Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a strong component in China, and can be traced to their health care system for at least 2,500 years. The procedure involves inserting hair-thin steel surgical needles into specific points in the body which are supposed to make you feel better, and be healthier. This is only the technical aspect though. To understand the "art" of this procedure, you must have a background on Chinese medicine. How it works is this: health is achieved though the balance of the opposing forces between "yin" (spirit), and "yang" (blood). The attraction between them creates an energy called "Qi" ( pronounced chee). This energy flows to all parts of the body through channels which are known as "meridians" (pathways that run along the surface of the body and branch into the body's interior). An imbalance in these forces is what is believed to cause illness and disease. When needles are placed on the acupuncture points along the meridians, balance, and hence, health is restored. There are several styles of acupuncture, the differences being how the acupuncture points are stimulated.Acupuncture was introduced to American doc
tors by Sir William Osler, who is often called the father of modern medicine. In a classic medical textbook written more than a century ago, he said, "For lumbago, acupuncture is, in acute cases, the most efficient treatment." The first time acupuncture really got notice wasn't until 1972. James Reston, a New York Times correspondent, was assigned to cover President Nixon's now historic trip to China. During his stay, Reston had to have an emergency appendectomy, and was treated with acupuncture for the postoperative pain he had to endure. The report of his experience with acupuncture caught the interest of many American doctors who wanted to see how the Chinese used acupuncture as an anesthetic. Many non-physicians went to train overseas or with acupuncturists who had been silently practicing in the States, in many Asian communities. These people then fought to gain laws that would allow acupuncture to be practiced legally. There are many advantages to acupuncture. One is that it can supposedly treat so many illnesses. Another was the point mentioned above, that most people respond well to this treatment. The
Some common words found in the essay are:
Health Organization, , President Nixon's, William Osler, York Times, medical procedures, accepted medical procedures, medical procedures conditions, treated acupuncture, surgical steel, procedures conditions, postoperative pain, treatment acupuncture, accepted medical, american doctors,
Approximate Word count = 755
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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