The Effectiveness Of Acupuncture



Whenever you are feeling pain and discomfort, you'd usually reach for your painkillers for relief. While they do relieve the pain, they also bring along side effects that comes with taking foreign chemicals into your body. As much as modern medicine has developed drugs that can relieve pain right off the bat, do you really think that the quick fixes you've been taking are actually good for your body? Why not try something safer and more effective like acupuncture.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture has surged in popularity for the last few decades as brought on by the recent health trend. Mostly known as a traditonal Chinese medical technique, acupuncture is seen as a homeopathic method of treatment. While alternative medicine does raise a lot of eyebrows for the scientifically-inclined, it does merit attention before being dismissed as a quack cure.

Basic Procedure

Basically, needles are inserted into the skin, each corresponding to one of the numerous pressure points located throughout the body. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, by inserting a needle into the pressure point, an acupuncturist can manipulate the flow of chi or life force, thus relieving pain and gradually treating the patient. While most would say that the whole chi thing is a bunch of nonsense, science has suggested that with the needles inserted, the body's natural painkillers called endorphins are released, thus helping with pain relief.

Instruments

Modern acupuncturists nowadays use disposable fine stainless steel needles that are 0.007 to 0.020 inches in diameter which are sterilized with either ethylene oxide or by autoclave. Since they are way finer than hypodermic syringe needles, being poked by these needles are relatively painless. The upper third of the needle is covered with either a thicker bronze wire or plastic to make the needle sturdier and easier to handle. The length of the needle and how far they are inserted is all up to the acupuncturist and his practised style of acupuncture.

Example Of Treatment

If a patient has a headache, he/she is diagnosed and is treated by stimulating the sensitive points located at the webs between the thumbs and palms. In acupuncture theory, these points are connected to the face and head and can be used for treatment of headaches and other ailments involved. Needles are then carefully inserted into the skin until the patient feels a twinge, which is usually accompanied by a slight involuntary twitching of the area. During this treatment, a number of things may occur.

- Sensitivity to pain in where needles are inserted.

- A hint of nausea during treatment in case of bad headaches.

- Near-immediate headache relief.

Evolution

As an ancient method, acupuncture has crossed over into the modern age with implementations of technology and recent scientific findings. Electrical stimulation is now a common technique that is combined with acupuncture to produce more effective results. Also, acupuncturists combined this eastern technique with western methods to further enhance the treatment.

Practitioners have eventually realized that leaning towards one school of thought can't propagate progress unless they are willing to move towards the future by looking towards other horizons as well.

Reactions And Research

Not everyone is impressed with acupuncture itself. Most western medical professionals have expressed either doubt or indifference to the oriental method while others have downright driven it down into the earth with criticisms and brutal skepticism. However, recent research shows the efficacy (or lack thereof) of acupuncture, and while more research has to be done, it has been proven to actually positively affect some, but not all, forms of ailments that it claims to cure.

So as the doors open to a new age of acupuncture, give it a try when you feel the need for pain relief and you will not be disappointed. As the Chinese have used it for many centuries, so should we.




Comments

*Name:
*Email:
Website URL:
Title / Subject:
Hide my email
*Comments:
*
 



Menu


My Articles

Acupuncture And Autism
The History Of Acupuncture
Quitting Smoking For Good With Acupuncture
The Effectiveness Of Acupuncture
Acupuncture For All Those Simple Aches And Pains
Things You Should Know About Acupuncture
Acupuncture Is An Example Of Holistic Healthcare
Acupuncture Could Help You Finally Manage Your Stress Levels
Facial Acupuncture
Acupuncture And Weight Loss
Is Acupuncture The Remedy For You?
The Do’s And Don’t Of Acupuncture
Acupuncture Can Help Treat Migraines
Types Of Acupuncture
Eight Myths About Acupuncture
A Quick-Start Guide To Acupuncture
Acupuncture For Effective Weight Loss
How To Look For A Good Acupuncture School
Acupuncture Can Help You Quit Smoking
What Do Acupuncturists Do
Acupuncture Degrees
The Soothing Effects Of Acupuncture
Acupuncture Closely Revealed









My Articles


Facial Acupuncture Looking beautiful both inside and out is something we all want..


Acupuncture And Autism Studies have shown that there is an increase in the number of children that..


Things You Should Know About Acupuncture Acupuncture has been practiced for hundreds of years. To let you know..


Types Of Acupuncture There are different types of acupuncture. Whichever you..



Related Videos:

Related News:

 
Mysterious Death at Acupuncture Clinic Raises Questions - KLAS-TV

    

PR Web

Mysterious Death at Acupuncture Clinic Raises Questions
KLAS-TV
By Jessica Lovell, Reporter - email By Mark Zamora, Photojournalist - email LAS VEGAS -- A man collapsed and died Wednesday shortly after receiving an acupuncture procedure. Experts in the field say it likely had nothing to do with the alternative ...
Acupuncture for Children? San Francisco Chinese Medicine College Now Offers ...San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
The true fountain of youthGrand Junction Free Press

all 5 news articles »



Acupuncture Stops Indigestion - New Research - HealthCMI

    

HealthCMI

Acupuncture Stops Indigestion - New Research
HealthCMI
New research concludes that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of dyspepsia. Dyspepsia is indigestion- also known as an upset stomach. It involves symptoms including abdominal pain, bloating, an uncomfortable sensation of heaviness or fullness ...