One of the benefits of globalism is that we have access to medicine, food, and wisdom that we might not ever have come into contact with. As a result, if you are looking for acupuncture, San Francisco is as likely a place to be looking as any. For the average American fifty years ago, the concept of Oriental medicine might have been a little bit out of their comfort zone. Today, you are likely to find youth who see going to the acupuncturist as reasonable a response to illness as going to see a western doctor.
Understanding how Oriental medicine works is something that is very helpful for those interested in experiencing integrative medicine. The first thing to remember is that it is not a symptom or illness-based system of treatment. As far as Oriental medicine is concerned, a symptom is two steps removed from that which it is desirable to address in the body. Instead, practitioners address the energetic patterns, or meridians, in the body, which, should they become imbalanced, would create symptoms or illness. This is a very comprehensive view of the body, as the meridians are linked to individual organs and are responsible for a great many functions. You might choose to look at the meridians as the circulatory system: they are the heart that connects with the arteries which connect to the capillaries which are responsible for distributing blood to every single cell in the body.
There are a number of well-known modalities which came out of the Orient, including acupuncture, cupping, herbal therapy, dietary therapy and moxabustion. There are also techniques, such as facial rejuvenation acupuncture, which are just now gaining popularity. While organic skin care products have long been the rage, the use of acupuncture to improve the skin's look and feel is something that is climbing in popularity at this very moment.
A study that was published in a 1996 issue of the International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture showed that 3 of cases 10 in which patients underwent facial acupuncture showed significant results after a single acupuncture session. The affects of these sessions included skin that was more delicate and fair, decreased wrinkles, and increased elasticity of the facial muscles. The results were not simply confined to skin on the face, either. These are results that can be experienced bodywide. If you have an interest in learning about Oriental medicine, look for a well-qualified practitioner in your area.
