Acupuncture

Tuesday, May 21, 2002

In eastern cultures, acupuncture is traditional medicine, but in our country, it is still considered an

alternative medical practice. Dr. Ken Davis tells us more about acupuncture in today’s Sixty Second

Housecall.

 

Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine based on the belief that energy circulating

through the body controls health. When this energy cycle is interrupted, pain and disease result.

The practice of acupuncture centers on inserting very thin needles into the skin at key points to

help regulate energy flow in the body.

 

According to practitioners, energy is carried through the body along specific channels, or meridians.

They believe placing needles at points along these meridians will affect the related internal organs.

The needles may be left in place or rotated back and forth. Research shows that acupuncture may

help relieve pain by releasing the body’s own natural painkillers. Studies are currently under way to

determine acupuncture’s success in treating a number of common illnesses.

 

For more information on this and other alternative therapies, log on to wtva.com and click on

Sixty Second Housecall. For North Mississippi Medical Center, I’m Dr. Ken Davis.

 

Most acupuncture visits last about an hour, and a course of six to 10 treatments is considered

normal. For more information, visit wtva.com.