Acupuncture: Bloor West
Acupuncture is one of the oldest healing treatments in the world. A key practice of traditional Chinese medicine that originated more than two thousand years ago, acupuncture has gained popularity in the west in recent decades. Today the World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture as an effective treatment for a long list of conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, chronic back pain, headache, hypertension, depression, and many other health problems. Some doctors recommend acupuncture treatments to relieve heartburn in pregnancy, or to help chemotherapy patients overcome nausea. There are several reputable
acupuncture practitioners in Toronto's Bloor West neighbourhood.
How Does It Work?
An acupuncturist inserts very fine, sterilized, disposable needles through the patient's skin at various points in the body. (These needles are hair-thin, so they cause minimal discomfort.) Traditional Chinese medicine asserts that body organs are connected to energy channels in the body known as meridians. Essential life energy, or qi, is said to flow along the meridians. Acupuncture needles promote circulation in specific areas, depending on where on the fourteen meridians they are positioned. In a typical treatment, five to twenty needles are used. Placing these needles at various depths in the correct locations will work to overcome any blockages or deficiencies in energy flow in the affected organ or area.
Western medicine acknowledges the effectiveness of acupuncture, but often derogates the traditional Chinese medicine explanation. Scientists posit that the reason acupuncture works is that the process stimulates the body to release endorphins, which can affect both the body's regulating system and brain chemistry. This can change the patient's experience of pain, and can result in an improved biochemical balance.
Why Try Acupuncture?
There are many reasons why you might want to experience acupuncture. Here are a few of them:
- If you have pain. Whether you have migraines, carpal tunnel syndrome, or an old back injury, acupuncture can be an effective and safe way to control pain. It has virtually no side effects, and you can use it in conjunction with other treatments. Doctors sometimes recommend the treatment for those suffering with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome.
- If you are experiencing stress. Acupuncture has been shown to be particularly effective in the treatment of stress and stress-related illness. Unfortunately, many of us have jobs or life situations that cause us to manage stress on a daily basis. Stress causes the release of two substances that can be very damaging to the body: adrenalin and cortisol. Prolonged exposure to adrenalin is linked to diseases such as high blood pressure, heart palpitations, and insomnia. Cortisol is known to contribute to obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and a suppressed immune system. Acupuncture has been clinically proven to lower cortisol levels and to help the body learn to better cope with stress, particularly when used in conjunction with other treatments, such as massage.
- If you're anxious or depressed. By helping to release natural mood-changing neuropeptides such as melatonin and dopamine, acupuncture can be useful for people experiencing emotional difficulties.
- If you have physical challenges. Whether you are feeling constantly tired, have a lowered immune system, or have trouble with digestion or menstrual cycles, acupuncture can be helpful.
Contact a Bloor West acupuncturist today and explore what the treatment can do for you. Improve your health and your mood, feel and look younger and more relaxed with acupuncture!