What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapeutic method involving the
insertion of fine needles at certain points in the body for treatment or prevention
of ailments. It is based on a traditional Chinese belief that a ‘life force’
referred to as ‘Qi’ flows freely through the body via certain channels called
meridians. Illness is thought to result from any type of impediment to the flow
of Qi, and acupuncture is believed to have the capacity to restore the flow.
How Acupuncture Works
Researchers in the western world observed
that adenosine influences the effects of acupuncture. A research published in
the online edition of Nature Neuroscience
on May 30, 2010 concluded that adenosine, an amino acid that has the ability to
relieve pain was released in mice during acupuncture.
It is believed that the beneficial effects of acupuncture are attributable
to the production of natural substances such as adenosine and others, which are
released when sensory nerves under the skin and in the muscles are stimulated
by needles inserted at specific points in the body. Much of the use of
acupuncture for treatment in Western countries focuses on this relief of pain rather
than the traditional role of acupuncture in re-balancing the flow of Qi through
the body.
Uses of Acupuncture
According to an article published by Dr Brennan McKenzie on May 25, 2011
in the online edition of Science-Based
Medicine, acupuncture is widely used for the treatment of pain and
musculoskeletal conditions, irrespective of ethnicity or nationality. The National
Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in 2007 revealed that in the United States, 6.5%
of Americans reported they had used acupuncture at one time or the other. Most
of them had done so for some type of pain and these include arthritis or other
orthopaedic pain, headaches and fibromyalgia.
In the United Kingdom, acupuncture may be recommended as treatment
option for migraines and chronic-type headaches, neck pain, joint pain, dental
pain and chronic post-operative pain. In various other countries, acupuncture
is still used to promote and restore the flow of Qi throughout the body. In these
countries, the benefits of acupuncture are extended to dozens of other
conditions which include various types of digestive complaints and emotional
disorders.
Like other therapeutic methods, acupuncture has its own side effects,
the most common being bruising or bleeding at the acupuncture site. Patients
with bleeding disorders and those on blood thinning drugs should seek medical
advice before embarking on acupuncture therapy.
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