Acupuncture for detoxification Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture for detoxification is one of the most beneficial uses of this major component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The principle of acupuncture, as with the rest of TCM, lies on the balance of Qi (chi), the vital energy that nourishes and harmonises the functions of the body.

It is helpful to look at the original purpose for which acupuncture was developed. The ancient Chinese physicians believed that "A superior healer is one who treats a disease before it shows symptoms, while an inferior one treats a disease only after it has manifested pain or discomfort," (Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor, 100 B.C.). The ancients well knew that prevention was more valuable than the treatment of a disease. It is thus easy to understand why you can use acupuncture for detoxification.

One reason that acupuncture for detoxification works is that it has a natural diuretic effect. It helps your body eliminate toxins through the urinary tract. This is why you will see a widespread use of acupuncture for drug detox programs.

In addition, an acupuncture treatment has the effect of reducing appetite or cravings, even as it eliminates blockage of the Qi. Once you regain your appetite, you do not feel as much desire for foods normally associated with sources of toxins. When you eat toxic foods, you immediately get a feeling of heaviness in the body, as the energy flow is disrupted once more. When you eat the proper food, you continue to feel energised. It does not take long for the body to learn which foods provide benefit, and this is why acupuncture for detoxification is so effective.

A third reason you might find acupuncture for detoxification a useful technique is the "pain" involved. Talking about needles is enough to send a tingle down most people's spines. Unfortunately, needles are the only effective instruments to reach the acupuncture points, which, although near the skin, may be inside muscles, tendons, or joint spaces. Actually, a well trained acupuncturist can make acupuncture a less painful and more satisfying experience.

The contact of the needle with an acupoint produces a feeling of numbness, aching, tingling, or heaviness in the area. This is called the arrival of the Qi, and is directly indicative of the effectiveness of the therapy. You may feel the effect very strongly and call it painful. It is actually your body telling you it has been damaged after years of toxins from additives and foods, environmental changes, or even simple bad habits.

The more toxins you have, the stronger you'll feel the effect. The sensation of apparent pain will be a powerful incentive to detoxify. There is no real pain, only discomfort, and it disappears soon after the session. But it is emphatic proof to you that acupuncture for detoxification can really help.