Acupuncture: A Real Option to Achieve and Maintain Health and Well-Being
- shirley colon
- Sep 4
- 3 min read
Lourdes González, A.P., M.A, Lac., M.M.Q.Certified Specialist – National Acupuncture Board
Did you know that acupuncture is an integral part of one of the oldest and most effectively used medical systems worldwide?
According to Chinese medicine, the concept of health is based on a holistic approach, where it is understood that physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and ecological aspects all contribute to the total well-being of a human being. From this Chinese philosophy, we can say that well-being is the ability of individuals to be in harmony with themselves and with the world around them.
The Eastern approach understands several basic points:
In nature, everything is connected through energy patterns that are constantly changing.
These patterns and their changes affect the human being.
Your body is a whole. Every part is integral and necessary.
In addition to your mind, emotions, and spirit, your physical body forms a miraculous system that is fully interconnected and linked by this life energy called qi (chi).
Like nature, we are born with the ability to heal and regenerate ourselves.
The best cure is prevention.
Ancient traditions teach us that qi, or vital energy, flows through the body along pathways or meridians, similar to how rivers flow through the land. In times of health and well-being, the energy reaches all parts of the body, including internal organs and cells. A lack of energetic balance within our biological body is the catalytic agent that begins the disease process. If the energy is weak or blocked, we begin to feel unwell.
Your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual body is regulated by your energy system.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) comprises a series of therapies, including five main branches, each with sub-branches:
Acupuncture
Herbal Medicine or Phytotherapy (use of herbs)
Body Manipulation (massage)
Vital Nutrition (dietary therapy)
Qigong (application of energy through meditative movements and breathing)
This is a broad topic; therefore, in this article, we will focus on acupuncture, a technique used for over 3,000 years that involves inserting very fine needles into the skin. Different areas of the body are connected by energy points. Some of these points connect blocked or stagnant areas. Inserting needles into these points is understood as opening a gate, allowing energy to flow again. Needles can be manipulated manually or with electrical stimulation. They are made of stainless steel, are safe, and are sterilized and disposable.
The acceptance of acupuncture in the United States has been slower compared to Europe, where it was known since slightly before the 17th century. In the U.S., it wasn’t until the 1960s that it began to be discussed, and it received some attention in the 1970s when President Nixon fell ill during a trip to China and was treated with acupuncture.
The following years were important for the recognition and acceptance of acupuncture. In 1979, the National Institutes of Health recognized the clinical value of acupuncture and recommended its use alongside conventional medicine. In 1996, the FDA recognized acupuncture needles as Class II medical devices and established that they are safe and effective when used by a certified specialist.
Dr. Mercola, who published an article titled The Science of Acupuncture, explains that in 2003, the World Health Organization reviewed clinical evidence and reported that acupuncture:
Stimulates the conduction of electromagnetic signals that can release immune cells and chemical substances that combat pain.
Stimulates the central nervous system, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland, which in turn modulate many biological processes and systems in the body.
It is believed that the secretion of neurotransmitters and neurohormones changes with the use of acupuncture, which can positively affect brain chemistry.
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