Yoga, meditation, feng shui: these Eastern practices have embedded themselves deeply in American spiritualism since the movement’s peek in the 1960s and 70s. Today, alternative forms of healing like meditation, acupuncture, aromatherapy, and other forms of traditional Chinese medicine are being embraced by thousands of Americans both for their spiritual benefits and physical effects.
The Philosophy and History of Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the application of sterile needles into the 2,000 pressure points located on the human body. These points connect with twenty pathways called the meridians. Since its development in China 3,000 years ago, acupuncture has been used by Daoists and other spiritual seekers as a curative method that accelerates the physical and spiritual healing process. Today, acupuncture has a variety of recognized medical and psychological benefits, giving merit to traditional Chinese medicine.
The Eastern Alternative Healing Process
Acupuncture treatments are widely available in the United States without a prescription just as a massage or hair cut would be scheduled. Treatments can range from $65 to $125 per session. The steel rods are inserted and left for around 15 to 30 minutes while the patient relaxes. Anywhere from one to twenty needles are inserted at different depths within the body. Some simply break the skin while others penetrate up to an inch or more. Over 14 million Americans have tried acupuncture therapy, and 150,000 children underwent treatment in 2007.
Pain Treatment
Acupuncture is primarily recommended to patients that struggle with chronic pain and have trouble finding relief. A review of 29 studies found that acupuncture is effective in relieving the pain for half of participants. The World Health Organization endorses acupuncture therapy treatment to help treat at least two dozen conditions. Across the United States there are over 3,000 physicians who use acupuncture regularly as an element of their clinical practice.
