A Primer on Medical Acupuncture |
A Primer on Medical Acupuncture
Have you ever had an uncontrollable urge to be pierced by a dozen needles? This is the image most people get when someone mentions the word "acupuncture". It comes as no surprise that most view this technique with suspicion, even downright horror. The fact is, however, that this relatively painless ancient Chinese technique has helped relieve the symptoms of millions of people. Properly used, it can help in the management of many medical conditions including chronic pain and fatigue.
How does needle puncture work?
Practitioners of Chinese traditional medicine believe in energy flows. This energy, called Qi, circulates around the body using pathways called meridians. Meridians run very close to the surface of the skin in certain areas and can be accessed by needles. Much like plumbing, these pipes can get blocked or go the wrong way, causing health problems. The insertion of needles at these points is aimed to help loosen blocks and normalize flow.
It sounds like a made-up explanation with no basis in reality, but there are numerous scientific studies which support the effects of acupuncture. Although the exact scientific basis is still unknown, recent theories seem to suggest involvement of complicated neurochemical effects in the brain, nerve to spinal cord impulse modulation, and microscopic connective tissue changes. What risks and side effects are of concern?
The use of things not completely understood for the treatment of medical conditions is nothing new. Penicillin and aspirin were used for decades solely on the basis of their beneficial effects, without doctors knowing exactly how they worked. Results are what are truly important. However, it is equally important is to ensure that the technique is used safely.
Like other strategies used in treating health conditions, acupuncture may have some side effects. Medications have side effects and allergic reactions, surgeries have risk of infection and complications. For needle puncture, there is a risk of injury, rare infections, minor bleeding, small bruises, and some dizziness.
You can minimize the possible side effects by choosing a licensed acupuncturist. Most countries either have government licensing in place or have professional organizations with very strict rules and regulations.
How do treatments go?
An acupuncturist will do an initial evaluation of your medical history and your body's current state. Multiple pressure points are palpated, and a regimen of treatment is formulated. Most courses involve a series of 10 to 20 treatment sessions, each lasting 30 to 90 minutes. Needles will be carefully placed at the required points and kept in place for some time. Most patients report a feeling of mild sensation at the site of the puncture, but no real pain.
Right after each acupuncture session, you will feel a bit tired and may need to rest. Some people feel an increase in their energy levels. The response to acupuncture is very individual. In some cases there is immediate relief of symptoms. For some patients, the beneficial effects may only be noticed after undergoing a few sessions. Do not be alarmed and keep your acupuncturist updated on what you are feeling to ensure everything is going as expected.
You need never fear the thought of needles ever again. Acupuncture is a beneficial treatment with a long history of effectiveness. It is used to complement current medical therapy and should not replace currently existing medications or treatments.
The safe application of this once exclusively Chinese therapy can now be experienced by chronic disease sufferers worldwide.
|
A Primer on Medical Acupuncture Have you ever had an uncontrollable urge to be pierced by a dozen needles? This ... read more
A Quick-Start guide to Acupuncture Using needles to adjust bodily functions to optimum levels is the principle behind acupuncture. Both ... read more
Acupuncture and Autism Studies have shown that there is an increase in the number of children that have been diagnosed ... read more
Acupuncture and Weight Loss There are a lot of people who are overweight. For those who are obese, perhaps surgery ... read more
Acupuncture can be used for anyone Like anything else, there is a wide range of ways that you can practice ... read more
Acupuncture Can Help Treat Migraines Acupuncture can help treat migraines. This was discovered after a comparative study was done with ... read more
Acupuncture Can Help You Quit Smoking Smoking is one hard habit to break. If nicotine patches and gum doesn't work, ... read more
Acupuncture Closely Revealed The foundation of acupuncture rests on the relevance of an individual's chi in maintaining bodily and mental ... read more
Acupuncture Could Help You Finally Manage Your Stress Levels Today's world can fill the very busy individual with a lot ... read more
Acupuncture Degrees If you want to pursue a career in acupuncture, you need to obtain a degree and become a ... read more
Acupuncture For All Those Simple Aches And Pains If, like me, you have quite a fear of needles and injections, ... read more
Acupuncture for Effective Weight Loss In a generation when physical fitness is given topmost attention, people are always on the ... read more
Acupuncture is an Example of Holistic Healthcare Holistic healthcare by definition is being able to cure an illness through the ... read more
Cupping as an Effective Acupuncture Method Acupuncture happens to be a traditional Chinese medical treatment and you will find that ... read more
Eight Myths About Acupuncture There are a lot of myths with regards to acupuncture. Some of these are true others ... read more
Facial Acupuncture Looking beautiful both inside and out is something we all want to achieve. Since your face is ridden ... read more
Fibromyalgia Treatment: Acupuncture Did you know that Fibromyalgia is a disorder that had affected thousands of people and still there ... read more
Five Elements in Acupuncture You will study the five main elements or the most fundamental things of acupuncture and you ... read more
How to Look For a Good Acupuncture School Since 1982, acupuncture has found its way to the US. There are ... read more
Is Acupuncture The Remedy for You? With the growing acceptance of alternative medicine in Western cultures, acupuncture is quickly becoming ... read more
Just how safe is acupuncture Acupuncture happens to be a very popular and profitable form of medicine, since millions of ... read more
Locating an Acupuncturist? Acupuncture has become a very popular treatment for health related issues of all kinds. You will be ... read more
Nutrition and acupuncture If you have recently started to see an acupuncturist, you will find that there are many people ... read more
Quitting Smoking for Good with Acupuncture Acupuncture is already a renowned method used in treating smoking addiction. An alternative medicine ... read more
The Do's and Don't of Acupuncture There are things that patients have to be aware of before, during and after ... read more
The Effectiveness Of Acupuncture Whenever you are feeling pain and discomfort, you'd usually reach for your painkillers for relief. While ... read more
The energy of acupuncture When it comes to acupuncture, you will find that there are basic concepts that you have ... read more
The History of Acupuncture Acupuncture comes from two Latin words namely "acus" which means needle in English and "pungere" which ... read more
The Soothing Effects of Acupuncture Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine that has been practiced for thousands of ... read more
The Tradition of Acupuncture Acupuncture is a form of medicine that happens to involve the insertions of little needles. You ... read more
Things You Should Know About Acupuncture Acupuncture has been practiced for hundreds of years. To let you know more about ... read more
Types of Acupuncture There are different types of acupuncture. Whichever you decide to use, they are designed to do the ... read more
What Do Acupuncturists Do The acupuncturist is the specialist who conducts acupuncture. He or she may use needles or some ... read more
What is Acupuncture? What is acupuncture? It is a form of holistic healthcare that is used to prevent and treat ... read more
Will acupuncture help pregnancy? The art of acupuncture is a part of Chinese traditional medicine and it has been round ... read more
|
|
|
Disclaimer:
The Publisher has strived to be as accurate and complete as possible in
the creation of this website, notwithstanding the fact that he does not
warrant or represent at any time that the contents within are accurate
due to the rapidly changing nature of the Internet.
This site
is a common sense guide to A Primer on Medical Acupuncture . In practical advice websites,
like anything else in life, there are no guarantees of income made.
Readers are cautioned to reply on their own judgment about their
individual circumstances to act accordingly.
This site
is not intended for use as a source of legal, business, accounting or
financial advice. All readers are advised to seek services of competent
professionals in legal, business, accounting, and finance field.
Any
perceived slights of specific people or organizations are unintentional.
|