Acupuncture is a Chinese medical practice where body is pierced by fine needles at specific anatomic points (called acupoints or acupuncture points) for therapeutic purposes, to relieve pain or stress or produce regional anesthesia. Unlike the hollow hypodermic needles used in mainstream medicine to give injections or to draw blood, acupuncture needles are solid. The points can be needled between 15° and 90° relative to the skin's surface, depending on treatment.
Acupuncture is one of the main forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) system since at least last 5000 years.
The philosophy of Acupuncture is based on restoration of health by ensuring proper balance of energy and removing energy blockages in the body. According to this philosophy a vital energy force ‘Qi’ (pronounced ‘chee’) permeates and passes through body and all the internal organs along specific pathways termed as meridian.
There are 12 major and 8 minor meridians.
Qi brings harmony in spiritual, emotional, mental and physical aspects of body by ensuring a balance between Yang and Yin. Yang is positive energy-symbolized by heat, activity, brightness and exterior. While Yin is negative energy-represented by coldness, passivity, interiority, darkness etc. Acupuncture carefully balances these two energy source to produce the healing effect.
Acupuncture stimulates the nervous system, blood circulation, blood pressure, secretion of gastric acids, rhythm and stroke volume of heart, and production of red and white blood cells. It is also shown to stimulate the release of a variety of hormones in body to that help overcome stress and injuries.
Acupuncture is best known for the control of pain. However, acupuncture can treat a wide variety of common and uncommon disorders. The following is a list of disorders that can be treated by acupuncture (World Health Organization data):
Respiratory
- Acute Sinusitis
- Acute rhinitis
- Common cold
- Acute tonsillitis
- Acute bronchitis
- Bronchial asthma
Eye
- Acute conjunctivitis (pinkeye)
- Nearsightedness (in children)
- Cataract (without complications)
Mouth
- Toothache, post extraction pain
- Gingivitis (gum disease)
- Acute and chronic pharyngitis
Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Hiccups
- Gastritis
- Gastric Hyperacidity
- Ulcers
- Colitis
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Paralytic ileus
Neurological and Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Headache and migraine
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Paralysis following stroke
- Meniere's disease
- Neurogenic bladder dysfunction
- Nocturnal enuresis (bed wetting)
- Intercostal neuralgia (pain in the ribs)
- Cervicobrachial syndrome (pain radiating from neck to arm)
- Frozen shoulder or Tennis elbow
- Sciatica
- Low back pain
- Osteoarthritis
The risks associated with acupuncture are minimal and of not serious nature. The occasional complexities come in one of following three areas
· Infection : Results from improperly sterilized needles.
· Bruising or Minor Soft Tissue Injury
· Injuries to Muscles tissues
Very rarely serious side effects, due to incorrect application of needles may cause pneumothorax (partial collapse of lungs) and viral hepatitis.
These complications arise mainly from getting treatment from a non-specialist practitioner. Hence people should check the credentials of the practitioner before accepting their treatment
