I’m still in high school, but I’m planning to go into acupuncture,
apparently i need at least 3 years of undergraduate studies before enrolling into that school.
so i need to go to some random university, study something for 3 years, and then change to that school? So if i graduate from that acupuncture school, it doesn’t matter which other university i went to before?
im just confused, why cant i just go to their school right after graduating high school?

Warning! acupuncture doesn’t work. You can stick those needles in anywhere and get the exact same effect – it’s the placebo effect and nothing more. You can become a real nurse in 3 years or less and get a good-paying job where you’re not scamming people. Unless your whole goal in life is to scam people out of their money and health – in which case, just start a new religion. It’s faster.

There is an accredited school in NJ for acupuncture but it is a master diploma, not a master degree whereas the acupuncture schools in NY offers the Masters degree program but is double the tuition and takes more time. Does it really matter if you have a degree? As long as you are licensed to work, it shouldn’t matter right?

To legally practice acupuncture in New Jersey you do need to complete an accredited degree program before you can be licensed.(1)

You are also required to pass NCCAOM board exams to be licensed in New Jersey. Just to sit for the exams you must be enrolled in an accredited degree program. Later to receive your Dipl. of Acupuncture, or Diplomate of Oriental Medicine from the NCCAOM you must provide transcripts demonstrating graduation from the accredited program.(2)

1 -http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/laws/acuregs.pdf
2 -http://www.nccaom.org/applicants/eligibility.html

Chinese medicine is responsible for a number of natural therapies, and acupuncture is probably the best known of them. Basically, acupuncture works on the theory that your body contains energy centers at specific, strategic points. These energy centers are then linked to a particular part of the body. If you have a sore knee, for example, then the acupuncturist would locate the energy center links to that knee. This could well be located in a completely different part of the body. That’s the point where very thin needles are then inserted to stimulate the energy center. The result? The pain in your knee is reduced or removed entirely, by accessing the central nervous system through the acupuncture point.

Acupuncture is used to treat many conditions, but pain relief is the most common. It’s an odd concept – inserting needles into your body to reduce pain! But plenty of people find acupuncture. It’s believed that as well as stimulating energy centers, acupuncture stimulates the production of endorphins, known as “feel good” chemicals, which also helps reduce the pain.

Other research has shown that acupuncture can assist the immune system by stimulating the production of white blood cells. It’s also been shown that Alpha, Beta and Gamma Globulins increase after acupuncture therapy, and these assist in fighting infection and producing immune antibodies. Recently, acupuncture has been used to assist people recovering from alcohol and drug addiction. Acupuncture focuses on reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms, tension, and inducing a feeling of relaxation.

Sports people at the highest level have turned to acupuncture therapy to help improve both their training and performance. Muscle tension inhibits performance, and acupuncture releases tension in both muscles and the surround tissue, as well improving the efficiency of the nervous, circulatory and lymphatic systems. Acupuncture can also be used to speed up recovery rates from injury and manage pain.

Allergies also respond well to acupuncture therapy. Harmless substances can cause the immune system to overreact, leading to an allergic reaction. Many allergies are triggered by common environmental factors such as dust, pollen and chemicals. Many people also suffer from food allergies, which can be triggered by wheat, milk and shellfish, amongst other things. Allergies are uncomfortable – stuffy nose, watery eyes and sneezing. In some sufferers, allergy reaction can result in extreme symptoms such as kidney problems, joint pain and depression. Detoxifying the body and strengthening the immune system with acupuncture helps reduce or eliminate allergic reactions.

Many people turn to acupuncture therapy for more serious issues, such as bronchitis, asthma, hypertension and ulcers. Western medicine struggles to understand how acupuncture manages to be so effective, but the results speak for themselves. Some suggest that believing acupuncture will work is the reason it does, but that hasn’t been proven. Sometimes, for more chronic conditions, massage and herbal remedies are used together with acupuncture therapy.

Other health issues that often respond well to acupuncture include PMS, chronic fatigue syndrome, stress, menopause and menstruation problems. If you’re interested in trying acupuncture therapy, find yourself a reputable local practitioner, then ring and have a chat with them about your health problems. This will give them the opportunity to say whether or not they think acupuncture can help you. The only way to know for sure is to give it a go.

Stephen Dolan
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/does-acupuncture-work-87542.html

Acupuncture is actually a Chinese infertility medicine or some also say it Chinese acupuncture medicine that involves nonstop pains from pricking of needles. However, the perception made on acupuncture for its “not-so-effective” and painful nature is not correct, as it offers absolute relaxation and even cures from unexplained infertility.

Acupuncture seeks its origin from China, and is based on the belief of Chinese people and their methods. The Chinese people immensely believe in energy concept and its relation with body, and assume a balanced flow of energy all through the body to remain healthy. They also believe that any obstacle in the flow of that energy leads to inflammations, and it consequently paves way to ruthless pains and numerous types of diseases in the body.

It’s believed that energy stream through the meridian points, thus acupuncture puts in needles in diverse parts of the body for smooth flow of energy. Inserting needles this way unblocks the energy points, and offers comfort from particular type of disease.

The infertility treatment of this nature tends to give different results for individuals and depends from person to person. For not being the natural fertility remedy, people have some misconceptions for infertility acupuncture. It is always suggested to know the right acupuncture fertility treatment and ways of acupuncture pregnancy by visiting an acupuncture clinic.

To solve infertility problem of any nature, like male infertility, female infertility or even unexplained infertility, you should visit the doctor for having the acupuncture method meant to treat you in the best possible way. acupuncture can give you relief from all your problems like low sperm count, bad quality egg, miscarriage et al.

Acupuncture brings fine results for those who have tried lots of infertility drugs with no any effective results. The therapy also goes down well with those not willing to be treated by infertility specialists at high-end cost.

Auricular, electrified or manual treatments are there in acupuncture for infertility treatment. Electrified uses electric needles while the auricular treatment makes use of needles’ pricking in the ears and earlobes for female infertility. One of the herbal medicines from China, Hachimijiogan also works wonder as an acupuncture infertility treatment. The herb lessens serum prolactin level and leads to normal ovulatory cycle and pregnancy.

Overall, acupuncture infertility is a secure, simple, trustworthy and unproblematic method with almost no pains that also assures fast relief from infertility. The remedy involves the same inserting of needles in the eyebrows, earlobes, ears, eyelids and tips of the fingers. After the treatment, a relaxation period for 30 to 45 minutes follows, and such 3-4 regular sessions do wonder to your infertility problem.

Smit Mathur
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-health-articles/infertility-treatment-acupuncture-can-work-wonders-if-you-show-faith-703924.html

I have to a project on Acupuncture. It is more like a poster project but college level. I am finding tons of information about acupuncture but am finding it hard to find more scientific things, and stay off the spiritual pathway for the project.

I am wondering if anyone has and ideas for my project that pertains to the scientific portion of acupuncture? Any ideas would help.

Try these links for they all have sections on acupuncture

Pubmed (one of the best resources for medical papers)
www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/

National Institutes of Health
www.nih.gov

The World Health Organization
www.who.int

National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine
www.nccam.nih.gov

American Medical Association
www.ama-assn.org

Mayo Clinic
www.mayoclinic.com

John Hopkins Hospital
www.hopkinsmedicine.org

National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov

Center for Sustainable Medicine
www.sustainablemedicine.org

Studies have shown that there is an increase in the number of children that have been diagnosed with autism. Until now, doctors have not yet found a cure to this illness which is why some parents want to experiment with alternative forms of treatment and one example is acupuncture.

Acupuncture is a holistic approach in treating and preventing certain diseases. Its main tool are very thin needles that are inserted to targeted points in the body. The body has about 400 of them linked through a system known as meridians or pathways. Once these are stimulated, these are supposed to create balance in the body.

Autism on the other hand is a brain disorder that is long term. This disease is characterized by deficits in language, social communication and cognition. Children who are diagnosed with this illness may also suffer from secondary problems such as aggression, irritability, stereotypes, hyperactivity, negativism, volatile emotions, temper tantrums, short attention span and obsessive-compulsive behavior.

Preliminary studies have shown that acupuncture may provide symptomatic relief to children suffering from autism. Although difficult at first, it is believed that it is rewarding in the long run. This is because while conventional therapy and treatment requires that the child stay still, acupuncture doesn’t. Some say it’s a quick prick at the vital points in the body.

A group of children in the US participated in a test to see how effective acupuncture is among children. There are 22 respondents and each of them was given the treatment once every other day for four months.

After the treatment 20 out of the 22 respondents showed remarkable improvement. In fact 2 of them has cerebral blood flow. The only thing that did not change prior to treatment and after was the blood flow between the left and right cerebrum as it showed no differences.

Aside from traditional acupuncture to help children with autism, a preliminary study in Hong Kong is trying to see if tongue acupuncture can produce better results.

Results have showed that of 30 respondents in the test, majority showed functional improvement of various degrees depending on the age and severity of their disabilities. Some improvement was noticeable within a few TAC sessions, especially for drooling, spasticity (scissoring or tiptoeing), ataxia, and poor balance in walking. Functional improvement was noted after one to two courses of TAC. Most children tolerated TAC well, with only occasional pain and minor bleeding in some patients.

The reason why tongue acupuncture is being experimented with is because there is a connection between the tongue and the heart through the meridians that spread to all the organs in the body. It is believed that the points on the tongue can influence the state of the other body organs thus giving relief to the one suffering from autism.

But many believe that acupuncture alone cannot help autism sufferers. It has to be combined with other things like maintaining a certain diet to help improve one’s mood and communication schools. Although it is only short term, it is better than nothing until a cure is found.

When will the cure be found? Only time can tell as there are many other questions that have to be answered in order for doctors to further understand neurological disabilities. Doctors who are conducting research believe that an interdisciplinary approach is needed given that acupuncture has shown positive results in helping children with autism.

Paul Hata
http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/how-to-treat-autism-with-acupuncture-525459.html

Alongside the more standard provision of healthcare for the treatment of High Blood Pressure there are now beginning to emerge more and more complimentary options. Of these perhaps the most commonly available form of complimentary healthcare in use to day is that of Acupuncture.

If we take the provision of Healthcare for the treatment of High Blood Pressure on a worldwide basis it is quite interesting to note that only about between 1 to 30 percent of this healthcare is delivered using conventional Western forms of Treatment. The remaining 70 odd percent of the people needing treatment worldwide are treated using a mixture of traditional self-care or by healthcare based on non-western (alternative) traditions.

As we become more international in our whole approach and outlook, Healthcare Professionals in the West have as a result become much more aware of the apparent success of these methods and have as a result become much more interested in incorporating these techniques into the skill set of treatment options that are now on offer and available to patients.

Acupuncture involves stimulating specific points in the body for therapeutic purposes. Puncturing the skin with a very thin needle is the usual method, but practitioners also use heat, pressure friction, suction or the impulses of electromagnetic energy to stimulate the points.

The explanation behind all of this is that channels of energy run in regular patterns through the body and over its surface. These energy channels, called meridians, are like rivers flowing through the body irrigating and nourishing the tissues. Acupuncturists maintain that these rivers can become blocked at certain points and that the Acupuncture needles clear these obstructions. The more modern scientific explanation is that needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal chord, and brain.

Contrary to popular belief the needles and the process doesn’t hurt. Acupuncture needles are very thin, solid and are made from stainless steel. The point is smooth (not hollow, as with a hypodermic needle) and as a result insertion in the skin is not as painful as having injections for blood samples etc. Neither is there as much bruising as you would get from the use of conventional needles which of course makes this an excellent form of treatment for the elderly or those who for a variety of reason would find themselves liable to bruising very easily.

There has been quite extensive research carried out into the success of Acupuncture as a treatment and the results seem to bear out the use of this form of treatment. It does appear to work.

Stephen Morgan
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-benefits-of-acupuncture-as-a-treatment-for-high-blood-pressure-66842.html

Originally developed in China, the ancient practice of acupuncture became popular as a method of bodily ailment relief. Soon this art spread to other countries and diversified in to new modified forms.

Korea, Vietnam, Japan, then Europe and America took up acupuncture and changed it to varying degrees based upon the countries different looks at the theory and techniques involved.

Basic underlying theoretical principals always remain the same but some styles of acupuncture vary greatly with diagnosis and technique. As yet there is no evidence that any one style of acupuncture is an improvement on another.

Traditional Chinese Acupuncture

Abbreviated to TCM, this is the most commonly used type of acupuncture in the world. In addition to being practiced in China the United States is known to have a large number of practitioners.

Korean Hand Acupuncture

Peoples hands are focused on here, different areas related to other parts of the persons anatomy and potential ‘disharmonies’. This technique is one of the so called ‘microsystems’ whereby one aspect of the body is used to treat ailments anywhere in the body.

Japanese Acupuncture

This particular acupuncture style is a more subtle form of TCM. The number of needles as well as the needle thickness is less. Stimulation is less pronounced in general.

Auricular Acupuncture

Another microsystem, ears are the focus here. Specific parts of the ear relate to other areas of the body and associated maladies. Pain control or drug addictions, e.g. alcohol and nicotine, are common uses for this acupuncture technique.

Medical Acupuncture

Defined as when a western world doctor administers acupuncture to a patient. Requirements for doctors to take up this practice are said to be more relaxed than is usual with the other techniques and therefore checking to see that the doctor is part of a recognized acupuncture group is essential.

Veterinary Acupuncture

Acknowledged and respected in its own right, requiring formal training and certification so as then to go on and practice, veterinary acupuncture is now practiced in most US states, many provinces in Canada and indeed other countries around the world.

These are just some of the main styles that can be found today. Many other variations exist e.g. Barefoot Doctor Acupuncture, Five Element Traditional Acupuncture and French Vietnamese Acupuncture. Often in today’s practice acupuncture aspects from a variety of different styles are brought together to create a unique effect.

If you are considering taking up acupuncture of a particular style it is generally advised to always seek practitioners that are fully qualified in their particular discipline.

Alex Rider
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/varieties-of-acupuncture-practiced-today-71999.html

Acupuncture is a natural therapy that is a form of Chinese medication. It involves inserting hair-thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate the body’s healing abilities. Acupuncture can be used to heal and overcome a variety of physical and mental health related problems.

Pain Relief

Acupuncture can aid in relieving pain. This is, in part, due to the fact that acupuncture increases the body’s level of endorphins, which are often referred to as “feel good” chemicals. Acupuncture also helps normalize nerve impulses because acupuncture points and the central nervous system are connected.

The Immune System

Evidence has indicated that acupuncture strengthens the body’s immune system and natural resistance. It has been shown that there is an increase in white blood cells, as well as in the level of Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Globulins after an acupuncture treatment. Alpha and Beta Globulins are thought to help white bloods cells better fight infection, while Gamma Globulins assist in the production of immune antibodies.

Drug Recovery

Acupuncture assists in the recovery of drug and alcohol addiction. It does this by helping to reduce withdrawal symptoms, decreasing cravings, relieving tension, and helping people relax. In fact, acupuncture is so successful in drug treatment recovery that many clinics throughout the United States use acupuncture as an integral component of their programs.

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Acupuncture has the ability to release muscle tension, as well as tension in the connective tissues. This allows the lymphatic, nervous, and circulatory systems to function more efficiently. For these reasons, acupuncture is helpful in both prevention and treating musculoskeletal disorders. In fact, sports figures such as Carl Lewis, Charles Barkley, and Jim McMahon are known to use acupuncture in order to improve training and performance, as well as to speed up healing and to manage pain.

Allergies

Allergies are caused by the immune system reacting to substances that are harmless to most people. Environmental factors, such as pollen, dust and chemicals are common causes of allergies. Similar, foods such as milk, wheat, and selfish can cause allergic reactions. Allergies can cause watery eyes, stuffy nose and sneezing. They can also cause more serious problems, such as joint pain, diabetes, glaucoma, kidney problems, depression, heart palpitations and learning disorders. Through acupuncture, the body can be detoxified and the immune system can be strengthened, thereby causing the body to cease having allergic reactions.

Stress

Stress can lead to more serious health problems, such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and respiratory problems. According to Chinese medicine, stress causes these problems when the liver energy is out of balance. Therefore, acupuncture helps but this energy back into balance, which relaxes the muscles and brings about peace of mind.

Diseases and Disorder

Acupuncture can help with more than 50 different internal medical problems. Some diseases that have been effectively treated with acupuncture include: bronchitis, asthma, diarrhea, ulcers, and hypertension. The exact acupuncture treatment varies depending on the medical condition and may be used in conjunction with other natural therapies, such as herbs and massage.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is often brought on my depression, stress, or an infection. No matter the direct cause, patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have immune system deficiencies and most have a weakness in their internal organs. Acupuncture can be used to improve the body’s immunity and, therefore, eliminate Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Menopause

Typical symptoms associated with menopause include night sweats, hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, and heart palpitations. In Chinese medicine, these symptoms occur when the Yin is out of balance. Yet other symptoms of menopause can include weight gain, hypertension, indigestion, and water retention, these are caused by an imbalance in the Yang. If these are left untreated, it results in a Qi deficiency, which causes feelings of fatigue, a dry vagina, decreases sex drive, lower back pain, cold extremities, and incontinence. Acupuncture therapy has been shown to help get the Yin and the Yang back into balance, thereby reducing the symptoms of menopause.

PMS and Menstruation

Many women experience both emotional and physical pain and discomfort before and after menstruation. Emotional difficulties can include sadness, anger outbursts, depression, and irritability. Physical pains can include pain in the lower back and the lower abdomen. Acupuncture can help bring the body back into balance and eliminate or lesson physical and social pain associated with menstruation.

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that is quickly gaining acceptance in Western culture for its proven ability to treat emotional and physical problems without the side effects associated with other forms of medication.

James Calvin
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/stick-it-to-me-heres-10-great-reasons-to-try-acupuncture-76025.html

Can acupuncture help headaches?

Results of recent clinical trials have shown that acupuncture can be extremely effective for combating headaches. Increasingly, people are looking for alternative therapies. However, most are still happy to take pills prescribed by their Doctor. But there is a growing problem with the conventional treatment of headaches.

The problem with conventional medicine.

The truth is that conventional medications are just not that great at treating headaches. Some are known to work well for migraine headaches and others can be effective for tension headaches. The biggest problem with these medications is that they can change a migraine into a Chronic Daily Headache or CDH, which is much harder to treat.

CDH is on the increase. The current definition of CDH is one that happens on 15 or more days out of a month. It is ironic that a medication developed to treat one kind of headache, seems to cause the development of another kind. It’s this dilemma that has prompted both Doctors and patients to look for alternative therapies. Many kinds of headaches are known to have triggers, such as lack of sleep and some kinds of foods. Often, the headache sufferer can avoid these triggers but it is not always possible. So if medications are ultimately counter-productive and triggers are sometimes unavoidable, what can be done?

Taking a look at acupuncture.

acupuncture has been a form of therapy in China and other Eastern civilizations for over 5,000 years.

It works by the insertion of very fine needles into particular points of the body. They are then left there for a few moments or sometimes even hours.

Oriental medicine believes that the energy force of the body, or Qi (chee), can become unbalanced. By placing needles at the specific places where the energy lines appear near to the skins surface, the Qi may be rebalanced, healing the patient.

Although acupuncture has been healing people for such a long time, it is only recently that its effectiveness for treating headaches has been studied in depth.

Does it work?

The British Medical Journal published a study of sufferers in the UK who often lost time off work due to their headaches. It showed that after these people had received acupuncture for three months, they took less sick days. Another study conducted at the University of North Carolina showed that sufferers of CDH found definite improvements in their headaches.

Hidden benefits.

Two studies in Germany threw up an interesting result. Acupuncture did help tension and migraine headaches – compared to those sufferers who had no acupuncture. But there was no particular difference in results between ‘real’ acupuncture and placebo acupuncture where needles were only just inserted and into areas not known to have any benefit. So were the good results due to suggestion or was the fake acupuncture tapping into some true but not understood benefit?

Whatever the reasons for the results, acupuncture seems to be a non-harmful method of headache treatment, with no side effects. The study results were good enough to convince The National Heath Service in Britain. As a result of the findings, many GP Practices in the UK now offer acupuncture as an alternative therapy.

David Wilding
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/can-acupuncture-help-headaches-61483.html