An ancient healing practice, acupuncture therapy is used to treat variety of diseases. What are the basics of acupuncture? How to perform acupuncture? Read out full article for this.
Acupuncture is an ancient healing method, used to promote health and well being. Acupuncture therapy is known to be at least 5,000 years old and generally it is related with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In acupuncture therapy, small thin needles are inserted into different points on the body. It is an accepted form of therapy by doctors for pain relief. It can treat many different health issues. Many times, it can be helpful as a relaxing treatment.
Some latest research has found that acupuncture therapy is more successful in treating countless medical conditions. Acupuncture therapy costs can range from a few hundred dollars to thousand of dollars which mainly depends on the quality of treatments and the number of acupuncture treatments required. Nowadays, lot of acupuncture therapy are available that go further than simply inserting a needle.
More research on acupuncture treatment have shown that it’s not completely known how acupuncture methods work but there are some points that acupuncture enhances the brain chemicals endorphins that makes the human body completely relaxed and also helps to alleviate stress. Acupuncture treatments have great success in treating injuries associated to tense, scarred or irritated tendons, nervous tension or muscles. One surprising news related to acupuncture therapy is that many people do not know how acupuncture treatments are effective for hypertension, arthritis PMS, menopause symptoms, infertility and facial paralysis.
Nowadays, many people are looking out for acupuncture therapy for body fat and weight loss. Some researches have found that acupuncture therapy can be more effective than most inactive treatments for relieving post-treatment pain. Approximately 30 minutes are needed for this therapy and can vary, depending on the patient’s health condition. Most acupuncture treatments are able to be given along with other medicines such as Western medicine, Homeopathic prescriptions and Chiropractic adjustments. Generally, with the first couple of acupuncture treatments, some sensation of slight feeling of deepened relaxation or even a little disorientation may occur. In an outpatient setting, acupuncture therapy involves a sequence of weekly or biweekly treatments.
Acupuncture treatment alone is very useful for several health conditions but in combination with other traditional Western medical treatments, acupuncture is also even more used. According to study, acupuncture therapy can decrease the number of Reynaud’s phenomenon and thus helps to enhance conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. Along with this, it also improves other medical treatments for gout if used with combined therapy.
Majority of patients are an irresistible that acupuncture treatments are quite comfortable and exceptionally relaxing. Generally, most patients fall asleep during treatment even though it is a quick procedure. An acupuncture method involves application of heat, needles, pressure and other acupuncture treatments to many locations on the skin called acupuncture points.
Recently, acupuncture treatments have become more researched by the public and by physicians all over the world. Most acupuncture therapy is practiced by registered practitioners who belong to professional Acupuncture societies that publish semi-annual journals. In the health care field, the acupuncture procedures have been quite effective in a variety of areas. New researches on acupuncture procedures are great for the general health and wellness of patients as well as it is important for the development of medicinal science. Much controversy has surrounded acupuncture treatments; on the one hand, huge claims have been made in favor of its effectiveness, on the other hand, acupuncture has been disparaged for the lack of scientific facts.
How to perform acupuncture:
- Mostly, the acupuncture therapy is performed by registered practitioners. They must have license to perform acupuncture. A medical doctor with the required training of acupuncture may use acupuncture along with his regular medical practice in some states. It is very essential to know precisely what you are doing while performing this ancient healing art.
- Learn the instruments of the trade; needles and a chart of anatomical meridians. Acupuncturists utilize stainless steel needles which are as thin as a hair and approximately 2 inches long, although some vary slightly in length. To avoid contamination, use disposable needles.
- To perform acupuncture, first understand how the process works on the human body. Three known pathways are in existence to gain the results of acupuncture. Then, decide correct points to insert the needles (approximately 1 inch into the body) and also decide the method which is most effective for treatment of the patient.
- Take into report the unlike result of the placement of the needles. When needles are inserted, they stimulate nerve fibers which send an impulse to the spinal cord. So, endorphins are released that block the pain signal. It also sends another impulse to the brain where enkephalin is released. Enkephalin releases serotonin to suppress the pain signal. An anti-inflammatory steroid, Cortisol is also released into the bloodstream from a reaction of hormones from the pituitary gland.
- For more details, learn the meridians of the human body which are interconnected pathways dotted with hundreds of points that affect different parts of the body. Make a decision which treatment gives the best results; the 3 effects become stronger the closer the needles are sited to the pain center. The needles are left in place from 20 to 50 minutes and sometimes needles are twisted to stimulate the nerve fibers more effectively.
- After the treatment, assure your patient is relatively painless. Although some people feel a slight prick and many feel nothing at all. This therapy includes a feeling of well-being and a deep relaxation. Acupuncture is widely used to treat a variety of diseases, for example nausea from chemotherapy, headaches, asthma and addiction. It is also used along with other treatments for rehabilitation after a stroke.
Nowadays, some acupuncturists have started to provide their patients with acupuncture kits for self acupuncture perform between treatments, in an attempt to save money of patients.
