Acupuncture Secrets

PDF Print E-mail
Written by Bi Kun tan   
Tuesday, 26 August 2008

The Acupuncture Secrets


For centuries, Eastern medicinal practices have touted the benefits to the human body of acupuncture. For many people, the thought of having such a procedure done on their own bodies is crazy, especially considering the amount of criticism that is given to the practice's legitimacy as well that the amount of negative press the procedure gets in the popular media. Many people don't know what you can expect from the acupuncture procedure as well as the side effects and limits.



Procedures of Chinese acupuncture are actually well refined, as they have been practiced for many years. Even in today's medically advanced world, the practice has been determined as a safe, effective treatment for some people with disorders that have been a burden for years. Here is an outline of what can be expected from the acupuncture procedure as well as limits and side effects:

Acupuncture starts with the use of sterile needles, today made almost exclusively of stainless steel. The needles sterilization is done with ethylene oxide, which can be used on the needles without damaging their construction. The needles are coated on the top with a wire that allows for a better grip by the acupuncturist when placing them about the body.

The acupuncturist will take the needles and, referencing an acupuncture model which typically contains a reference of the human body and where the needles should be inserted into the skin based on the malady being treated, begin puncturing the patient's skin. A specific treatment of one disorder may require the placement of a few dozen needles in a cluster in one or two places on the body, but some patients request a full body treatment, which can include hundreds of needles placed in the skin.

Some treatments in acupuncture require the heating of the needles once placed in the skin through a process called moxibustion. The acupuncturist will utilize a burning of herbs to heat the needles that are placed in the skin. Most often, the herbs are placed on the end of the needle protruding from the patient and burned once the needle is inserted. The heat helps provide some therapy to the tissue that the needle is in contact with inside of the body.

Acupuncture is considered to be an invasive treatment and includes some risks. Minor bleeding from the site of the procedure is the main risk of the treatment - this appears in approximately 3 of every 100 patients. Most commonly, the bleeding ceases within a minute of the needle's removal from the skin, however, this differs depending on the patient.

The treatment does include other less common risks, such as hematoma, where bruises appear below the skin at the site of treatment, dizziness due to fear of needles or anxiety, and extremely rare instances of nerve injury, brain damage, lung and kidney damage resulting from incorrectly placed needles, as well as a slight chance of miscarriage with very specific treatment.

Acupuncture does benefit the body in many ways despite the risks. Common tension headaches, tension in lower back pains, nausea, vomiting, and some lower symptomatic forms of fibromyalgia can all be relieved using acupuncture. Acupuncture emerges as a reputable and reliable treatment option when considering both the understood and perceived benefits, such as stress and tension relief. As a patient, you can benefit greatly by understanding the acupuncture procedure as well as the side effects and limits involved.

Authors Bio:

"acupuncture" - Yahoo! News Search Results

"acupuncture" - Yahoo! News Search Results

  • Does acupuncture boost IVF success?

    NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Acupuncture may help some women conceive through in-vitro fertilization (IVF), a new analysis of past research concludes. But the true benefit in the real world, if any, remains unclear. The technique has been used for millennia in traditional Chinese medicine, for a whole range of ills. Ten years ago, a study in Germany was the first clinical trial to report that ...

  • Three Health Benefits an Athlete Can Gain from Acupuncture

    Acupuncture is a natural treatment option that is available for athletes, and it can help prevent a number of diseases. Acupuncture treatment consists of small needles being inserted into the body at different points, in order to prevent or treat a specific condition.

  • Acupuncture May Boost Pregnancy Success Rates

    FRIDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDay News) -- When a couple is trying to have a baby and can't, it can be emotionally and financially draining. But help may be available in an unexpected form: acupuncture.

  • Acupuncture-enhanced treatment performs better than standard therapies alone

    pain relief Benefits of acupuncture Good Housekeeping , February If the idea of being poked with needles sounds less than appealing, acupuncture may not be for you. But according to Good Housekeeping, new research shows that the needles help with pain relief in some cases. “German studies have shown that something is definitely going on, neurologically speaking, when acupuncture needles are in ...

  • Inside Chris Horner’s acupuncture session

    Chris Horner hopes he is done with crashes in 2012. His first race of the year is Tirreno Adriatico, where Horner says he looks forward to a TTT with RadioShack-Nissan-Trek teammate Fabian Cancellara.

  • Medical Watch: Acupuncture more successful than fertility treatments

    Couples who are struggling to get pregnant may find some relief in an ancient Chinese therapy. A new study finds that acupuncture is helping some couples have better success with fertility treatments. Doctors say it helps manage the stress of infertility, can improve blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, and can help the brain release hormones that stimulate the reproductive organs. Acupuncture ...

  • Acupuncture little better than "sham" for migraine

    NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Traditional Chinese acupuncture seems little better than a "sham" version of the procedure when it comes to preventing migraines, a study published Monday suggests. The findings, reported in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, add to a pattern commonly seen in studies on acupuncture and migraines. Many have found that people with migraines can get relief from ...

  • Museum bunny gets acupuncture for twitching head

    Veterinarians are unsure what caused the excessive head circling and twitching of Bugsy, the bunny from Durham's Museum of Life and Science. Bugsy is receiving monthly acupuncture treatments to try to treat the behavior.

No one has commented on this article.
Please login or register to post comments.
J! Reactions Commenting Software
General Site License
Copyright © 2006 S. A. DeCaro
 
< Prev   Next >