Introduction to Acupuncture Miami

Acupuncture Miami is a non-traditional (not a part of Western medicine) treatment alternative for back or neck pain.  It is a part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practiced for 3,000 years and its core of belief is that the body contains networks of energy channels.  The vital energy or life force flowing in the body is called qi or chi and the normal flow of chi is believed to be the reason for good mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health.  There are about 2,000 acupuncture points on the human body connecting to 20 energy channels called meridians. These channels are where chi flows throughout the body.  Acupuncture treatment is the application of reed-thin needles into certain points in the body in order to restore the normal flow of chi.  Acupuncture, though not empirically proven, has shown an ability to stimulate the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).  Some people have experienced a tingling sensation while others felt relaxed and some become full of energy when receiving treatment.

In an acupuncture treatment session, needles ranging from 1 to 20, metallic, sterile and disposable needles are inserted with depths from just merely penetrating the skin surface to up to an inch to several inches deep.  Acupuncture needles of sizes 5 to 9 inches long are used in the muscles and/or fat layers in the skin and in the scalp. The needles are inserted for 10 to 30 minutes.  Many times, the needles are “tweaked” or manipulated depending on the result the acupuncturist wants the body to elicit.  Some treatments involve inserting a needle for about 10 seconds and then removed with the same needle used for treating other points on the same patient.  Some treatments are with heated needles and some with needles connected to thin wires plugged in to a machine that generate weak electrical pulses.  Some treatments use moxibustion and burn this on the needles during insertion. There are treatment techniques such as cupping whereby cups are heated and used on the skin to create a suction effect and bring blood up to the skin.  Some treatments treat a certain micro system such ear acupuncture where many meridians connect to important organs and tissues in the body.

Acupuncture is believed to stimulate the release of certain beneficial chemicals in the body, which help relieve many kinds of pain and stresses physically and psychologically.  These chemicals are called opioid peptides and they have an analgesic effect on the body.  They help relieve or take away many different kinds of pain.  Acupuncture is also acknowledged to stimulate the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to release chemicals necessary for the mitigation of pain as well as control of the activity of organs.  Studies also manifest that acupuncture plays a big part in improving the immune functions in the body.