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Acupuncture can help treat many medical conditions, particularly pain relief and nausea and vomiting due to cancer medications or surgery. It has proven particularly useful when used alongside physical therapy for these purposes.
Thin needles used in treatments usually don’t cause discomfort when being inserted, and during treatments, the practitioner may manipulate or move them as well as apply heat or mild electrical pulses. To learn more about what it can do for you, read on.
Table of Contents
Origin
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese Medicine technique involving the insertion of fine needles at specific points on the body to promote health and treat disease. According to this therapy’s theory, energy flows throughout your meridians in 12 main channels that run throughout your body – Acupuncture helps balance them back out so your body returns to equilibrium.
Early archeological evidence shows that this therapy was in use at least five or six millennia ago in primitive clan societies. Documented ancient medical texts, which you can read here, seem to show evidence of its usage; evidence exists of using it for simple surgical procedures like lancing an abscess on Otzi the Iceman who died around 3300 BCE indicates further use for lancing an abscess with needle acupuncture.
The three millennia-old Chinese empires saw the development of more advanced forms of this therapy during its three millennia of existence. Bian stones from earlier tools were replaced with bronze needles, and medical texts began documenting treatments as more formalized systems.
Western Han Dynasty (475 B.C.-113 B.C.) witnessed significant advances with the establishment of feudalism in China, which allowed more specialized knowledge areas to flourish. At this time, Zhen Quan revised some of the ancient acupuncture texts and charts, leading to more scientific approaches being taken towards practicing this ancient art form inherited by today’s practitioners of this art form.
Theory
Needles stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which reduces heart rate and blood pressure while encouraging relaxation and sleepiness. It can reduce stress, which has been shown to contribute to physical pain and illness. Studies have also indicated that acupuncture may help relieve chronic back pain, osteoarthritis pain, and headaches, inducing labor during pregnancies more quickly as well as relieving back pain during birthing processes.
Modern research indicates that acupuncture may stimulate the release of natural painkillers such as endorphins. It appears to influence neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation such as serotonin and dopamine production, thus improving mood regulation. It may improve immunity against disease or infections.
Ancient Chinese philosophers believed that humans are filled with an invisible energy called qi (pronounced “chee”). When this energy flows freely and goes where needed, you remain healthy. When unbalanced or blocked by blockages or deficiencies, illness occurs, and Acupuncture provides a means to restore equilibrium and promote self-healing.
While acupuncture has long been used to treat various conditions, not all forms are supported by scientific evidence. Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of acupuncture in helping smokers quit and chronic pain patients overcome symptoms, but evidence remains limited for other uses.
Medical professionals must possess a basic knowledge of acupuncture as an alternative therapy solution; openness toward alternative and complementary medicines among their patients leads to better patient care outcomes, while interprofessional collaboration enhances interprofessional discussions regarding possible treatment plans among peers and patients alike.
Techniques
Acupuncture involves inserting needles at specific acupuncture points on the body known as acupuncture points, located along energy pathways known as meridians. Acupuncturists use various techniques to manipulate energy flows at these points and restore balance to their bodies.
Acupuncturists use needles, heat or electrical stimulation, and burn therapeutic herbs near the skin – Moxibustion – to improve treatment effects and promote blood and qi circulation, treating diseases involving inflammation.
There are various styles of acupuncture, and each has its own beliefs and principles. Five Element Acupuncture holds that different elements (water, wood, fire, earth, and metal) correspond with various organs and functions in the body. Any imbalance may lead to illness in its practitioner’s system.
Overall, acupuncture is considered safe. The risks associated with needle insertions such as acupuncture are similar to any type of needle insertion procedure: infection and disease transmission; nerve injury; bleeding; pneumothorax/pneumoperitoneum (pneumonia in the lung/abdomen). However, complications from treatments are very uncommon if performed by experienced practitioners.
Symptoms
Most patients report no adverse reactions from their treatments; occasionally some discomfort at the point where a needle is inserted may arise; this discomfort will often indicate that your treatment is working effectively.
A needle prick is typically less painful than a vaccination or a blood draw; these very thin needles can be quickly inserted. Most patients at BodaHealth Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine report feeling either mild tingling or pressure similar to when an air current hits their skin. Some points such as extremities and spine may be more sensitive than others, but for some people there may even be a slight throbbing sensation where a needle is inserted while in other places it will feel dull or ache.
After receiving treatment, your acupuncturist may ask that you lie down for several minutes afterward to allow your body to fully absorb all of the energy it has received and facilitate faster recovery. This allows it to absorb everything it has been receiving and helps speed up recovery time.
At times, patients will experience emotional outbursts after treatment – not due to any pain but because their bodies release stored emotions and tension through this ancient healing practice. While this should not be taken as an indicator that something is wrong with you, if these outbursts persist more than 24 hours afterward then consulting an acupuncturist might be necessary.
Treatment
it has long been used as an effective treatment option, helping with everything from inflammation and pain relief, depression and anxiety, nausea caused by cancer drugs and boosts immune function to alleviating nausea and vomiting due to cancer drugs – as well as treating common ailments such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis headaches among many other ailments.
An acupuncturist uses thin, sterile needles that are inserted into specific points on the body without being noticed (source: https://www.scuhs.edu/front-page-news/atp-acupuncture/); most people don’t feel when the needles are being inserted. Once in position, these needles should remain for 20 to 60 minutes and may then be adjusted by manipulating or applying heat/electric stimulation to them by an acupuncturist.
The World Health Organization has recognized over 100 medical conditions acupuncture has successfully treated. Acupuncture can improve digestion, decrease stress and anxiety levels, treat hormonal imbalance, alleviate low back pain, aid fertility cycles, ease neck and shoulder tension as well as alleviate allergies among others. Acupuncture is one component of integrative medicine that strives to treat the whole person rather than simply treat symptoms alone.
Acupuncture is generally safe for adults and children when performed by licensed practitioners who adhere to accepted standards of practice. As with any procedure that uses needles, complications may arise including infection, disease transmission, nerve damage, or, rarely, pneumothorax/pneumoperitoneum in which air enters the lung space or abdominal cavity – with less-qualified practitioners being at greater risk. Before having acupuncture sessions performed on you or your loved ones consult with a doctor regarding both its benefits and risks, and help finding an acupuncturist near where you live.
