Acupuncture - Health Benefits

Acupuncture refers to those therapeutic methods that are not fully understood, due to which it is surrounded by countless myths. There are those who believe that with the help of needles, experts are able to perform a miracle and cope even with an incurable disease. There are also persons who do not believe in the effectiveness of this method at all, considering that it does not bring any benefit. At the same time, the facts tell us that today acupuncture is a recognized therapeutic method, with strictly indicated indications and contraindications. What is this branch of medicine, what is the cost of the procedure and how real the positive impact is - you can find out from this article.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is called differently: acupuncture, acupuncture and acupuncture. Its essence lies in the impact of the thinnest needles on special biologically active points, of which the human body has quite a lot.

It is interesting!
The exact time of the origin of acupuncture is not known. However, some scientists believe that this procedure was carried out with the help of especially pointed stones, starting with the Neolithic. The found hieroglyphs telling about this method of treatment are referred by archeologists to 1600–1100. BC er Today, acupuncture is popular not only within China, but is massively used in Asian and European countries.

The duration of the acupuncture session depends on such indicators as:

• type of impact points;
• disease;
• needle installation technique.

The duration of the procedure sometimes reaches a full hour. The sensations that accompany the procedure are different for different people and for one person during different sessions. The needle insertion process is usually completely painless, but it also happens that the patient feels pressure, pain, slight soreness and even itching at the injection site. Any of these reactions is considered normal.Most often, acupuncture sessions in patients do not cause much discomfort, even to complete relaxation, with the result that some people even have time to take a nap during the treatment process. There is no reason to be afraid of this method of treatment.

Varieties of Acupuncture

It is important to note that different variations of needles are used in acupuncture. Their choice is determined by the impact zone. In the manufacture of corporal needles, high quality metal is used, and for auricular ones, surgical stainless steel is used. Needles are both disposable and reusable, in addition, sometimes gilded and silver needles are used.

Sometimes acupuncture accompanies the supply of electric current using needles as conductors. In addition, along with the installation of needles, the following methods of exposure are used:

• cauterization;
• warming up;
• pressure on reflex points;
• the use of substances that can cause irritation;
• other variants of manipulations.

These methods are not considered acupuncture, although they have a similar principle of influence.

When prescribing acupuncture

According to the indications of acupuncturists in China, acupuncture can cure many ailments of various kinds (more than 250 different types of diseases). The following are attributed to the cure:

• diseases of the nervous system, including paresis of the facial nerve and osteochondrosis;
• malfunctions of the digestive organs, heart muscle, kidneys.

Some people resort to acupuncture as a “last resort” after the methods of traditional medicine fail to cope with their ailment. This position cannot be considered correct in view of the fact that the greatest effect of acupuncture is achievable when addressing it in the early period of the development of the disease, before deviations in the functioning of the organs manage to provoke organic changes in them.

The works of Eastern scientists claim that any violations occurring in the body, excluding traumatic ones, occur as a result of a prolonged malfunction of specific organs. Such subtle disruptions, including those that have a psychological and emotional nature, can develop over many years. They can be considered the primary indicators of disease. Only at such a stage with acupuncture can one achieve maximum efficiency, and also prevent the development of diseases and irreversible changes in the organs.

Contraindications for the treatment of acupuncture

Acupuncture is not able to cure everything, it can not cope with all diseases. Acupuncture is just one of the official medical methods, albeit rather specific. This indicates the presence of contraindications for use, such as, for example, high body temperature or any kind of infectious diseases.

Acupuncture does not apply to first-aid measures applicable to people with acute abdominal diseases, including appendicitis, acute pancreatitis, or various kinds of injuries, including fractures — acupuncture is not much to help with them.In these circumstances, it is necessary to urgently communicate to the surgeons, and after that, during the recovery period, it is permissible to undergo consultation with an acupuncturist.

The gestation period is also not considered the best time to use this treatment method, especially in the later periods.

With regard to children who have not attained the age of seven, as well as to people of advanced age, this method is much less effective than for the middle age group.

There is also no positive effect on cancer, refuting the myths about the miraculousness of this technique.

The beneficial effects of acupuncture

Modern medicine has stopped challenging the positive effects of acupuncture on human health. This is undoubtedly the merit of numerous reviews of patients satisfied with the treatment, but, in addition, this is confirmed by the results of recognized clinical studies.

On the basis of the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in 2006, scientists conducted research on the therapeutic role of acupuncture in relation to diseases associated with the musculoskeletal system, connective tissues, respiratory, nervous and urogenital systems.Many indicators were studied, including analysis of blood cell components, their oxidation abilities and biochemical parameters, the results of ultrasound examinations, and monitoring of blood pressure levels. As a result, the study proved the significant efficacy of acupuncture, which ultimately had indicators of 80–91% success.

Other researchers are also working on this kind of work. The achievements of these studies are actively discussed in the framework of international scientific conferences. However, the question about the mechanisms that trigger the recovery processes as a result of acupuncture, still does not have a definite answer and causes controversy between scientists.

There are about 20 different theories born after some research, clinical, biochemical or immunohistochemical nature.

Thus, capillary theory asserts that effective acupuncture effects are directly related to the fact that the installation of needles stimulates the activation and restoration of blood flow moving through the capillaries under the skin. This, in turn, has a beneficial effect on mutual blood circulation between the skin and tissues.The disadvantage of this version is its inability to explain the positive impact received by the internal organs.

Tissue theory suggests that the installation of a needle at the level of the upper layers of the skin results in the activation of the release of biologically active substances found in damaged cells and tissues. Thanks to these substances, the body is stimulated, which leads to the activation of pressure and the regenerative process in the cells, improves the passage of oxygen through the tissues and increases the level of body resistance to external negative influences.

It is interesting!
To confirm the fabric theory in 2010 conducted a full-scale study. Before a facelift operation, specialists (with the permission of the patients) installed acupuncture needles in the reflexogenic points of the face, then took skin samples to determine the content and distribution of the substance called histamine. These manipulations actually served to increase the levels of histamine, in addition, there was a difference in its distribution in the thickness of different skin structures.

The maximum popularity among scientists today has been achieved by the neuro-reflex theory, which suggests that stimulation from points located in a certain way on the skin area transfers the stimulus through the nerve fibers to the spinal cord. And then - in special sections of the brain. In the end, all this starts a complex chain of reactions, including changes in blood circulation, as well as allowing the release of biologically active substances, and get a hormonal response. Among other things, there is a production of a certain amount of endorphins, also called “hormones of happiness”. They, in turn, have a positive effect on the emotional component of the state and on reducing the perception of pain. The study of nervous, biochemical and electrical reactions that occur as a result of the action of needles on reflex points continues to this day. The difficulty of establishing unambiguous patterns is associated with the complexity of the biophysical system, which is the human body.

Can acupuncture have a harmful effect on the body?

Skillful hands of a specialist with sufficient qualifications are the key to the success of the acupuncture procedure. In such conditions, this method of treatment is valuable for those who have functional disorders.

If the acupuncturist is not qualified enough, the result of acupuncture can be deplorable, at best there will be no benefit, and at worst there will be harm to health.

1. In conditions where the reusable needles are not sterilized and are used for different patients, the probability of infection with a serious infectious disease or the development of the inflammatory process is high. For this reason, it is necessary to pay attention to the condition of storing the needles before agreeing to the procedure.
2. Equally important is the correct selection of points for proper treatment, otherwise the effect will not be curative. Here, any mistake threatens both the loss of a significant amount of money in the hope of improving health, and a violation of the state of blood vessels, nerve endings, and reflexogenic zones, provided that the basic norms for installing needles are not followed. To achieve the maximum effect of treatment,an acupuncturist should observe some important conditions.

First of all it should be noted the obvious fact that the diagnosis should be set correctly. In this case, it is allowed to use the gifts of traditional medicine, which allows to undergo a rather detailed preliminary examination. Do not neglect the results of blood tests, ultrasound and MRI. In addition, you can use the traditional diagnostic technique widely used in China. The key to correct selection of the scheme of acupuncture may be the usual diagnosis of the pulse and condition of the tongue. The choice of method of obtaining information about the patient's health status is determined individually by a specialist who needs to know exactly the anatomy and location of all 1,700 acupuncture points.

A physician who has the appropriate qualifications will cope with this task without difficulty, because most of the points are connected with landmarks of anatomical origin, which include nerve outlets, blood vessels, some muscle and tendon areas. In addition, there is a special device, which also can easily determine their position.

The most difficult condition for a successful session is the correct combination of acupuncture points that require exposure for a specific diagnosis. Unorganized effects on the points, including if they are “shown” in the treatment of an existing disease, will not help to bring a cure. Throughout the session it is very important to comply with many conditions and rules of acupuncture. This is the reason that it is possible to carry out a competent needle-effect on the human body only with sufficient qualifications, that is, the specialist must undergo a long and complete course of study.

Acupuncture cost

Based on the above, it can be concluded that when choosing a clinic, it is worth evaluating not the cost of services, but the skill level of acupuncturists. On average, the duration of the course of acupuncture is about 10-15 procedures. In a smaller number of sessions, it is usually not possible to have time to get the desired level of therapeutic effect. If we consider various Moscow clinics, then it is worth focusing on the amount of 15,000–55,000 rubles per course. It is advisable to repeat the procedures 2-3 times at intervals of several months.

Acupuncture can not be considered a panacea, a mystical means, saving from any disease, and certainly should not be attributed to the remnants of the past.

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