You may have heard of acupuncture but are still not sure of what it is and how it can help you. This article will help you finally understand this. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese art that involves the stimulation of points within your body with the use of needles. It is basically a holistic approach to curing a number of illnesses and ailments.

When looking for an acupuncture professional to treat your aches, pains and ailments, be sure to ask if they are nationally certified. Although this will not guarantee that your sessions are perfect and painless, it will guarantee that the specialist you visit has had a lot of formal education and is well qualified to perform the service. You should see the certificates on the wall.

Your acupuncturist will need to know your medical history. Start by making a list of your current medications and any serious treatments you may have, or have had in the past. Include things such as surgery, giving birthday, any broken bones or other injuries. 

Some people actually prefer to have acupuncture performed while in a group setting. This is an option that is usually available in larger cities, but they do exist. 

When going for treatment be aware that the acupuncturist’s needles may end up all over your body, so wear loose fitting clothes which can be easily moved out of the way. Our advice is to dress as if you plan to attend a luxurious beach vacation but you don’t want to take a dip in the water.

Do not overeat prior to your appointment with an acupuncturist. You should also avoid going to the appointment without any food in your stomach. Being too hungry could cause you to feel dizzy or even nauseous. A light meal or snack is all that you need to have an enjoyable experience.

If you’d like to get more out of your acupuncture sessions, start cleansing. A good cleanse will free your body of toxins, which means acupuncture will be more effective. During this time, you may also want to detox from substances like alcohol. Ask your acupuncturist to recommend a good detox diet.

Before your appointment it is important to stay relaxed. So if you happen to be running late, don’t get flustered, as this could affect your treatment. If necessary, you can always reschedule your appointment. 

View your acupuncture treatments as a welcome break from the outside world. Let your friends know that you need a few hours to yourself and turn your cellphone off. Isolating yourself for a few hours will help you focus on your different sensations and replenish your energy.

Get into the habit of arriving a little early for your appointment, about 15 minutes ahead of time is good. This way you know you will not be late, and if provides you with the opportunity to relax and reduce your stress levels. 

Many people are a little cautious about trying acupuncture, simply because they believe the myths that surround it. Contrary to what you might believe, acupuncture does not cause you any pain, leave scars and it is not any type of voo-doo. It is an Asian method of healing that is effective and has been around for thousands of years.

As soon as you arrive at the clinic, make sure you turn off your cell phone to avoid any distractions. Don’t turn it to vibrate either, as this will just become a distraction and affect your treatment and the practitioner. Just turn off your phone and forget about it for a while. 

By now you should have a more comprehensive overview regarding this traditional approach to Chinese medicine, perhaps there is a way that acupuncture can be used to help you or a loved one. As with any medical procedure it is important to do your homework first. However, keep an open mind to non-Western approaches to healing, you may be surprised what it can do for you.

Our lifestyles have changed in many ways, from those of our ancestors, and not all of these changes have been for the best. It is not uncommon today for us to look and feel bloated around our stomachs, have puffy eyes and skin rashes. Experts say that these conditions can be traced back to our lifestyle and is an indication that your body is passively dying. You are putting on weight like crazy and get sick more often. 

So your next question is what can you do about this? 

One simple way to transform your body is to pay close attention to the foods that you eat. Think about how our ancestors ate – they were known as hunters and gatherers. This meant that they foraged the countryside for food, in the form of game and plants. Today most of us would recognize this diet as being called the Paleo Diet. 

The Paleo Diet is based on survival science and historical evidence. It proposes a radical yet proven effective solution to modern man’s ailments and deteriorated physical condition.

Looking back on the evolution of man, over thousands of years, people had to really work to survive, with just the basics, and they fought in a never ending battle with nature.  The upside to this is that their bodies were always working and moving. Not sitting in front of a computer screen while at work, and then going home to watch TV. No wonder the health of the general population has declined so significantly. 

The basis of the Paleo Diet is that you want to consume foods that are found in a natural state, as much as possible. You avoid any foods that contain chemicals, or come in handy pre-packaged form. 

By sticking to natural foods your body can effectively remove toxins, and increase conversion of fat for energy. This results in your body utilizing nutrients in a beneficial way. Your body is less stressed out and you will become leaner, stronger and healthier. 

Some followers of the Paleo Diet take it one step further by only eating one main meal at night time. During the day they graze on light meals. This is based on the fact that our ancestors spent most of the day hunting, so they really didn’t have much time to eat until they returned home from the hunt. 

You could adapt this into your lifestyle by eating smaller amounts of food during the day. Instead of eating a large breakfast, which many people don’t like to do anyway. You could just eat a handful of nuts or a piece of fruit. Then later on snack on veggies or a slice of meat. This might be an idea that you would want to research further. 

Of course it is easier to eat natural foods when your choices are limited, as our ancestors did. Today we have so many choices when it comes to food that it is easy to just pick up a pre-packaged dinner. Instead of going home and cooking something from scratch. 

Today going grocery shopping is more complicated than ever before. You should be reading ingredients and avoiding chemical laden foods as much as possible. Sometimes even our ‘fresh’ foods don’t always look that fresh. Try buying your produce from a local farmer’s market if you have one in your area.  

Foods that you want to include in your diet include chemical free meats and fish, vegetables, sprouted legumes, nuts, seeds, eggs and dairy products from grass fed animals. 

It’s time to stop and take a good look at your diet. Think back to how your grandparents ate. They probably grew more of their own vegetables and had a home cooked dinner each night. If they can do it, why not you? Start preparing healthy soups and stews that can be reheated and used for more than one meal.  

The concept of the Paleo Diet is to try and reintroduce the eating patterns of our ancestors into our present day world. Aim to include as many natural foods into your meals as possible and save your largest meal for the evening. When you can sit down with your family and share the day’s events. 

Try to add more exercise into your routine as well. This can include going for an evening walk or bike ride with your family. Or enjoying a summer time swim at your local beach. 

When you begin to incorporate the methods of the Paleo Diet into your lifestyle you will improve your appearance by reducing those puffy eyes, losing weight and toning your muscles. Plus you will increase your energy, sleep better and just enjoy life for the better. Doesn’t that sound like fun?