Chiropractor & Acupuncture in Eureka Springs & Huntsville, AR
Natural Life Health Clinic
Natural Life Health Clinic
What is Acupuncture?
Discover how this gentle healing can ease migraines, sciatica, and stress while supporting you through anxiety or alpha-gal. We are here to help you find lasting relief and restore your sense of calm and balance.
Acupuncture can help with:
- Migraines and headaches
- Sciatica and nerve pain
- Stress and tension
- Anxiety
- Alpha-gal symptoms
- Seasonal allergies
- Low mood and depression
- Muscle tension
- Back and neck pain
- Vertigo and tinnitus
Acupuncture in Eureka Springs & Huntsville, AR
Acupuncture/Meridian Therapy
Technically, this mode of healing encompasses not only stimulating the Meridian system directly, but also utilizes Herbal therapies, structural manipulations, and exercise to maintain health. Actually, Acupuncture is a misnomer given by the Portuguese when they first observed the treatment in China in the 16th century. They were struck by the fact that treatments were given by inserting needles into the body, and afflictions resolved. On this page I will discuss acupuncture/meridian therapy by itself. The other components can be found elsewhere on this site-- but keep in mind that they work together in what has become known as Chinese Medicine, and are separated for discussion only. At this point it would be opportune to point out that other cultures have traditions that incorporate point stimulation such as in India, Persia, South America and Egypt. Also, these cultures used manipulative therapies as well as herbs.
Meridian
Therapy
The Meridian system is an energetic network of pathways that flow just below the surface of the skin which communicates from the external environment to the internal organs and structures at over 1000 "Acupoints" on the body. This energy works in harmony with the body's circulatory, nervous, muscular, digestive, genitourinary and all other systems of the body. When this vital energy becomes blocked or weakened, an effect in a body system or anatomic location becomes evident. Stimulation of one or a combination of key "Acupoints" on the body may restore harmony to the affected area.This energy flow courses through twelve pairs of meridians or channels that are normally well balanced. If a disruption of the energy flow exists, it can alter the entire system, producing pain or other symptoms in the body. It is the goal of the acupuncturist to restore normalcy to the body's energy balance by utilizing a combination of Acupoints located on these meridians. This is accomplished by a variety of means, the needle is only one. Other methods include Acupressure, laser, electricity, moxa and others.
Is Treatment Painful?
One would assume that inserting a needle into the skin would be painful since most of us can relate to being stuck with a pin or having a hypodermic injection, and therefore, many people are hesitant to try acupuncture. However, numerous acupuncture needles can be inserted into the hollow tube of a hypodermic needle, as demonstrated here. Due to the small diameter of the acupuncture needle (about the diameter of a human hair), most people compare the sensation as "less than a mosquito bite"-- if they feel it at all.
After a needle is inserted shallowly into a specific Acupoint, a phenomenon known as Teh Chi occurs when the energy is contacted, and the flow of Qi is affected. This sensation is felt as a mild to moderate tingling or heaviness, as when a muscle relaxes and tension melts away. However, the other methods of stimulating the Acupoints are equally effective in adjusting the flow of Qi energy.
The 5 Phases
The ancient practitioners of Chinese medicine lived closely connected to nature and observed patterns in the cycles of life. From this came the theory of the Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—used to describe how the body functions and maintains balance.
Each element represents a different phase of activity:
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Wood – growth and movement
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Fire – peak activity
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Earth – balance and stability
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Metal – decline and release
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Water – rest and renewal
These elements are also connected to organ systems, emotions, and natural cycles. For example, the Kidneys relate to Water, the Heart to Fire, and emotions like anger and grief reflect different phases.
The elements interact in predictable ways—supporting and regulating one another to maintain balance. This understanding allows acupuncture to look beyond symptoms and consider the whole person.
Are the Effects Psychological ?
Many critics of Acupuncture claim it is "mind over matter", that you have to "believe" in it for it to work, or even a form of hypnotism. This criticism is totally unfounded as Acupuncture has startling effects in infants and toddlers as well as in Veterinary applications (I don't think dogs and horses have a sophisticated belief system). The effect that Acupuncture has as an anesthetic in surgery further disclaims the skeptics. Even total disbelievers report favorable responses to Acupuncture. I've seen studies that claim Acupuncture is no better than a placebo, as their "sham" acupuncture gets similar results as the real thing. They used a small foam pad stuck to the skin-- in the "real" Acupuncture, the needle penetrates through the foam into the skin, whereas in the "sham" acupuncture the needle only goes into the foam, not the skin (the "patient" doesn't know the difference). I have to smile when I see that the experimenters used actual Acupoints for the "sham" study, because they still put an antenna (needle) over the Acupoint-- the effect was much the same because, just as when you walk near the radio or reach for the TV antenna, the signal becomes clearer, without actually touching the antenna-- just being in close proximity. Good try, but it only demonstrates that the experimenters did not understand the electromagnetic nature of the body or the Meridian system.