Acupuncture has been used in China for the past 2,000 years for every ailment you can imagine. That means the practice has grown up alongside Eastern medicine’s knowledge of specific ailments ranging from diabetes to fatigue. Now that technology and ease of travel has closed the physical gap between the East and the West, the two medical cultures have spent decades working on how they can fit their practices together holistically. Initially, it may seem a bit difficult to imagine the two philosophies complimenting each other, but once you begin looking into acupuncture, you can begin to see how it can benefit anyone — even you.

Western medicine is based on removing the malfunctioning part or adding chemical components to poison the invading virus or infection. Eastern medicine is based on making sure that the channels along which a person’s life-energy flows remain unblocked so that the healing-energy can pass through, keeping everything running smoothly. If these channels are blocked, problems will arise.

Along those lines, or meridians, are certain points which act as switches for particular parts of the body. The acupuncturist inserts a thin needle into one of these points and by manipulating it, unblocks the energy flow, enabling the healing life force to travel. To some, that sounds like a fluffy, poetic way of looking at healing. Western students of interpret this phenomenon a little bit differently. As the Western outlook is more chemically based, these students say that the needles are actually causing the body to release chemicals – like endorphins — which inadvertently induce a state of relaxation or relieve pain, thereby promoting health in the entire body.

Whatever the mechanisms, there are many people who swear by it, if for no other reason other than “it feels good”.

You may at this point be wondering if it’s safe. It is very safe if you visit someone who knows what they’re doing. The best way to ensure that you are in the right hands is to verify that the therapist is licensed. That means that they have satisfactorily completed at least enough schooling to have a Masters degree in healing and acupuncture, and that they passed a test for state certification. Beyond that, you must make sure that they use sterile, prepackaged needles. Asking many questions about their practice and philosophy is also a good idea, as a trustworthy therapist will tend to be more open about what they are doing. In addition, the doctor should be asking you for information about your medical history and current medications.

If you opt for acupuncture, give it some time to work before you decide whether it is time well spent. If you feel great from the beginning, that is a good reason in and of itself to continue.

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If you’re a complete newbie to acupuncture, you may consider it a “new alternative” to regular medical practices. Whether this is a comforting to you or not, acupuncture is actually very old — ancient, even.

It was developed thousands of years ago — at least 2,000, though the jury is out on whether the practice is actually much older than that. Though everyone thinks of needles when they ponder acupuncture, it has actually been around a lot longer than needles. At some point a practitioner got the bright idea to apply pressure with a sharp object. The objects became increasingly sharp, until bone needles were developed for sewing.

But acupuncture is more than simply a medical practice. It is part of a philosophy. That may sound strange if you’ve never encountered a medical philosophy different from that of Western society. The philosophy of Western medicine revolves around the idea of adding what is good (nutrients / chemicals) and removing what is bad (defective body parts / viruses). The philosophy of Chinese medicine involves the redirecting or the unblocking of energy, specifically the life force Qi (pronounced “chee.”) You may be familiar with the concept if you were ever a fan of the old television show “Kung Fu.”

According to acupuncture’s guiding philosophy, medical and psychological problems will arise if this life energy is blocked or unbalanced. Acupuncture unblocks the flow of Qi using specific points along the body. These points are where the needles are placed. It is believed by many acupuncturists that each point corresponds with a particular organ or body part and by stimulating these points, you are healing that organ.

That is where much of the East-meets-West controversy arises. Many Western physicians say this is a dangerous thing to believe, as it can prompt someone with diabetes to forgo taking insulin in favor of acupuncture adjustments instead.

However, if done by a licensed therapist, or even a physician who has learned acupuncture, this sort of treatment can be a great supplement to a more conventional regimen. According to many sources, acupuncture is a wonderful tool for providing relaxation and pain relief to a patient and is even used on animals. It has also been a last-ditch effort by sufferers of such mysterious maladies as fybromyalgia to gain relief when conventional medicine has failed.

If you are interested in trying acupuncture—for pain relief, relaxation or even an energy boost—it is important that you find a practitioner who is licensed and engages in safe practices. You should ensure, for instance, that he uses sterile, prepackaged needles of the type approved by the Food and Drug Administration. In addition, the acupuncturist should believe in keeping open the lines of communication, both welcoming questions from you and asking questions concerning your medical history and medications.

Acupuncture can be a rewarding experience, regardless of your philosophy concerning health, but you must approach it in an intelligent, proactive manner.

Matthew McMillan is a leading expert in the genital wart treatments. His works are regularly featured in online health publications on matters relating genital warts medication. For more information, visit TreatmentForGenitalWarts.com.