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Acupuncture
Acupuncture

Abstract

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a component of the health care system of China that can be traced back at least 2,500 years. The general theory of acupuncture is based on the premise that there are patterns of energy flow (Qi) through the body that are essential for health. Disruptions of this flow are believed to be responsible for disease. Acupuncture may, it has been theorized, correct imbalances of flow at identifiable points close to the skin.
Acupuncturists believe that illness occurs when something blocks or unbalances your ‘Chi’ (energy). Acupuncture is a way to unblock or influence chi and help it flow back into balance.
Acupuncture is a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical locations on or in the skin by a variety of techniques. Acupuncture is done by putting very thin needles into your skin at certain points on your body. This is done to influence the energy flow. Sometimes heat, pressure, or mild electrical current is used along with needles.
The most thoroughly studied mechanism of stimulation of Acupuncture points employs penetration of the skin by thin, solid, metallic needles, which are manipulated manually or by electrical stimulation.

How does acupuncture work?

Acupuncture improves the body’s functions and promotes the natural self-healing process by stimulating specific anatomic sites--commonly referred to as acupuncture points, or acupoints. The most common method used to stimulate acupoints is the insertion of fine, sterile needles into the skin. Pressure, heat, or electrical stimulation may further enhance the effects. Other acupoint stimulation techniques include: manual massage, moxibustion or heat therapy, cupping, and the application of topical herbal medicines and linaments.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on an ancient philosophy that describes the universe, and the body, in terms of two opposing forces: yin and yang. When these forces are in balance, the body is healthy. Energy, called "qi" (pronounced "chee") flows along specific pathways, called meridians, throughout the body. This constant flow of energy keeps the yin and yang forces balanced. However, if the flow of energy gets blocked, like water getting stuck behind a dam, the disruption can lead to pain, lack of function, or illness. Acupuncture therapy can release blocked qi in the body and stimulate function, evoking the body’s natural healing response through various physiological systems. Modern research has demonstrated acupuncture’s effects on the nervous system, endocrine and immune systems, cardiovascular system, and digestive system. By stimulating the body’s various systems, acupuncture can help to resolve pain, and improve sleep, digestive function, and sense of well-being.

Side Effects of Acupuncture

The most common serious injury reported from the needles of acupuncture has been accidental puncture of the lung, which results in a partial collapse of the lung called pneumothorax. The most common infection reported from acupuncture treatments is viral hepatitis, a potentially serious infection of the liver. Other side effects include bacterial infections locally at the site of needle insertion in the skin and elsewhere in the body. Generally, side effects seem to relate to poor hygiene and training of the acupuncturist. Pros and Cons of Acupuncture:
On the plus side, acupuncture can improve one’s feeling of well-being, may reduce pain, and usually does not cause side effects. The potential down sides of using acupuncture for pain management are that it can be expensive, it is not guaranteed to be effective, and it can cause infections if unsterile equipment is used.
One of the most common benefits reported by those who use acupuncture for pain management is that it can improve one’s overall sense of well-being and fitness. Some report feeling extra energy after receiving a treatment. Others say that acupuncture makes them feel extremely relaxed.
Probably the most important potential benefit of using acupuncture for pain management is that it may reduce various types of pain, from arthritis-related soreness to migraines to menstrual discomfort. Some acupuncture patients report feeling relief from pain after just one treatment. Others notice results after a series of treatments.
Another positive aspect of acupuncture is that it generally causes few or no side effects either during or after treatment. Despite the fact that treatment sessions involve piercing the skin with needles, the needles used are extremely thin, and thus their insertion does not cause pain in most patients. It is also rare for patients to experience effects such as bruising or soreness following a treatment.
Many find that the price of treatments is a major disadvantage to using acupuncture for pain management. Often, multiple treatments are needed before one’s pain begins to diminish. As it is generally considered a form of alternative or complementary medicine, acupuncture may not be covered by one’s health insurance, and thus can be costly.
Further, acupuncture is not guaranteed to reduce pain, and a significant number of patients find that it has no noticeable effect. In fact, medical researchers are still uncertain as to why acupuncture lessens pain in some individuals. Based on comparative studies of groups receiving acupuncture and those receiving a mock treatment, it seems that the technique’s success or failure may be partly due to psychological factors.
Finally, using acupuncture for pain management can lead to infection if one’s acupuncturist works with unsterile equipment. To lower the risk of infection, patients should make sure that their practitioner uses sterile disposable needles. For patient safety, it is also important to verify that an acupuncturist is fully trained and certified to practice acupuncture.
The conditions has acupuncture treatment been found helpful:
Efficacy of acupuncture in adult post-operative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in post-operative dental pain. There are other situations such as addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma where acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive management program.
Findings from basic research have begun to elucidate the mechanisms of action of acupuncture, including the release of opioids and other peptides in the central nervous system and the periphery and changes in neuroendocrine function. Although much needs to be accomplished, the emergence of plausible mechanisms for the therapeutic effects of acupuncture is encouraging.
What Happens During Session?

What should You expect after treatment?

How often should you come for treatment?