Acupuncture dates back more than 3,000 years, according to the American Acupuncture website.
Acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into specific points in the body where energy is believed to flow through the body. There are 12 channels or meridians of energy in the body, which correspond to different bodily functions and organs. When the flow of the body's energy along these meridians is out of balance, people may be more prone to illness or more susceptible to feeling the effects of pain and injury. Acupuncture is meant to provide a restorative balance to the yin and yang in the body's life force, which helps a variety of medical conditions, including pain from disease and injury.
be used in conjunction with pain medication, physical therapy or other treatment methods to reduce acute and chronic pain.
Acupuncture to Help Medical Conditions
Acupuncture is frequently used to treat a variety of health issues, including digestive problems, bladder disorders, reproductive problems, circulatory issues, emotional changes, addiction, nausea, vomiting and breathing problems.
Acupuncture can also relieve discomfort caused by arthritis and migraines, dizziness, back and neck pain, and joint pain. Chemotherapy patients often seek acupuncture to help reduce pain and nausea from chemotherapy treatments.
Acupuncture Needle Insertion
Acupuncture treatments are provided on an outpatient basis with a series of treatments. Each visit normally involves a physical exam to assess your physical and emotional health so that the acupuncturist can ensure that the point of insertion for the needle is accurate and will help relieve pain.
Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles along the meridians, along which body energy flows. As the needles are placed into the muscle along the meridian associated with a specific function or organ, there is a prick. You may experience various sensations, such as body aches or tingling. These sensations are normal and act as indicators of the beginning of the healing process as the body starts to recover and the flow of energy is stimulated. After the treatment, there may also be some pain or bruising where the needle was inserted.
How Acupuncture Relieves Pain
Acupuncture affects the nervous system and also acts as a pain killer by releasing endorphins and activating an immune response. Acupuncture is believed to affect the brain chemistry by altering neurotransmitters, endorphins, serotonin and hormone release. Cortisol, which is released by the pituitary gland, may also be released and helps reduce inflammation. These shifts in the body's chemical balance can change how a person responds to pain and sensation as the messages are blocked. Acupuncture can help calm the body and can be used as a treatment for chronic and acute pain.
Benefits of Acupuncture
Various methods can be helpful in treating pain, and many physicians will begin with medication. However, the body normally reacts to drugs by building up a tolerance, which often requires an increase in dosage to relieve pain and may cause an addiction to the medication over time. Using acupuncture for pain relief provides a noninvasive, drug-free method to minimize pain. Acupuncture has few side effects, is nonhabit forming and can be a helpful complement to control pain, especially if used in conjunction with physical therapy or other noninvasive treatment methods.
Warnings
Side effects of acupuncture involve soreness, bleeding and bruising at the sites of the needles. If acupuncture is not performed properly, the needle may break in the body and may damage bodily organs. It is important to go to a skilled acupuncturist to avoid risks and to be sure that infectious diseases will not be spread.
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