Interesting facts about acupuncture that you shouldn't overlook

Updated on September 14, 2022 17:01 PM by Andrew Koschiev

Acupuncture is a method that involves inserting very thin needles into the skin of a patient in certain places all over the body. Most of the time, acupuncture, which is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine, is used to relieve pain. It is becoming increasingly popular for various health and wellness uses, such as stress management.

Acupuncture is described in traditional Chinese medicine as a method for restoring harmony to the flow of energy or life force, also known as chi or qi (chee), which is said to travel through channels (meridians) in your body.

Acupuncture practitioners think that they may re-balance their patients' energy flows by placing needles into precise locations along these meridians.

On the other hand, many Western practitioners see acupuncture points as locations to activate nerves, muscles, and connective tissue. [citation needed] Some people feel that this stimulation causes your body's natural painkillers to become more effective.

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What are the advantages of getting acupuncture treatments

The core idea of traditional acupuncture is that illness results from blocked or disrupted qi, which is the energy that flows through the body. Your body receives the healing energy it needs from qi.

The goal of acupuncture treatment is to clear these obstructions from your energy flow and bring about a condition of equilibrium.

According to a trusted source, the more modern method of Western medical acupuncture, which involves inserting needles, is thought to stimulate the nervous system. Ongoing studies are being conducted to learn more about the possible benefits of acupuncture, including the following:

Lowering inflammation
Increasing blood flow
triggering the release of endorphins to relieve pain

Acupuncture is used for many health issues, including

pain
nausea
vomiting
headache
menstrual cramps
allergies

A variety of painful conditions can be alleviated with the use of acupuncture. This is what the research has to say about it.

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Low back pain

An analysis of previous research published in 2015 indicated that acupuncture might temporarily relieve low back pain. This is the case regardless of whether acupuncture is utilized in conjunction with other therapies, such as medication or physical therapy, or if it is employed on its own.

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Knee discomfort

One of the most common reasons folks cannot work is because they suffer knee pain brought on by osteoarthritis. According to a study conducted in 2010, acupuncture is an effective treatment for osteoarthritis-related knee pain and other physical symptoms.

Neck discomfort

One study from 2015 found that acupuncture was effective at considerably reducing levels of neck pain. Compared to conventional care, symptom relief was significantly improved when acupuncture was combined with other approaches to alleviate neck strain and reduce muscle tension.

Headaches and migraines both

According to a reliable source's research, acupuncture is at least as effective as other therapies, including medicine, in reducing the severity of migraine headaches.

It also has certain advantages over those more traditional treatments, including results that endure for a longer period, reduced reliance on medication, and fewer major consequences or side effects.

In addition, evidence suggests that persons who have a history of migraines and who receive frequent acupuncture treatments may be able to reduce the frequency and severity of future headaches.

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Labor discomforts

There is a lack of consensus among researchers regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture in relieving labor pains. Participants reported a statistically significant decrease in the amount of pain in some studies. Some people believe it is difficult to determine whether or not acupuncture is useful throughout the birthing process.

Even yet, acupuncture continues to be an area of interest for many moms looking for alternatives to drugs.

Giving up smoking

A variety of medical disorders, in addition to aches and discomfort, can be alleviated with the help of acupuncture. Acupuncture has not yet been proven effective in smoking cessation treatment by scientific research. Acupuncture did not prove to be as helpful as other methods, such as those using nicotine replacement therapy.

However, even though additional research is required, acupuncture shouldn't be completely discounted as a possible treatment option for quitting smoking.

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Depression

In one piece of research, researchers investigated how well acupuncture and antidepressant medication worked together to treat the symptoms of depression. It seems that combining conventional medical treatment with acupuncture could be beneficial. Additionally, it is well tolerated and has a low risk of complications.

However, a comprehensive research analysis was unable to establish acupuncture as a reliable treatment for depression. The author concluded that the findings were sufficient to warrant further investigation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledges that acupuncture is useful in treating hundreds of different diseases and symptoms.

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Risks of performing acupuncture

The hazards associated with acupuncture are minimal if you go to a qualified, board-certified acupuncture practitioner who only uses clean needles.

A common adverse effect is pain in the area where the needles were put, as well as occasional little bleeding or bruising. As single-use, disposable needles are the current industry norm, the likelihood of contracting an infection is significantly reduced. Acupuncture is not appropriate for every patient in every situation.

Before beginning acupuncture therapy, make sure to inform the practitioner if you have any of the following conditions:

Bleeding disorder: If you have a bleeding disorder or are using blood thinners, you may have an increased risk of bleeding or bruising due to the needles.

Artificial heart: When performing acupuncture on a patient with a pacemaker, it is important to avoid techniques that require administering even very little electrical stimulation to the needles.

Pregnant: Some acupuncture sites are believed to promote labor, which may result in the baby's delivery sooner than expected.

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How to choose a practitioner

If you're thinking about getting acupuncture, follow the same steps you'd use to pick a doctor:

Ask people you know and trust for tips.
Check the training and credentials of the practitioner. Most states need acupuncturists who aren't doctors to pass a test by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
Talk to the person in charge. Ask what the treatment involves, how likely it is to help your problem, and how much it will cost.
Check to see if your insurance will pay for the treatment.
Tell your doctor you are thinking about acupuncture. He or she might be able to tell you how often acupuncture works for your condition or give you a name of an acupuncturist.

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What happens at the time of treatment

When you get acupuncture, the acupuncturist will stick very thin needles into certain points on your body. These needles target certain acupuncture points. In most cases, the insertion of the needles does not result in much discomfort.

Each acupuncture practitioner's distinct style frequently incorporates elements of both Eastern and Western medical philosophies and practices.

Your acupuncturist may ask questions about your symptoms, activities, and lifestyle to establish the specific form of acupuncture treatment that will benefit you the most. Additionally, he or she might carefully examine the following:

The painful parts of your body.
The color of the tongue, along with shape and coating.
The face color.
The quality of the pulse in the wrist.

An acupuncture session can last up to an hour, but some sessions can be much shorter. For a single complaint, a typical treatment plan would include one or two visits per week. How many treatments you need will depend on what's wrong and how bad it is. Most of the time, people get between 6 and 8 treatments.

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Procedure

There are acupuncture points in all parts of the body. Sometimes the right points are a long way from where the pain is.

Your acupuncturist will tell you where the treatment will take place and if you need to take anything off. You will be given a gown, a towel, or a sheet. During the treatment, you lie on a cushioned table, and then the following procedure starts:

Needle insertion: At certain points on your body, acupuncture needles are placed at different depths. The needles are very thin, so most people don't feel much pain when they put them in.

Most of the time, people don't even feel them being put in. Usually, 5 to 20 needles are used in treatment. You might feel a slight ache when a needle is at the right depth.

Manipulation of the needles: After the needles have been inserted, your practitioner may choose to rotate or twirl them gently, provide heat to them, or give them very modest electrical pulses.

Needle removal: Most of the time, the needles will stay in place for ten to fifteen minutes while you lie flat and focus on your breathing. When the needles are withdrawn, the removal process does not cause discomfort.

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After the procedure

After receiving acupuncture, some patients feel more relaxed, while others report feeling more invigorated. Acupuncture, however, is not effective for everyone.

It is possible that acupuncture is not the best treatment option for you if you do not notice any improvement in your symptoms after a few weeks of treatment.

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Results

Although it can be challenging to quantify the advantages of acupuncture, many people find it an effective method for managing a wide range of unpleasant ailments.

On the other hand, the results of several studies suggest that certain types of simulated acupuncture appear to be just as effective as actual acupuncture.

There is also evidence that patients who expect acupuncture to work get the best results from the treatment. If you are having difficulties regulating your pain in more traditional ways, you might want to try acupuncture because it has few negative side effects.