Acupuncture

Today in Western cultures, acupuncture is often seen as recent and faddish. In fact, acupuncture is a health practice that has existed for thousands of years. The first references to acupuncture appear in the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine (Huang Di Nei Jing) that was completed well over 2000 years ago.  Since then, acupuncture has been developed and perfected by medical practitioners of great skill and insight. It continues to evolve and prove itself today in clinical practice.

Acupuncture consists of stimulating with precision certain special points on the body known to be effective in the treatment of specific health problems. Points are selected and stimulated in combination to insure equilibrium among the major systems of the body.  Points are mostly stimulated by the insertion of thin needles on the body’s surface, placed strategically to influence physiological function.

The principal goal of acupuncture is to help your body achieve optimal health. Treatment does not merely suppress symptoms, but seeks to rebalance the functions of the body as a whole. In other words, acupuncture assists the body in the natural process of healing. In acupuncture, as in all branches of Chinese Medicine, emphasis is placed on achieving vibrant good health and well being.

A typical visit to an acupuncturist, like Sean Laflamme, consists of several important steps:

1. an in depth evaluation of your state of health;
2. the development of a treatment plan tailored to your needs;
3. the proper selection of point combinations; and
4. the stimulation of these points in a calm and peaceful environment.

Points and Meridians

Acupuncture points are located on energy pathways called meridians. These pathways cover the body in its entirety, interrelating the different systems and tissues in an interdependent network. Acupuncture points are concentrated zones of energy that, when stimulated in combination, greatly influence the organ systems of which they are a part.

Points stimulated during a treatment are generally located on the arms, legs, abdomen and back. For more information on acupuncture procedures and techniques, click on the heading Treatment.

Top

A Holistic Medicine

Acupuncture is a holistic practice, which means that the practitioner considers all aspects of your life before devising a treatment plan. He looks at both your physical and mental states, as well as your environment (i.e. workplace, living space, hygiene, lifestyle, etc).

In an holistic approach, all systems of the body are viewed and treated as interdependent in function. The practitioner gathers all the information necessary to identify any patterns of disharmony within the individual in order to accurately treat the actual root of the problem, not merely its presenting symptoms.

We live in an era when the incidence of degenerative disease is on the rise. Also, the fear of such illness is much greater than that of infectious disease. Medical practitioners agree that that early treatment and prevention are the best defences against degenerative disorders. Holistic medicine is well adapted to these tasks. A qualified practitioner will take the time to evaluate you completely, and guide you on the path to living to your full health potential.

In holistic medicine, we believe that recurring symptoms, even minor ones, are usually signals that imbalance is taking root in the body. Many people live with minor imbalances, such as slow digestion or fatigue, without ever examining the long term repercussions for the body. A holistic medical practitioner will decode these signals and help you understand their significance and how to deal with them before they become serious.

Even though the strength of acupuncture lies in disease prevention and the treatment of non-life-threatening disorders (fatigue, insomnia, P.M.S., slow digestion, etc.), it can also greatly help individuals suffering from serious illness. This it does, either by reducing pain, slowing degenerative processes, or simply by making the person feel better.

Acupuncture and Medication

Medication is often necessary in the management of a threatening illness, for example, to regulate serious cardiac or blood pressure irregularities.  The downside to medication is that it doesn’t necessarily contribute to the healing process. If you suffer from a serious illness that requires medication, you are not therefore excluded from having the best of both worlds. Acupuncture can help your body better manage the medication, and, in some cases, help you reduce the intake of medication (under the supervision of your medical doctor).

Qualifications

Until recently in the Western world there were not many creditable alternative therapies available to the general public. Since acupuncture has only enjoyed recognition in North America and Europe in the past few decades, under-qualified practitioners have sometimes gained a foothold. However, professional governing bodies have been established, so please take the time to look into what body oversees the practice of the profession in your area.  Put your health in the hands of a qualified health practitioner.

Acupuncture Sean Laflamme

Sean Laflamme Ac. is a licensed acupuncturist who has been practicing in the Montreal area for over a decade. As well as being a generalist, he has particular experience in treating fatigue and such common contemporary mental health issues as stress, anxiety and depression.

Continually furthering his studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sean Laflamme has published a number of articles on preventative medicine. He has also written guides on nutrition according to Chinese Medicine, and acupressure guides for alleviating commonly occurring ailments of a less serious nature.

 For further information, click on the heading: Sean Laflamme.

Sean M. Laflamme, licensed acupuncturist

Top