Acupuncture is a treatment, which can relieve symptoms of some physical and psychological conditions and may encourage the patient's body to heal and repair itself, if it is able to do so.
Acupuncture stimulates the nerves in skin and muscle, and can produce a variety of effects. We know that it increases the body's release of natural painkillers - endorphin and serotonin - in the pain pathways of both the spinal cord and the brain. This modifies the way pain signals are received.
But acupuncture does much more than reduce pain, and has a beneficial effect on health. Patients often notice an improved sense of wellbeing after treatment.
Modern research shows that acupuncture can affect most of the body's systems - the nervous system, muscle tone, hormone outputs, circulation, antibody production and allergic responses, as well as the respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems.
The practitioner will assess each patient's case and treatment will be tailored to the individual; so it is impossible to give more than a general idea of what treatment might involve. Typically, fine needles are inserted through the skin and left in position briefly, sometimes with manual or electrical stimulation. The number of needles varies but may be only two or three.
Treatment might be once a week to begin with, then at longer intervals as the condition responds. A typical course of treatment lasts 5 to 8 sessions, some fewer, such as smoking cessation.
Uses for acupuncture
Taking the above into consideration, here are some of the ways in which acupuncture may be effective:
Pain relief for a wide range of painful conditions. It is commonly used to treat musculoskeletal pain, for example - back, shoulder, neck and leg pain
It has been used successfully to treat headaches, migraines, trapped nerves, chronic muscle strains, sports injuries and various kinds of arthritic and rheumatic pain
Functional bowel or bladder problems such as IBS or even mild forms of incontinence
Menstrual and menopausal symptoms, eg period pains and hot flushes
Allergies such as hay fever, perennial allergic rhinitis, and some types of allergic rashes such as urticaria and prickly heat.
Some other skin problems such as rashes and ulcers, itching, and some forms of dermatitis
Sinus problems and chronic catarrh
Dry mouth and eyes
Help with stopping smoking.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but it does give a rough idea of the wide range of conditions that respond to acupuncture treatment. Remember that before starting acupuncture, the practitioner must be sure of the diagnosis and that all the necessary tests have been carried out which might point to any serious or potentially serious condition, perhaps requiring other forms of treatment.
Acupuncture should not be thought of as a "last" resort for chronic illness; it should instead be thought of as a bridge to wellness and a way of keeping the body and mind in balance. When the energy of the body is balanced the body is empowered to heal itself.
