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