Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine-based approach to treating a variety of conditions by triggering specific points on the skin with needles.
After all, your mood, mental health, and general well-being do affect your physical health. Thus, acupuncture aims to assist people in achieving balance, or qi, and, as a result, provide relief for many ailments. You may be interested in acupuncture for a variety of reasons — for example, I sought treatment for my chronic headaches and sinus pressure — as there are countless conditions and symptoms that acupuncture has been said to help with.
Here are just some of the many claims:. Some studies even suggest that acupuncture can help with cancer treatment and multiple sclerosis , however research for these conditions is limited and requires larger studies to confirm the benefits. Be sure to see a licensed acupuncturist they should have LAc after their name. Some certification requirements slightly differ by state however: for example, California has its own licensing exam. You can also look online for certified acupuncturists in your area.
The cost of an acupuncture session depends on where you live and on whether or not the practitioner takes your insurance. You should never try acupuncture on your own. Pressing these points is known as acupressure.
Lisa Chan , LAc and certified reflexologist, provided some insight as to which points on your body you can massage on your own. Pressing this point, located on the muscle between your thumb and index finger, is meant to help alleviate headaches, toothaches, stress, and facial and neck pain. In that case, it could help induce contractions. A professional can demonstrate where and how to apply pressure properly. But while it may not eliminate your symptoms, it could still ease them.
So it may be worth a try, especially when it comes to chronic pain. Needles may be heated during the treatment or mild electric current may be applied to them. Some people report acupuncture makes them feel energized. Others say they feel relaxed. Improper placement of the needle can cause pain during treatment. Needles must be sterilized to prevent infection. That is why it is important to seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture practitioner.
The FDA regulates acupuncture needles just as it does other medical devices under good manufacturing practices and single-use standards of sterility. Instead of needles, other forms of stimulation are sometimes used over the acupuncture points, including:. Acupuncture points are believed to stimulate the central nervous system. This, in turn, releases chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain.
These biochemical changes may stimulate the body's natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being. National Institutes of Health NIH studies have shown that acupuncture is an effective treatment alone or in combination with conventional therapies to treat the following:.
Many Americans seek acupuncture treatment for relief of chronic pain, such as arthritis or low back pain. Acupuncture, however, has expanded uses in other parts of the world. Before considering acupuncture, talk to your doctor.
Conditions that may benefit from acupuncture include the following:. Because scientific studies have not fully explained how acupuncture works within the framework of Western medicine, acupuncture remains a source of controversy.
It is important to take precautions when deciding about acupuncture. Some people claim it works by balancing vital energy, while others believe it has a neurological effect.
Conditions it is used for include different kinds of pain, such as headaches , blood pressure problems, and whooping cough , among others. Qi is said to flow through meridians, or pathways, in the human body. These meridiens and energy flows are accessible through acupuncture points in the body.
Inserting needles into these points with appropriate combinations is said to bring the energy flow back into proper balance.
There is no scientific proof that the meridians or acupuncture points exist, and it is hard to prove that they either do or do not, but numerous studies suggest that acupuncture works for some conditions. Some experts have used neuroscience to explain acupuncture. Acupuncture points are seen as places where nerves, muscles, and connective tissue can be stimulated. It is difficult to set up investigations using proper scientific controls, because of the invasive nature of acupuncture.
In a clinical study, a control group would have to undergo sham treatment, or a placebo , for results to be compared with those of genuine acupuncture. Some studies have concluded that acupuncture offers similar benefits to a patient as a placebo, but others have indicated that there are some real benefits.
Research carried out in Germany has shown that acupuncture may help relieve tension headaches and migraines. They list additional disorders that may benefit from acupuncture, but which require further scientific confirmation. In , the World Health Organization WHO listed a number of conditions in which they say acupuncture has been proven effective. Other conditions for which the WHO say that acupuncture may help but more evidence is needed include :.
The WHO also suggest that it may help treat a number of infections, including some urinary tract infections and epidemic hemorrhagic fever. The NCCIH advise people not to use acupuncture instead of seeing a conventional health care provider.
According to traditional Chinese medical theory, acupuncture points are located on meridians, through which vital energy runs. An acupuncturist will examine the patient and assess their condition, insert one or more thin, sterile needles, and offer advice on self-care or other complementary therapies, such as Chinese herbs.
The patient will be asked to lie down on their back, front, or one side, depending on where the needles are to be inserted. The acupuncturist should use single-use, disposable, sterile needles.
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