Naturopathic medicine is a unique, primary health care system founded on the principle that our bodies have the innate ability to heal itself given the right environment and conditions. To facilitate this process naturopathic physicians use safe and effective natural therapies that address the underlying cause of illness. Naturopathic physicians educate and encourage patients to become active participants in achieving and maintaining optimum health.
Naturopathic Physicians are licensed primary care providers and are covered by many insurance providers. Naturopathic physicians are trained at four-year, graduate-level, accredited medical schools. In addition to the 2 years of basic medical sciences and 2-3 years of clinical sciences, naturopathic education includes: physical medicine, botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, pharmacology, and minor surgery.
· First, Do No Harm
· Support the Healing Power of Nature
· Identify and Treat the Cause
· Treat the Whole Person
· Prevention is the Best Cure
· Establish health and Wellness
· Educate the Patient (Doctor as Teacher)
Very basically, acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles, (sometimes in conjunction with electrical stimulus), on the body’s surface, in order to influence physiological functioning of the body.
The ancient Chinese believed that there is a universal life energy called Chi or Qi present in every living creature. This energy is said to circulate throughout the body along specific pathways that are called meridians. As long as this energy flows freely throughout the meridians, health is maintained, but once the flow of energy is blocked, the system is disrupted and pain and illness occur. Imagine rivers that flood and cause disasters or an electrical grid short-circuiting that causes blackouts. Acupuncture works to “re-program” and restore normal functions by stimulating certain points on the meridians in order to free up the Chi energy.
The first record of Acupuncture is found in the 4,700 year old Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine). This is said to be the oldest medical textbook in the world. It is said to have been written down from even earlier theories by Shen Nung, the father of Chinese Medicine. Shen Nung documented theories about circulation, pulse, and the heart over 5,000 years before European medicine had any concept about them.
Great Question!
Scientists have no real answer to this, though many workings of the body are still a mystery. Here are a few prevailing theories:
1. The “Augmentation of Immunity”Theory says that by some unknown process, acupuncture raises levels of specific hormones, prostaglandins, white blood counts, gamma globulins, opsonins, and overall anti-body levels.
2.The “Endorphin” Theory states that Acupuncture stimulates the secretions of endorphins in the body (specifically Enkaphalins).
3. The “Neurotransmitter” Theory states that certain neurotransmitter levels (such as Seratonin and Noradrenaline) are affected by Acupuncture.
4. “Circulatory” Theory: this states that Acupuncture has the effect of constricting or dilating blood vessels. This may be caused by the body’s release of Vasodilaters (such as Histamine), in response to Acupuncture.
5. One of the most popular theories is the “Gate Control” Theory. According to this theory, the perception of pain is controlled by a part of the nervous system which regulates the impulse, which will later be interpreted as pain. This part of the nervous system is called the “Gate.” If the gate is hit with too many impulses, it becomes overwhelmed, and it closes. This prevents some of the impulses from getting through. The first gates to close would be the ones that are the smallest. The nerve fibers that carry the impulses of pain are rather small nerve fibers called “C” fibers. These are the gates that close during Acupuncture.
Acupuncture treatments generally use very fine, flexible needles that are inserted into various acupuncture points on the body. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine the body has a little over 360 points, taking into account other texts and forms of acupuncture there may be well over 1000 points. These needles communicate and influence the energy pathways (Chi or Qi) and work to “re-program” and restore normal physiologic and organ functions.
