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Acupuncture

The Purpose and Benefits of Acupuncture

In Chinese medicine it is theorized that the life force or vital energy of our soul/mind animates, regulates and sustains our physical body, thereby maintaining Acupuncture needles on the back of a beautiful womanits health. Disruption of this flow of vital energy can therefore result in health problems.

Acupuncture is a way of regulating, balancing and stimulating the flow of life force through energy channels called acupuncture meridians. Along the course of these energy streams are regulating points–the acupuncture points.

Imagine an elaborate system of pipes carrying life force to and from all parts of the body. When there is a deficit of life force in one area, energy from another part of the body is routed through these pipes to the area in need. It is a massive system that is constantly rebalancing itself moment to moment.

In Chinese medicine pain is a sign of blockage of the flow of life force. This blockage may have originated due to an accident, injury/trauma. But following the trauma or injury the resulting blockage perpetuates the pain and slows the healing process. By stimulating the flow of life energy in the appropriate energy channels one can remove these blockages to life energy flow in the injured area. Doing so relieves pain and accelerates the healing of the injury.

These energy flows through the meridians are said to regulate all of our physiological processes. This thinking is not foreign to Western medicine. The word disease or dis-ease signifies a state of imbalance or lack of these. In Chinese medicine restoring the balance of energy flows is part and parcel of eliminating the dis-ease.

In the state of Minnesota chiropractors are licensed to practice acupuncture through a certification process. Chiropractors must complete a course of study in Chinese medicine and acupuncture to receive the certification initially. To maintain their license to practice acupuncture in Minnesota chiropractors must also continue to take accredited courses in acupuncture each and every year.

Some of the most common conditions treated via acupuncture in a chiropractors clinic include headaches, musculoskeletal pain (neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, hip pain, ankle and wrist pain, etc.), anxiety and depression, insomnia, fatigue, irritable bowel and more.

Dr. Mittag has practiced acupuncture for the past 28 years in the Twin Cities, having been certified to practice in 1986.