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Acupuncture is a type of treatment in which very thin needles are inserted through a person's skin at specified places on the body to varied depths.
According to research, it can assist reduce pain, and it is used for a variety of other problems.
However, there is limited evidence for its usefulness in areas other than pain, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).
Acupuncture's scientific mechanism is unknown. Some say it works by balancing vital energy, while others say it has a neurological effect.
Acupuncture is still debated among Western medical practitioners and scientists.
HOW ACUPUNCTURE WORKS
According to traditional Chinese medicine, health is the consequence of a harmonious balance of the complementary extremes of the life energy known as "qi," pronounced "chi." Illness is said to be the result of a force imbalance.
Qi is thought to flow through the human body's meridians, or passageways. These meridiens and energy flows are available through the body's 350 acupuncture sites.
Inserting needles into these locations in the appropriate combinations is thought to restore proper energy flow.
There is no scientific confirmation that the meridians or acupuncture points exist, and it's difficult to establish that they do or don't, but multiple studies suggest that acupuncture can help with a variety of ailments.
Acupuncture has been explained using neuroscience by some specialists. Acupuncture points are thought to be stimulation locations for nerves, muscles, and connective tissue. The stimulation boosts blood flow while also stimulating the body's natural painkillers to activate.
Because of the intrusive nature of acupuncture, it is difficult to conduct studies with sufficient scientific controls. In a clinical trial, a control group would have to receive sham treatment, or a placebo, before the effects of actual acupuncture could be compared.
Some studies have concluded that acupuncture provides equal advantages to a placebo, while others have revealed that there are some significant benefits.
USES OF ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture may help reduce tension headaches and migraines, according to research conducted in Germany.
According to the NCCIH, it has been shown to assist in circumstances of:
- pain in the lower back
- pain in the neck
- osteoarthritis
- knee pain
- Migraine and headache
They identify more illnesses that may benefit from acupuncture but need further scientific evidence.
The World Health Organization (WHO) published a list of illnesses for which acupuncture has been shown to be helpful in 2003.
These are some of them:
- face pain
- morning sickness.
- rheumatoid arthritis
- sprains.
- tennis elbow
- sciatica.
- dental ache
- lowering the risk of stroke
- causing labor
- high or low blood pressure.
- nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
- various gastrointestinal disorders, such as peptic ulcer.
- Periods of pain
- dysentery.
- Rhinitis caused by allergies.
Acupuncture may assist with the following conditions, according to the WHO, although further research is needed:
- fibromyalgia.
- neuralgia.
- Recuperation after surgery
- Substance, tobacco, and alcohol addiction
- back pain
- a stiff neck
- vascular dementia
- Pertussis, also known as whooping cough.
- Tourette's syndrome
According to the WHO, it may also aid in the treatment of a variety of illnesses, including certain urinary tract infections and epidemic hemorrhagic fever.
They do, however, remind that "only national health authorities may identify which diseases, symptoms, and conditions can be treated with acupuncture."
BENEFITS OF ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture can help in the following ways:
- It is safe if done appropriately.
- There are extremely few negative side effects.
- It can be used in conjunction with other treatments to great benefit.
- It has the ability to alleviate various types of pain.
- It may benefit people who are unable to use pain drugs.
The NCCIH recommends that consumers do not use acupuncture instead of seeing a traditional health care professional.
ACUPUNCTURE RISKS
All medicines have both dangers and advantages.
Acupuncture may have the following risks:
- It is risky if the patient has a bleeding disorder or is using blood thinners.
- At the insertion sites, bleeding, bruising, and pain may occur.
- Unsterile needles have the potential to infect the patient.
- In rare situations, a needle may shatter and cause internal organ damage.
- There is a danger of collapsed lung when put deeply into the chest or upper back, however this is quite unusual.
Acupuncture needles are regulated as medical devices by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States (U.S.). Their production and labeling must adhere to strict guidelines. A licensed practitioner must ensure that the needles are sterile, nontoxic, and labeled for one use only.
In cases of persistent or severe sickness, it is best to utilize it in conjunction with traditional treatments, as with any complementary therapy.
What can you expect?
Acupuncture points are said to be positioned on meridians, which are pathways for vital energy in traditional Chinese medicine. "Qi" or "chi" is the name for this energy.
An acupuncturist will inspect and analyze the patient's condition before inserting one or more thin, sterile needles and providing self-care or complementary therapies such as Chinese herbs.
Depending on where the needles are to be put, the patient will be instructed to lie down on their back, front, or one side. Single-use, disposable, sterilized needles should be used by the acupuncturist. The patient may experience a momentary stinging or tingling sensation when each needle is inserted.
After the needle is inserted, there is sometimes a dull aching at the base of the needle that goes away. Acupuncture is usually not painful.
After insertion, the needles are sometimes heated or stimulated with electricity.
The needles will remain in situ for 5 to 30 minutes.
The number of treatments required is determined by the individual. A person suffering from a chronic disease may require one to two treatments per week for several months. An acute condition usually resolves itself after 8 to 12 sessions.
Where can I locate an acupuncturist?
To locate a licensed practitioner, go to the National Certification Commission in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine's website (NCCAOM). This board requires practitioners in most states to be licensed. It is recommended that people inquire about practitioners' experience and training.
According to the NCCIH, some insurance coverage now cover acupuncture, however it is crucial to verify first to see if the cost is covered.
An acupuncture treatment and medical evaluation will cost between $75 and $95, and a normal appointment would cost between $50 and $70, according to Costhelper Health.