A Personal Health Issue Leads Canyon to Acupuncture Schools
In 1990, Canyon earned her B.S. in Sociology from Cornell University (Ithaca, NY). After graduation, she studied massage therapy but soon realized that she was not interested in making her living that way. She needed something more. While living in Seattle in 1995, Canyon received acupuncture treatments for health problems and realized that she was extremely interested in all that was involved. “It seemed like I could do it and this would help treat more things,” she says. She started to look into a degree from acupuncture schools.

When she moved to New York in 1997, Canyon’s research of acupuncture schools resulted in her finding Tri-State College of Acupuncture (New York, NY), where she earned her master’s in acupuncture degree in 2000. Acupuncture schools are where you will get the basics of your training. Here, she took seminars on nutrition and various aspects of oriental medicine. She learned from some of the best international professors that acupuncture schools have to offer, since they blended their techniques with that of western medicine, says Canyon. She knew that the techniques learned at acupuncture schools were her calling and found the enthusiasm in her teachers that had been in the field for at least 25 years, contagious. “I recognized [the same excitement] in myself,” she says.

Combine Techniques from Acupuncture Schools with Business Savvy
For three years, Canyon was “floundering,” as she describes it. But in 2003, after thinking hard about what would give her a competitive edge, she decided to begin her own business and embark on her career in acupuncture. “I’m going to try,” she thought, “and if it fails, I’ll do something else.” And so she thought about what she liked and which particular group of people she wanted to market her services to. That’s when she realized came up with the idea for “acupuncture for athletes” and “people with active lifestyles.”

Though she says the most challenging part of her career in acupuncture was and always has been the business aspects, she took the initiative to create the business from scratch without help ?- not even from a PR firm. “I figured, ‘I’m smart, I can use my common sense.’” A key marketing tactic is using her detailed Web site to garner clients. “They don’t ask questions ?- they just make an appointment,” she says.

And it seems that acupuncture schools have taught Canyon well, and that’s she’s chosen the right market for her business. Professional athletes, such as TIKI BARBER and JEREMY SHOCKEY (both of the New York Giants), have both lauded acupuncture as a method to relieve the stresses and injuries of their football careers.

Canyon works solo three days a week at her Manhattan practice and one day at a local clinic, where she treats about 12-22 people in a day. “[Working at the clinic] helps me offset the pressure of my private practice because I have another source of income,” she says. “Anyone going into the profession needs to consider this.”

If you’re even considering applying to acupuncture schools, Canyon’s advice is simple: “Go where your excitement is internally,” she says. “That’ll be the key to your success.”

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Careers in acupuncture can be innovative and challenging; but even better, they are interesting. And the best part is skilled acupuncturists help people. Oriental medicines are known for their unique and ancient wisdoms, their powers, and their purpose of exploring of the mind, the body, and the spirit - self knowledge and awareness are central to acupuncture and other disciplines of Chinese medicine.

Once enrolled in your choice of acupuncture schools, you will study the purposes and techniques of acupuncture, to be sure, but you will also be exposed to other Oriental healing methods. These may include herbal medicine, acupressure, reflexology, various types of massage therapy, Tui Na, Qigong, and probably a lot more.

Courses in acupuncture can include a wide range of subjects. Acupuncture schools will likely introduce you to Chinese medical culture and philosophy and concepts in diagnosis. You’ll also gain knowledge of Western subjects of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and pathology, and most likely some courses in nutrition.

Programs of study in acupuncture will conclude with a clinical internship, where you will practice the healing art of acupuncture under the direct supervision of a practicing professional. Beyond teaching you the art of healing with acupuncture, a natural healing school may also mentor you by extending the learning process into actual practice in a clinic.

If you are really into acupuncture, you might decide to extend your studies and earn a masters degree. Graduate programs in acupuncture are often combined with studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that will provide you with comprehensive knowledge, skills, and experience. Graduate degree programs can cover as much in-depth study and as many subjects as you wish to pursue. Your studies may lead you to an interest in one of the other, more advanced forms of natural healing, such as chiropractic, for instance.

Undergraduate degree programs in acupuncture can take between three and four years to complete; graduate degrees will take another year or two of study. Once you graduate, you may choose professional certification. Graduates of acupuncture schools are qualified for the certification exams that are administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

If you still need more information, we suggest you visit our website where you will find numerous articles about Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, as well as a wide choice of Natural Healing Schools to choose from. Good luck in your quest to learn the rewarding and respected art of acupuncture!

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2007 - All rights reserved by Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

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Although there are many people who still view acupuncture as more mumbo jumbo than anything based on scientific fact, it is the area of pregnancy that acupuncture has seemed to gain the most acceptance among the skeptics. This is especially true when the cause of the problem of getting pregnant is functional rather than structural. Structural would be a condition such as a blocked fallopian tube. Functional would be a condition where the cause is rooted more in either a hormonal or emotional problem.

Of course, the acupuncturist looks at the treatment of pregnancy problems as he does at all conditions that suggest a disharmony within the natural order of the human body. Studies have shown that acupuncture is extremely effective when it is used in conjunction with such procedures as “in vitro” fertilization. It is thought by the Western practitioner that this is due to the stimulation of certain essential gender specific chemicals within the female body by the insertion of the acupuncture needles. It is also thought that the sense of mental well being and confidence that often accompanies acupuncture is helpful as well.

The acupuncturist would see the reasons for the success rate as a restoration of blood flow to the reproductive organs and the stabilization of hormone levels within the body. This aids ovulation and even sperm production in males and these factors make the chances of conception more likely. Even the most skeptical physicians admit that acupuncture is virtually without risk and they often take a “more is better” approach when dealing with most pregnancy issues. This means that anything that can not hurt you might help.

Most acupuncture treatments that are designed to treat pregnancy problems will be coupled with herbal medicines. There are a wide variety of herbal preparations that are thought to have a desirable impact on the problems. It is fairly common for most acupuncture treatments to be coupled with herbal treatments as well as diet and other lifestyle related approaches. This is typical of the approach of Traditional Chinese Medicine to treating the whole person and not just a specific disorder.

Although acupuncture has also been shown to reduce miscarriages and troublesome pregnancies, there are certain acupuncture points that are not thought to be safe for needling during the later stages of pregnancy. These acupuncture body points would be well known to an experienced acupuncturist. Western practitioners still recommend that you select an acupuncturist who specializes in infertility and pregnancy treatments.

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Obviously, no reputable herbalist is going to offer you treatments which they know will do you harm, but the risks can be considerable if you consult someone who is inadequately trained or if you try to treat yourself after gleaning some basic information from a book. You should remember that the drug industry is extremely efficient at exploiting any active substances found inn plants and in synthesizing and testing them for use as drugs. As with other alternative therapies, there is little published scientific evidence proving that herbal treatments are effective. If you have borderline high blood pressure, where the need for active medication is arguable either way, some of the simpler herbal infusions (drinks made in a similar way to ordinary tea, but probably not tasting as pleasant) suggested by herbalists will probably not do you any harm (although if your doctor has prescribed blood pressure lowering agents for you, you should continue to take them). Herbs which can be used in this way include hawthorn, guilder rose, linden and yarrow.

Two other famous aspect of alternative medicine are homeopathy and acupuncture, which are both reputed to help in high blood pressure.

Homeopathy is completely safe, because the remedies are so dilute. It is based on the principle that ‘like can be cured by like’. The word homeopathy comes from two Greek words that mean ’similar’ and ’suffering’. The remedies contain very dilute amounts of a substance, which in larger quantities would produce similar symptoms of the illness being treated. The problem here is that no scientific explanation for what is going on. There is no specific homeopathic remedies recommended for high blood pressure - the treatments a practitioner would suggest would simply be those thought to have general strengthening effect on your constitution. Homeopathic doctors are all trained in orthodox medicine and so usually reserve their alternative treatments for minor, self-limiting, or emotional illnesses.

Acupuncture, which involves inserting needles into the skin at particular sites on the body, has been a standard form of medical treatment in China for 5000 years. In the past 20 years it has become more widely used in the United States, usually for conditions such as a painful back where orthodox medicine often fails to help. We should know fairly soon whether or not it is effective as a treatment for high blood pressure, as a properly controlled trial is currently being carried out and the results are due to be published anytime soon. In the meantime, a course of acupuncture treatments will certainly do you no harm and you may find it helpful to aid relaxation.

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According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the body has approximately two thousands acupuncture points, and each of these points are connected by twenty pathways known as meridians. The meridians conduct qi (body life energy) between the internal organs and the body?s surface. Qi has a diverse effect on every acupoint it passes through, and helps to maintain balance within the body and mind. It is believed by TCM that intestinal disorders, such as Crohn?s disease, are a disruption of the spleen and liver and insufficient kidney support. Thus, it is usually the acupoints that affect these organs which will be focused on to relieve symptoms.

Although TCM believes the alleviation of symptoms is due to the stimulation of meridians via acupoints that brings balance to the body and mind, Western medicine has different theories on why acupuncture is effective. For instance, many believe that acupuncture stimulates the nervous system which blocks pain impulses from reaching the brain. Another theory suggests that acupuncture causes the release of endorphins (natural painkillers). While another believes that acupuncture may release opiods into the body which is another substance that provides pain relief. Despite what the real reason may be, the fact is that acupuncture provides relief.

Acupuncture is a common method for treating inflammatory bowel disease in China, and is being applied more and more in Western culture. Studies that have been conducted on the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating Crohn?s disease carefully observed changes in the overall life quality and well-being of participants with mild to moderate Crohn?s disease. It was discovered that traditional acupuncture was successful at alleviating Crohn?s symptoms in most of these participants.

Some of the Crohn?s symptoms acupuncture may alleviate include, but are not limited to:

? Abdominal pain
? Constipation
? Diarrhea
? Nervousness
? Anxiety
? Insomnia
? Menstrual cramps

How is acupuncture performed? It depends on the individual. Everyone is treated differently so that their own specific needs can be met. That being said, the following is a general description of how traditional acupuncture is administered to patients.

To stimulate the flow of qi, solid hair-thin needs are inserted individually into particular acupuncture points that pertain to the meridians being targeted. The needles are not inserted as deeply as hypodermic needles and do not draw blood. They are only designed to penetrate the meridian surface which is well seeded into the affected organs and tissues.

Acupuncture does not cause pain when needles are inserted correctly, but the patient may feel a slight tingling, aching or numbing sensation in the area where the needles are applied. Any discomfort that may be felt tends to disappear once needles have been removed.

Once inserted, the acupuncturist may twirl the needles or connect them to an electrical current in order to provide the targeted meridian with effective stimulation. Sometimes, specific herbs or oils are used in combination with the needles to help treat a condition and provide relief from certain symptoms. Despite the methods used, the entire treatment process may last anywhere from 20 ? 60 minutes.

In order to receive effective treatment with successful results, it is important for you to undergo acupuncture from a qualified acupuncturist, especially one who is experienced in treating inflammatory bowel disease. It also isn?t a bad idea to consult your doctor about your decision to seek alternative treatment before you go ahead with it.

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If you are considering acupuncture for the treatment of the arthritis pain that you have, you do need to realize that arthritis medications and other treatments that your doctor are giving you shouldn?t be stopped for it. You should always rely on the help that your doctor can give you as these are the most commonly beneficial to your health and well being. They are also scientifically proven which acupuncture is not.

How To Explore Acupuncture

If you decide that acupuncture does have something that can help you in it, take the time to find the right person for the job. It is incredibly important for you to find someone to help you that is educated, experienced and works in a clean environment as well. You should not be their first patient and you should be able to ask them any question and get an answer to it. When it comes to acupuncture, you don?t want to work with someone that is unsure of which locations are the appropriate locations to puncture for your arthritis pain.

You?ll find that there are experiences acupuncturists throughout many areas of the United States, especially in large cities. When you call on one, ask them questions about your condition. What will acupuncture do for you? How will it work? What happens during a session? When will you begin to see relief from your arthritis pain? All of these questions, along with your own, should be answered before you actually have the procedure done. This way, you know what to expect and you know what to do to benefit.

A skilled acupuncturist will use acupuncture points that are situated around your body to stimulate and improve the movement of Qi in your body. This is the life force, or the element in your body that maintains health and life. When you are ill, the idea is that the Qi is now somehow off balance and simply not effective in keeping you healthy. But, this can be improved with the help of acupuncture. By inserting a needle that is very thin into the right spots on your body, they can help to improve the flow of Qi which will then improve your health condition.

As with any type of alternative treatment, you should work with your doctor to determine if you should stop medications with this treatment. Most doctors don?t have a working knowledge of alterative treatments because most of them, including acupuncture are unproven. But, with the help of a skilled professional in the field, your arthritic pain can be significantly lessened with acupuncture.

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A little bit about

Electro Acupuncture Acupressure

Do You Know that:

• Acupressure has been used to reduce post-operative nausea and vomiting in children.
• Acupressure also reduces nausea in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
• Acupressure, if correctly performed, increases circulation, reduces tension and pain and enables the body to relax.
• Acupressure strengthens the immune system and promotes wellness.
• Acupressure is more effective than physical therapy for the majority of patients with low back pain.
• Acupressure is used to reduce fear and anxiety in trauma victims and in pre-operative care.
• Acupressure can be done anywhere with or without special equipment.

  Having said that, what is

Acupuncture - Acupressure

Acupuncture is a comprehensive system of health care for treatment of acute chronic disorders, which originated in China almost 4000 years ago. A science based on natural law, its philosophy is to heal safely and without side effects. The goal of acupuncture is to promote self healing from within.

The realignment of the energy field is based on the concept of the energy of life (Chi, or Qi in some books). It flows throughout the body to regenerate and nourish. It is generated by the internal organs and flows along paths called meridians.

This network is continuously “communicating” with the rest of the body keeping all the functions in complete harmony. In this way, the nervous, digestive, muscular, etc systems all coordinate with each other through these network points.

Acupuncturists determine whether Chi is weak, stagnant or otherwise out of balance, which indicates the points to be stimulated. Illness is caused when Chi does not flow properly throughout the body. Along the meridians are points where Chi can be affected by acupuncture needles or finger pressure or low voltage electrical pulses. In this way Chi is invigorated and its functions of nourishing, transforming, and protecting are enhanced. Clinically it has been time tested to be a safe, natural way to restore and maintain health.

Massage, in my opinion, originated in nature itself, with the mother and child relationship. Just have look at the animal world and you will see how all mothers (well, nearly all, nature is not without faults) treat their babies. Cuddling, licking and stroking are common.

If you combine the two together acupuncture and massage, we have acupuncture massage, or acupressure. Acupressure is a technique based on the same ideas as acupuncture. Acupressure involves placing physical pressure by finger, hand, elbow, or with the aid of electrical or mechanical devices on different acupuncture points on the surface of the body.

To put it simply:

Massage of specific acupuncture points is acupressure.

Many martial arts also study and use acupressure for self-defence and health purposes. The points or combinations of points are said to be used to manipulate or handicap an opponent. Also, martial artists regularly massage their own acupressure points in routines to remove blockages from their own meridians, claiming to thereby improve their circulation and flexibility and keeping the points “soft” or less vulnerable to an attack. Attacking the acupressure points is one of the techniques in some martial arts.

You can learn to do acupressure at home as a supplement to visits to a practitioner. This is especially useful when you are suddenly stricken with illness or pain and you can’t get to the doctor quickly.

Now I would like to introduce You to

Electro Acupuncture Acupressure!

What are electro acupuncture acupressure massagers?

People are scared today of needles with the emergence of AIDS and other similar types of diseases. But since acupuncture is indeed a great medicinal help, it did not die. Alternatives have been created in the form of electro acupuncture (where stimulations are done with electrical pulses). Therefore, the principles in all the derivative techniques remain the same, and so do the results.

Today on the market we have a few different types of electro acupuncture acupressure massagers.

In some cases they are called electro, in some electronic. Let me explain this part first.

In reality, this is a machine with an electronic circuit, which is producing low current electrical pulses, that you actually feel on your skin through electrical pads (or other devices) connected to your body. So, both would be correct.

In some cases they are called acupuncture in some acupressure.

Electrical pulses are directed to the acu-points and at the same time, by pulsating they are slightly pressuring those points as well. Again, both are correct.

I will call those machines electro acupuncture massagers (EAM), or acupuncture massagers (AM).

Now I’ll explain a little bit about TENS, EMS.

This is the definition:

“TENS or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is a non-invasive, drug-free method of pain relief. It is ideal for the treatment of arthritis. Pads are placed on or near the area of pain. TENS uses soothing pulses that are sent via the pads through the skin and along the nerve fibres. The pulses suppress pain signals to the brain. TENS also encourages the body to produce higher levels of its own natural pain killing chemicals called Endorphins and Encephalin.”

The same can be said about Electrical Muscle Stimulation or EMS

The difference, as you can see, is one is used more for treating nerves and the other is used more for muscles.

One more fundamental difference between TENS, EMS and EAM or AM is the frequencies at which they operate.

TENS are usually in the range of 1-152 Hz

EMS are approximately the same.

EAM or AM are more at the lower level of this range 1-52 Hz, but with a higher level of pulse’s strength.

In my opinion and the opinions of many doctors and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, I have spoken with, low range frequencies are more suitable for pain relief and muscle stimulation and the higher range frequencies are used more for treating specific illnesses and must be done under the supervision of a doctor. So, all of them are very useful tools.

For More Information About Acupuncture, Acupressure, Massage and Pain Relief hometherapies com au

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It is actually very difficult to find the cause of certain diseases through acupuncture alone, because you will have to observe how a person responds to treatments and stimuli very closely. Therefore it will take a very talented and experienced acupuncturist to correctly diagnose an illness. You should also note that acupuncture is not only used to cure diseases, it can also be used to relieve back pain, muscle pain, or to just stimulate the flow of your blood so you feel energized. For example, a symptomatic treatment is a very difficult procedure because it requires that the acupuncturist remove the symptoms of an illness. The acupuncturist must know the critical acupuncture points he should stimulate and he must be knowledgeable about how the point relates to other parts of the body.

Many people have the misconception that acupuncture is quite painful; this concept is false, because undergoing acupuncture is actually painless. Most of the acupuncture being performed on television is also misleading because the normal needles used to acupuncture are so thin that it is difficult to see with your eyes alone. The needles as big as injection needles that are used in television are merely for demonstration purposes.

There are various methods in using acupuncture, because curing different forms of illness through this procedure requires different acupuncture techniques. But generally different acupuncture methods share the same concept, which is to cure illnesses through the insertion of needles in acupuncture points in the body. One method of acupuncture involves the use of moxa which is a Japanese herb used for treating certain conditions such as arthritis, bronchitis and diarrhea. This method is particularly effective in removing coldness from the body. Another method of removing the cold is cupping. This method makes use of a glass cup with a burning paper inserted into it to create a vacuum and makes the cup attach to your skin. Cupping increases blood flow in the area being treated, so this is effective in treating fibrositis and bronchitis.

You should also not be surprised if your acupuncturist uses different techniques in treating you in every single session. An acupuncturist’s techniques may vary because if one particular area is stimulated too often, that area may become desensitized and the treatment won’t be effective anymore. You can also note that an acupuncturist will use different variations in inserting the needle at different stages of the treatment. For example, the acupuncturist may insert the needle in one area for a few seconds then insert the next needle in another area for several minutes. But ultimately, acupuncture will only be effective in that it becomes successful in balancing the flow of energy in your body

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As expected, an acupuncture university will offer students comprehensive courses in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Some of this coursework could lead to a Master of Science or Doctor of Oriental Medicine. Depending on which track you follow, an acupuncture university will supply you with the necessary education, skills and hands-on training to become a successful acupuncture practitioner.

Once enrolled in an acupuncture university, students who are pursuing a Master of Science will gain intensive training in Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture principles, modalities, techniques, and theories. In addition, acupuncture university candidates will learn about biology, medical terminology, biochemistry, physics, general psychology, anatomy and physiology. Though this is just a broad overview of general curriculums provided through an Acupuncture University?s Master of Science program, there is much more subject matter that will be discussed and learned.

In the Doctor of Oriental medicine program, which often goes hand-in-hand with studies extended through an acupuncture university, students will discover that this course-intensive program includes much of what is taught through the Master of Science program but with more advanced classes in medical microbiology, medical biochemistry, integrative medicine, and many others. Both the Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Master of Science programs offered at an acupuncture university usually involve over 4,000 credit hours and may last from two to three years.

Upon successful graduation from an acupuncture university, graduates can go onto becoming certified and licensed in their state of residence. Aside from offering patients a quality, but alternative medical treatment, professional acupuncturists can expect a rewarding career and positive income potential.

If you are interested in finding your dream job, let education within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

Acupuncture University: What to Expect
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The CollegeBound Network
All Rights Reserved

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When most people think of acupuncture, they think about someone sticking needles into various points on their body. But in fact acupuncturists may work to activate acupuncture points on the body through different methods. Lasers are sometimes used to activate acupuncture points, as well as magnets, electrical currents, and even certain herbs. The most common thou are the use of needles.

While acupuncture is a type of medical procedure, it has been developed through philosophy. Taoists explored qi and the meridians by meditating and discovering where energy radiated throughout the human body.

Many people avoid acupuncture because of fear of pain when needles are inserted. Stainless steel needles that are used in acupuncture are nothing like the needles that are used to draw blood or administer shots. Medical needles are wider in diameter, since they need to be hollow so that fluids can be injected into the body or blood can be taken out. The acupuncture needles can be as thin as hair, so the difference is substantial.

In addition to treating physical symptoms that someone may be having, acupuncture is very useful for treating mental and emotional problems. Anxiety, stress, and drug detoxification can be helped and often with good result.

Always go to acupuncturist that is certified. People have to learn for at least three years to be certified, ensuring quality care.

Acupuncture is helpful medical procedure. It can help you to keep balanced and in times of stress it is very helpful to maintain equilibrium. You do not even have to have problems since it is considered preventative for disease.

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