What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points located near or on the surface of the skin which have the ability to alter biochemical and physiological conditions in order to achieve the desired effect.
Acupuncture points are points that have been designated to have electrical sensitivity. Inserting needles at these points stimulates sensory receptors and stimulate nerves that transmit impulses to the hypothalamus and pituitary glands located at the base of the brain. The hypothalamus and pituitary glands are responsible for releasing neurotransmitters and endorphins which are the body’s natural pain killing hormones.
History of Acupuncture
Acupuncture is over 5,000 years old and was not just practiced in China. The Egyptians talked about vessels that resembled the 12 meridians n 1550 B.C. South African Bantu tribesman scratched parts of their bodies in an effort to cure disease. The Arabs cauterized their ears with hot metal probes. The Eskimos used sharp stones for Acupuncture and Brazilian cannibals shot tiny arrows with blow pipes to diseased parts of their bodies to cure disease.
The first use of acupuncture to treat addiction started in the 1970’s. The interesting thing is that it was an accidental discovery. Dr. Wen a neurosurgeon in Hong Kong was researching the effects of acupuncture on treating post surgical pain and instead found that applying electrical stimulation to the lung point in the ear helped to relieve withdrawal symptoms.