Acupuncture

Hello, my name is Dr. Suess and I am an acupuncturist at the Chi Clinic in Philadelphia, PA. At the Chi Clinic, we specialize in alternative medicine, such as acupuncture, hypnotherapy an homeopathic medicine. The acupuncture procedure itself is painless with little to no side effects (Acupuncture 2010). American acupuncture is a mixture of Eastern and Western medicine. Acupuncture has been proven to treat many ailments from drug and alcohol addictions to insomnia and impotence. Insurance companies are now realizing the benefits of this alternative medicine and are beginning to provide coverage for them. (Acupuncture, 2010). Acupuncture has an invisible life force that travels down your body in 14 pathways, called meridians. When blockages occur, illness and pain result, because of body imbalances to the life force, called Qi. (Acupuncture, 2010).

Scientists are now documenting with brain imaging studies and other high-tech tools how acupuncture arouses areas of the brain that register pain and are activated in recuperation. Doppler ultrasounds show acupuncture increases blood flow in the treated areas. Thermal imaging shows acupuncture makes inflammation subside. There have always been parallels between the ancient concepts to modern anatomy. The 365 acupuncture points correspond to the nerve bundles and muscle trigger points (see attached diagram). Meridians travel along major arteries and nerves.

For example, if you have a heart attack, the pain usually goes down the left arm, along the heart meridian. If you have gallbladder pain, that pain will radiate to your right upper shoulder where the gallbladder meridian exists. Western medicine has always been skeptical about acupuncture and its effectiveness. However, now something measurable is being recorded when you stick a needle into a patient. Skeptical doctors still think that acupuncture has a strong placebo effect even though there is such a large amount of success where traditional...