Acupuncture

Continuing with my article/blog on various therapies available in Naturopathy, today I am going to write about Acupuncture.

ACUPUNCTURE

It is a form of therapy that involves inserting very thin needles into the body. Practitioners insert needles at different locations and depths to treat different health issues. This therapy can help relieve pain and treat a range of complaints. Some people believe that it works by balancing vital energy and others believe that it has a neurological effect.

Acupuncture has roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is now a common complementary treatment worldwide. As it involves inserting needles into the body to stimulate sensory nerves in the skin and muscles. This may help treat chronic pain and other physical conditions.

How does it work?- TCM explains that health is the result of a harmonious balance of the complementary extremes of Yin and Yang of the life force known as Qi, pronounced as “ Chi”. Advocates of this therapy believe that illness is the consequence of an imbalance of these forces. According to TCM, Qi flows through meridians, or pathways, in the human body. These meridians and energy flows are accessible through 361 acupuncture points in the body. Inserting needles into these points with appropriate combinations will bring the energy flow back into balance.

Many acupuncture points are at sites where stimulation can affect the activity of multiple sensory neurons. These sites are also known as receptive fields. The physical stimulation of needle insertion at these sites may affect pain processing in the nervous system and muscles and increase blood flow to certain parts of the body. A recent analysis of acupuncture’s effect on chronic pain found that the practice can provide pain relief benefits.

Risks– All therapies come with both risks and benefits. A person always seeks medical advice before undertaking any therapy. Possible risks of acupuncture are as follows

• Bleeding, bruising, and soreness may occur at the insertion sites.
• Unsterilized needles may lead to infection.
• In rare cases, a needle may break and damage an internal organ.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates acupuncture needles as medical devices. Their manufacture and labeling need to meet certain standards. These needles must be sterile, nontoxic, and labeled ‘for one use only’ by a licensed practitioner.

Benefits– Acupuncture is a common complementary therapy that can help people manage many different conditions. The benefits of acupuncture include the following:

• People can effectively combine acupuncture with other treatments.
• Effective acupuncture can help manage chronic pain, migraine, and headaches.
• It carries a low risk of side effects.
• It is a flexible form of treatment that can target numerous health concerns at once.

The National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) advises people not to use acupuncture as a replacement for conventional medical help.

Uses– The NCCIH states that acupuncture can effectively assist in the treatment of

• Low back pain
• Neck pain
• Osteoarthritis (OA)
• Knee pain
• Headache

Other studies suggest that acupuncture can also assist in the treatment of

• Migraine
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Nausea
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Fatigue

What to expect– An acupuncturist will examine a person and assess their condition, insert one or more thin needles, and offer advice. Individuals will typically sit or lie down during the procedure. The acupuncturist should use single-use, disposable, sterile needles. People may feel a very brief stinging or tingling sensation upon needle insertion. They may then experience a dull ache at the base of the needle. Typically the needles will stay in place for 20-60 minutes, although this will vary depending on the procedure. In some practices, the acupuncturist will sometimes heat needles after insertion. The number of treatments of a person will need depends on the individual case. Sometimes with a chronic condition may need one or two treatments per week over several months. An acute health issue typically improves after 8-12 sessions.

Things to consider– It is a complementary therapy and should not take the place of doctor-recommended treatments. Before undergoing acupuncture to treat any condition, a person should seek advice from a Physician.

In the end, acupuncture is a traditional complementary therapy that has a historic origin in China.

Waiting for your views on this blog.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

7^th December 2022