Acupuncture at Inspiration Center

Acupuncture literally means "to puncture with a needle". As ominous is that may sound, it is rarely painful to a patient, principally because of the extreme slenderness of the needles, which are about the size of single strand of hair from a horses tail. In fact, many report a not-unpleasant tingling or sensation of energy flow. This technique, which has been practiced for 2500 years, is based on the theory that the body is made up of energy pathways called meridians, and these communicate with over 1000 external "acupoints" on the body. The acupuncturist uses needles, slight elecrical stimulation or pressure to stimulate these points systematically, according to a specific pattern depending on the treatment a patient requires. The purpose is to reestablish balance in the body, thus allowing our own innate healing to manifest.

Although the underlying mechanism by which acupuncture truly has it's effect is still somewhat of a mystery to scientists, the scientific evidence that acupuncture is an effective treatment for many health problems is overwhelming. For example, according to a recent review of controlled studies of acupuncture, conducted by the World Health Organization, some of the "Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which acupuncture has been proved - through controlled trials - to be an effective treatment" include: adverse reactions to radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy, allergic rhinitis (including hay fever), biliary colic, depression, epigastralgia (in peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, and gastrospasm), facial pain (including craniomandibular disorders), headache, hypertension, hypotension, induction of labor, knee pain, low back pain, correction of malposition of fetus, morning sickness, nausea and vomiting, periarthritis of shoulder, postoperative pain, renal colic, rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, sprain, and stroke. This report also listed a number of additional disorders for which the positive effect of acupuncture has been demonstrated, but further evidence is needed.