Well, I know what you are worried about, acupuncture is not recommended for some serious diseases. But for problems like weight loss, diarrhea, colds, etc., you can try it – because it at least doesn’t exacerbate the problem. If you want to know what is acupuncture good for treating, keep reading!
What can be treated with Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a tool of traditional Chinese medicine that in the East, in ancient times, was the healing tool for any kind of imbalance. For this reason it was used to treat any health problem.
In fact, even today in China, hospitals have separate acupuncture areas for different specialties.
Thus, the acupuncture doctor who does digestive only has patients of the digestive system and treats all kinds of problems of this system: irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, abdominal pain or even ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
Other examples of acupuncture specialties would be:
- Nervous system: degeneration problems such as Alzheimer’s, trigeminal pain, or problems of anxiety, stress, insomnia or depression.
- Dermatology: eczema, acne, psoriasis, rosacea.
- Gynecology: menstrual cycle regulation, fertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, among other problems.
- Pregnancy: turning breech babies, delayed growth of the baby, placenta previa, pain during pregnancy, insomnia or nausea.
We can even find specialists in eye problems and who treat glaucoma with acupuncture.
There are areas where acupuncture is more recognized for its effectiveness than others, among which we could mention:
- All types of muscular, neurological, rheumatoid, menstrual pain.
- Anxiety problems, stress, depression, insomnia.
- Gynecological problems and fertility
- Digestive problems and help in weight loss.
In contrast, many Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. Some believe that this stimulation boosts your body’s natural painkillers.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient method based on Chinese medicine to treat a variety of conditions by activating specific points on the skin with needles. Some of the theories point to acupuncture a minimally invasive method of stimulating nerve-rich areas on the surface of the skin in order to influence tissues, glands, organs and various body functions.
“Each acupuncture needle produces a small lesion at the insertion site, and although it is mild enough to cause little or no discomfort, it is enough of a signal to let the body know to respond.” “This response involves stimulation of the immune system, promotion of circulation to the area, wound healing and pain modulation.” Contemporary acupuncture research is based primarily on this theory.
With this theory we can explain why inserting a needle into a place in the body where there is pain can quickly bring about an improvement in that pain. Blood flows more abundantly in the area of the needle, as the body perceives that there is a “foreign body” or an “invader” from which it must defend itself. With the increased blood in the area, immune cells and repair factors also travel, causing repair of the tissue around the needle and thus the affected area.
This is the type of modern acupuncture that is easily applied by acupuncturists who do not have a thorough knowledge of Chinese medicine. Nowadays there are physiotherapists and doctors who have done a post-graduate degree in acupuncture and can apply this type of acupuncture, which we can call LOCAL ACUPUNCTURE; that is, the needle is applied IN THE PLACE where the problem is to facilitate the healing of the area.
This type of acupuncture can use the acupuncture points of the meridians that the body has, or simply be placed at the margin of an acupuncture point, and focus the treatment on the site of the pain.
LOCAL acupuncture can be applied in pain problems, where we can localize the ailment. It cannot be applied in global health problems such as those of the nervous system or endocrine, for example.
What does acupuncture feel like?
Acupuncture is done using hair-thin needles. Most people report feeling minimal pain as the needle is inserted. The needle is inserted to a point that produces a sensation of pressure or ache. Needles may be heated during the treatment or mild electric current may be applied to them. Some people report acupuncture makes them feel energized. Others say they feel relaxed.
Improper placement of the needle can cause pain during treatment. Needles must be sterilized to prevent infection. That is why it is important to seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture practitioner. The FDA regulates acupuncture needles just as it does other medical devices under good manufacturing practices and single-use standards of sterility.
Risk of acupuncture
The risks of acupuncture are low if you have a competent, certified acupuncture practitioner using sterile needles. Common side effects include soreness and minor bleeding or bruising where the needles were inserted. Single-use, disposable needles are now the practice standard, so the risk of infection is minimal.
Trusted source
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/acupuncture/about/pac-20392763
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/acupuncture
