conditions.

Acupuncture is considered very effective at treating a variety of imbalances, including chronic pain, headaches, back and neck pain, arthritis, hormonal disorders, skin conditions, allergies, facial pain, pain from shingles, spastic colon, colitis conditions, and post injury pain. Acupuncture has also been successful in treating obesity and addictions such as nicotine or drugs. Acupuncture can also improve the functioning of the immune system.

The World Health Organization recognizes the use of Acupuncture in the treatment of more than 40 medical problems, ranging from digestive disorders to respiratory disorders, neurological and muscular disorders, urinary and reproductive problems, allergies, cancer, and AIDS.

Is Acupuncture Safe During Pregnancy?
Acupuncture is a safe and comfortable treatment for many of the problems that commonly develop in pregnancy. This is a significant benefit since many medications are contraindicated in pregnant women.

Common conditions treated with Acupuncture include:

• Psychological issues (worry, anxiety, and tension)
• Morning Sickness (due to imbalance in the digestive function of internal organs)
• Heartburn
• Constipation
• Back Pain and sciatica
• Edema
• Postpartum Depression

Acupuncture can also be used for breech birth (the technique is typically used 32-34 weeks into the pregnancy, as past the 36th week there is usually not enough room to rotate the fetus). It is applied twice a day for up to 10 days, though most babies turn within 3 days. Once turned into the appropriate headfirst position, patients should stop using the technique as it may cause the baby to turn back to the breech position.

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