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Acupuncture Treatment
Acupuncture is a component of oriental
medicine that involves the insertion of extremely thin needles in
your skin at strategic points on your body. Acupuncture originated
in China thousands of years ago, but its popularity has grown
significantly within the United States.
Traditional Chinese theory explains
acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life
force — known as qi or chi (chee) — believed to flow through
pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into
specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners
believe that your energy flow will be corrected and result in
reduced symptoms.
In contrast, many Western practitioners
view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles
and connective tissue. This stimulation appears to boost the
activity of your body's natural painkillers and increase blood flow.
Acupuncture is often used to treat muscle disorders commonly called
trigger points that are painful areas in muscle that often refer
pain to other areas of the body.
Acupuncture is most commonly used at
Hopkins Clinic for:
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches
- Low back pain
- Menstrual cramps
- Migraines
- Osteoarthritis
- Tennis elbow
- Knee pain
- Hip pain
- Shoulder pain
- Trigger points
Acupuncture Treatment
To determine the type of acupuncture treatment that will help you
the most, your practitioner may ask you many questions about your
symptoms, behaviors and lifestyle.
He or she may also closely examine:
- The parts of your body that are
painful
- The shape, coating and color of your tongue
- The color of your face
- The strength, rhythm and quality of the pulse in your wrist
Acupuncture points are located in all
areas of the body. Sometimes the appropriate points are far removed
from the area of your pain. Your acupuncture practitioner will tell
you the general location of the planned treatment and if articles of
clothing need to be removed. If appropriate, a gown, towel or sheet
will be provided to preserve your modesty.
- Needle insertion. Acupuncture needles
are very thin, so insertion usually causes very little discomfort.
Between five and 20 needles are used in a typical treatment. You may
feel a deep, aching sensation when a needle reaches the correct
depth.
- Needle manipulation. Your practitioner may gently move or twirl
the needles after they've been placed. Another option is to apply
heat or a mild electric pulse to the needles.
- Needle removal. In most cases, the needles will remain in place
for 15 to 30 minutes while you lie still and relax. There is usually
no sensation of discomfort when the needles are removed. Your
acupuncture practitioner should discard the needles after removal —
reusable needles can spread infection.
After Acupuncture
Some people feel relaxed while others
feel energized after an acupuncture treatment. But not everyone
responds to acupuncture. If your symptoms don't begin to improve
within a few weeks, acupuncture may not be the right treatment for
you.
Since acupuncture has few side effects, it may be worth a try if
you're having trouble controlling pain with more-conventional
methods.
Acupuncture is a non-drug, non-invasive
therapy that may produce a variety of benefits—from pain management
to helping with nausea associated with chemotherapy. According to
the 2002 National Health Interview Survey, an estimated 8.2 million
Americans have been to an acupuncturist, and an estimated 2.1
million U.S. adults used acupuncture in the previous year. Since the
use of acupuncture has spread widely in the U.S. in the past 20
years, researchers are studying the benefits of acupuncture for many
conditions, including low-back pain, headaches, and osteoarthritis
of the knee.
Acupuncture may be useful as an
independent treatment for some conditions, but it can also be used
as a complement to other healthcare therapies.
Acupuncture Side Effects & Complications
Risks of being treated with acupuncture
are low if you have a competent, certified acupuncture practitioner.
Possible side effects and complications include:
- Soreness, bleeding or bruising at the needle sites
- Internal organ injury, particularly to the lungs, if the needles
are pushed in too deeply
Only single-use, sterile packaged
needles are used to prevent infection.
For a FREE no obligation consultation or for more information, please
contact
Hopkins Clinic at 727-544-3330 today.
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