Acupuncture treatment has been extensively studied in both eastern and western scientific literature, and has been practiced for thousands of years. Acupuncture stimulates the nervous system to put the body’s natural mechanisms of healing into action.
The practitioner will use acupuncture as a treatment modality along with other therapeutic approaches, as needed. The contemporary acupuncture practitioner applies treatment following a conventional view and regards the acupuncture as having certain local tissue effects as well as providing segmental analgesia, extra-segmental analgesia, as well as central regulatory effects on the nervous system. Only single use, sterile, disposable needles are used.
Acupuncture Treatments are safe and effective:
- Promote healing of the joints, nerves, muscles, and other soft tissues
- Decrease pain and inflammation
- Increase circulation and promote tissue healing
- Acupuncture helps to reduce pain locally where the needles are inserted and throughout the body.
- Acupuncture has a calming effect and produces well-being.
- Acupuncture inactivates myofascial trigger points.
- Acupuncture has effects on the brain.
Acupuncture produces many of its effects by stimulating nerve receptors in skin and muscle. Various substances are released that cause an increase of local blood flow that encourages tissue healing.
Contemporary Medical Acupuncture
Needling certain points in the body stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the brain, spinal cord and muscles. These chemicals will change the experience of pain, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones which influence the body’s own internal regulating system. The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture results in stimulating the body’s natural healing abilities, and by promoting physical and emotional well-being. One of the strengths of contemporary acupuncture is its safety. Serious side effects are very rare.
Who can benefit from acupuncture?
Acupuncture can be effective as the only treatment or as an adjunct to other therapeutic interventions.
The World Health Organization recognizes the use of acupuncture in the treatment of:
- Neurological and muscular disorders: headaches, neck and back pain, sports injuries, sciatica, osteoarthritis, neuritis and facial pain
- Digestive disorders: irritable bowel, constipation, diarrhea and gastritis
- Menstrual and reproductive problems: dysmenorrhea and perimenopausal symptoms
- Urinary tract disorders: prostatitis and bladder dysfunction
- Respiratory problems: sinusitis, asthma, sore throat and recurrent respiratory tract infections
- Stress
Does it hurt?
People experience acupuncture needling differently. Most patients feel only minimal pain as the needles are inserted; some feel no pain at all. Once the needles are in place, there is no pain felt. Acupuncture is safe and effective with relatively no side effects