Acupuncture For Whole Body Health
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine practices have been coming to the forefront of medical treatment options in recent years. With a documented history of 5000 years, this ancient healing art provides us with an alternative to conventional medicine and the side effects that are all too often experienced.
Acupuncture is considered a ‘functional medicine’ in that it addresses the underlying root causes of disease and is very personalized to each individual. For example, two people may receive acupuncture treatments for headaches, but because their ‘root cause’ is individual and unique to each person, their treatments may be vastly different. In treating the root cause, the symptoms either disappear completely or are greatly reduced.
Oriental medical practices include four main areas.
Acupuncture. Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points along the body either by needle, laser, or by pressure. The stimulation of these points causes a chemical cascade in the body that creates an optimal environment for the body to heal itself. There are no side effects as no outside chemicals are introduced. Acupuncture needles are ‘hair thin’ and are not painful like regular needles.
Qi Gong. Literally translated as ‘breath practice’, Qi Gong is comprised of breathing exercises that help move and clear the energy pathways of the body. This again creates an optimal environment for regeneration and healing of the body as a whole. Some of the effects of medical Qi Gong include reduction in blood pressure, increased immune function, and hormone regulation.
Nutrition. “Food is the medicine” is the foundation of functional nutrition therapy. What we nourish our bodies with creates who we are at a cellular level. Acupuncturists prescribe food therapy as well as herbal and nutrient supplementation to help their patients achieve optimal health.
Lifestyle. Acupuncturists offer lifestyle counseling to help patients not only achieve optimal health but also to maintain it for a lifetime.
Acupuncture is a holistic medicine and addresses all aspects of existence: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Almost any health issue can be addressed by using acupuncture and nutritional therapies. God created our bodies to heal themselves. It’s up to us to provide the environment for the healing to happen!
Kathy Veon, AP, DOM is an Acupuncture Physician and Doctor of Oriental Medicine. She practices acupuncture and functional medicine at Central Florida Preventive Medicine in Lake Mary, Florida.