Acupuncture - 2,000 Years of Natural Healing

Traditional & Medical Acupuncture            

Acupuncture - What is It and How Does It Really Work?

What does the word Acupuncture mean? Acupuncture is derived from Latin and the literal translation is "needle prick" from "acus" and "pungere." The ancient healing arts of acupuncture and oriental medicine are readily taught throughout the world.

To describe acupuncture, one must first get to the root of its historical backdrop. Dating back as far as 2,000 BC, this age-old art parallels the Han dynasty. Even earlier than that, acupuncture may have possibly originated almost 4,000 years ago, based on hieroglyphic findings and stone (bian) and ceramic acupuncture needles, which have been documented throughout the centuries.

The concept of needles should not worry us however as these tiny needles used only penetrate the skin at a superficial level, plus the fact that they are very tiny about the size of one's hair. The experience is virtually painless.

Many chronic diseases that cannot be cured by conventional medicines have responded well with our acupuncture these include:

  NEW!!... Research shows acupuncture effective treatment for migraines   ...    The latest study, published in the March, 2008 journal, Headache confirms that acupuncture significantly reduces migraines and works better that drugs alone. 

The study, conducted at the University of Padua in Italy by Dr. Enrico Facco and his colleagues, included 160 participants that were divided into four groups; a true acupuncture treatment according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in migraine without aura, a standard mock acupuncture protocol, an accurate mock acupuncture healing ritual, and an untreated control. 

The participants in all the groups were given the medication, Rizatriptan, to treat any migraine attacks.

Over six months, only the group receiving true, traditional acupuncture showed lasting improvement in migraine disability measured on a standardized scale.  The groups using only the medication and the mock acupuncture plus Rizatriptan showed only temporary or transient improvement.

Dr. Facco theorizes that acupuncture prevents migraine by altering nerve signals or affecting neurotransmitters released in the central nervous system. The results are promising, according to Dr. Facco, but more studies are needed to confirm the benefits of traditional acupuncture for migraine.

However, Facco added, since the therapy carries little risk of side effects, it could be worth a try for migraine sufferers who are not adequately helped by standard preventive treatment.

SOURCE: Headache, March 2008.