Title: 
Afraid of needles? Think again

Word Count:
815

Summary:
Acupuncture has become an increasingly popular alternative therapy for a wide variety of ills and can even treat some causes of infertility. This article traces down the origin of acupuncture and some facts on its popularity. Acupuncture is one alternative medication that has helped a lot of people in more ways than they can ever think of.


Keywords:
Acupuncture, Infertility


Article Body:
Almost everyone of us have been pricked by this tiny metallic thing called needles. These are the ones used by our grandmothers for stitching or sewing. But more often than not, this pointed little thing is usually used in hospitals for almost everything, like getting blood samples, injecting liquid medications, and so on. It is that thing that most of us are so afraid to even look at. Although, a lot of people fear them, needles for some are beneficial, especially when used right.
A lot of people have tried this ancient medication using hair like thin needles, and research have shown that it's popularity is continually increasing. Acupuncture is a safe and effective natural therapy that is used to heal illness, prevent disease and improve well-being. Tiny, hair-thin needles are inserted into specific points in the body, where they are gently stimulated to trigger the body's natural healing response.
The use of acupuncture can be traced back as far as the Stone Age in China. It was during the time when stone knives and pointed rocks were used to relieve pain and diseases. These instruments were known by the ancients as "bian." In the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD) an Analytical Dictionary of Characters "Shuo Wen Jie Zi" describes the character "bian", meaning “a stone to treat disease.” Later these stones were replaced by needles made of bamboo and slivers of animal bone. During the Shang Dynasty, bronze casting techniques made metal needles possible, which conducted electricity (and qi) which led to the mapping of the meridian system or “channels” of energy within the body.
According to traditional acupuncture theory, there are twelve energy channels called “meridians” running vertically along the length of the human body, each one linking to a specific organ. The theory believes that illnesses are caused by obstructed energy flow at certain points along the meridians and acupuncture therapy stimulates meridian flow. It harmonizes the body's energy to influence the health of both body and mind.
Acupuncture gained popularity and recognition in the United States when media followed President Richard Nixon visit to China in 1974. Representatives of major US news networks witnessed and reported on several demonstrations of serious surgeries being performed with acupuncture as the only anesthetic. While these demonstrations didn't teach the American public how Acupuncture works, it did make the term a household word and drove millions of people into clinics for treatments when conventional medicine failed. 
Acupuncture has become an increasingly popular alternative therapy for a wide variety of ills in the United States and other Western nations in the last 25 years. Acupuncture is practiced legally in most European countries and in the majority of states in the U.S. Countries such as Japan and China, which make up about a fifth of the world's population, established acupuncture as a primary form of health care for thousands of years. Acupuncturists in these countries were comparable to that of the physician. Today, acupuncture treatment remains an integral component of the health care system of these two countries, offered with a combination of  Western medicine.
Acupuncture can relieve a person from illnesses and discomforts such as headaches, neck pains, allergies, arthritis, digestive problems, painful menstruation and can even treat some causes of infertility. It is said that acupuncture can increase blood flow to the endometrium on women, helping to facilitate a thick, rich lining.
Function-related infertility is very often related to stress. This may be the reason that infertility seems to be extremely common in women who work in stressful office environments. Acupuncture is very beneficial for decreasing excess tension in the body by balancing the autonomic nervous system. There are some evidences that acupuncture increases the production of endorphins, or brain chemicals that make you feel good and help reduce stress.
Although there are minimal risks when using acupuncture for fertility treatment, there is a risk of miscarriage if incorrect acupuncture points are used when a woman is pregnant. This is one reason why those wishing to include acupuncture in their treatment regimen should only be treated by a certified acupuncturist who specializes in treating fertility disorders. In most states in the U.S., acupuncture is a licensed profession. You can visit www.nccaom.org to find a licensed and Board certified acupuncturist in your area. For couples who has fertility problems, going to an acupuncturist will definitely save them more money, since acupuncture is less expensive than intrauterine insemination which can cost hundreds of dollars and a single cycle of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) can cost $10,000-$20,000. 
Acupuncture has made wonders for a thousand years now and this phenomenon is still evident even in the modern world where technology seems to never stop exploring and inventing cures for illnesses. Acupuncture is one alternative medication that has helped a lot of people in more ways than they can ever think of. Now, are you still afraid of needles?


