Treatment Options Alternative Health Care Treatments Acupuncture is a 5000-year-old Chinese art of healing that involves the insertion of very fine, sterile, disposable needles into specific parts of the body. This technique stimulates and activates the body's immune and healing systems. By incorporating Western knowledge and techniques, acupuncture has evolved into an acceptable and sought after scientific method of treatment for many common physical and psychological disorders. Chiropractic comes from the Greek word Chiropraktikos, meaning "effective treatment by hand." All chiropractors use a standard procedure of examination to diagnose a patient's condition and arrive at a course of treatment. Doctors of chiropractic use the same time-honored methods of consultation, case history, physical examination, laboratory analysis, and x-ray examination as any other doctor. In addition, they provide a careful chiropractic structural examination, paying particular attention to the spine. Massage Therapy affects the body as a whole. Massage is known to increase the circulation of blood. The direct mechanical effect of rhythmically applied manual pressure and movement used in massage can dramatically increase the rate of blood flow. Also, the stimulation of nerve receptors causes the blood vessels (by reflex action) to dilate, which also facilitates blood flow. For the whole body to be healthy, the sum of its parts -- the cells -- must be healthy. The individual cells of the body are dependent on an abundant supply of blood that supplies nutrients and oxygen and carries away wastes and toxins. So, it is easy to understand why good circulation is so important to our health and why massage can be beneficial for the entire body due to its effect on circulation alone.