| For every practice or thought, there is an | | | | which leaves some individuals to believe that |
| opposite viewpoint. This is true with | | | | acupuncture is evil or wrong. |
| religious beliefs, political beliefs, and | | | | |
| even opinions and studies of the environment. | | | | However, for the most part, acupuncture is |
| As humans, we both consciously and | | | | receiving a positive welcome in communities |
| unconsciously choose to believe a side. There | | | | around the globe. Perhaps this is because of |
| are many, many individuals who can see the | | | | exercise programs, such as Yoga and Pilates, |
| reasoning on both sides of the proverbial | | | | which have become so popular. Asian culture |
| fence, but there are also those that are | | | | has exploded into the main stream in fashion, |
| staunchly devoted and will see no side other | | | | thought, spirituality, technology, and |
| than their own. Medical treatments are no | | | | medicine. Years ago, such things as |
| exception to this rule. | | | | acupuncture and Yoga were only for the |
| | | | "beatniks". The regular Joe did not practice |
| There are religious groups through out the | | | | such things and would not have heard the |
| world, including some who believe that a | | | | positive benefits, but nowadays, people |
| transfusion of blood is sacrilegious and | | | | around the globe want different choices when |
| would never take someone else's blood into | | | | it comes to their bodies. Many individuals |
| their body, as it makes them "impure". There | | | | want to try to live a life with minimal |
| are some who do not believe in modern | | | | medication and invasive procedures, turning |
| medicine and still, to this day, practice | | | | to nature to help with illness and pain. |
| holistic medicine. However, most religions do | | | | Acupuncture is a good alternative. |
| not have a prejudice against Western medicine | | | | |
| in whole, but may be against particular | | | | Acupuncture, as mentioned before, has to do |
| things, such as prescriptions for depression. | | | | with the flow of energy in the body. The |
| Many Eastern religions have given birth to | | | | energy flows along pathways, fourteen to be |
| medical practices of their own. An example of | | | | precise, which are called meridians. All |
| this would be Taoism. Taoism believes in | | | | along the meridian, there are points within |
| studying nature and its influences upon man. | | | | that can become blocked. Acupuncture is used |
| From this belief and observation rose the | | | | to unblock the meridian and allow the energy |
| practice of acupuncture, which has to do with | | | | to flow. This is done with the use of long, |
| the flow of energy, Qi (pronounced chee), and | | | | thin, solid needles, but most people report |
| how those affect areas of the body. | | | | that the procedure is painless, so do not |
| | | | worry. |
| Many religions consider that believing in | | | | |
| outside energies is a farce and their | | | | The medical field and the health-care |
| followers will spurn procedures using such | | | | services we choose to receive fall into our |
| magic and mystery. Others discount the | | | | set of values and beliefs, be they moral or |
| studies of researchers, considering the | | | | religious. Certainly, the ultimate decision |
| strength of acupuncture to lie in the | | | | to accept acupuncture or consider it nothing |
| possibility of something intangible, such as | | | | more than psychological smoke and mirrors |
| Qi. Bibles and scriptures of all types warn | | | | remains yours alone, depending much on your |
| against the "Devil's work" and mysticism, | | | | personal group of beliefs and your opinion. |