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, specialists are able to perform a miracle and cope even with an incurable ailment. There are also people who do not at all believe in the effectiveness of this method, believing that it does not bring any benefit. Moreover, 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 is the positive impact - 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 finest needles on special biologically active points, of which the human body has quite a lot.

It is interesting!
The exact time of origin of acupuncture is not known exactly. At the same time, some scientists believe that a similar procedure was carried out using especially pointed stones, starting with the Neolithic. Found hieroglyphs that tell about this treatment technique, archaeologists date back to 1600–1100. BC e. To date, acupuncture is popular not only within China, but is also widely used in Asian and European countries.

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

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

The duration of the procedure sometimes reaches an entire hour. The sensations that accompany the procedure differ both in different people and in one person during different sessions. The process of introducing the needle is usually completely painless, but it also happens that the patient feels pressure, fullness, mild 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, up to complete relaxation, as a result of which some people even have time to take a nap during treatment. There is no reason to be afraid of this treatment technique.

Acupuncture Species

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 needles, surgical stainless steel is used. Needles are either disposable or reusable, in addition, gilded and silver needles are sometimes used.

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

• moxibustion
• warming up;
• pressure on reflexogenic points;
• the use of substances that can cause irritation;
• other manipulation options.

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

When is acupuncture prescribed?

According to the testimony 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 number of cured:

• 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 can not cope with their ailment. This position cannot be considered correct in view of the fact that the greatest effect from acupuncture is achievable when accessing it in the early period of the development of the disease, before deviations in the functioning of the organs have time to provoke organic changes in them.

The works of oriental scientists claim that any disturbances occurring in the body, excluding traumatic ones, occur as a result of a prolonged failure of the performance of specific organs. Such imperceptible failures, including those of a psychological and emotional nature, can develop over many years. They can be considered the primary indicators of disease. Only at this stage of acupuncture can maximum efficiency be achieved, as well as the prevention of the development of diseases and irreparable changes in organs.

Contraindications for acupuncture treatment

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

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 - with them acupuncture is of little help. In these circumstances, it is urgent to communicate with surgeons, and after that, during the recovery period, it is permissible to consult a needle reflexologist.

The period of pregnancy is also considered not the best time to use this method of treatment, especially in the later stages.

With regard to children under the age of seven, as well as to people of an advanced period of life, this method is significantly less effective than for the middle age group.

There is also no positive effect in oncological diseases, refuting myths about the miraculous nature of this technique.

Beneficial effects of acupuncture

Modern medicine has stopped challenging the positive effects of acupuncture on human health. There is an undoubted merit of numerous reviews of patients who are satisfied with the treatment, but, in addition, this is confirmed by the results of recognized clinical trials.

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

Other researchers are also working on this kind of work.Achievements of these studies are actively discussed at international scientific conferences. Nevertheless, the question of the mechanisms that trigger the recovery processes as a result of acupuncture still does not have a clear answer and causes controversy between scientists.

There are about 20 different theories born after various studies of a clinical, biochemical or immunohistochemical nature.

So, the capillary theory claims 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 the mutual blood exchange between the skin and tissues. The disadvantages of this version include its inability to explain the positive effects received by internal organs.

Tissue theory suggests that from the installation of a needle at the level of the upper layers of the skin, activation of the release of biologically active substances located in damaged cells and tissues occurs. Thanks to these substances, stimulation of the body appears, leading to activation of pressure and the recovery process in the cells, the passage of oxygen through the tissues improves, and the body's level of resistance to external negative influences increases.

It is interesting!
In 2010, a full-scale study was conducted to confirm tissue theory. Before the facelift surgery, 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 a substance called histamine. These manipulations actually served to increase the histamine content, in addition, there was a difference in its distribution in the thickness of different skin structures.

The maximum popularity among scientists to date has been achieved by the neuro-reflex theory, which suggests that stimulation is transmitted through nerve fibers to the spinal cord from irritation of points located in a certain way on the skin area. And then - to special sections of the brain. As a result, all this triggers a complex chain of reactions, including changes in blood circulation, as well as allowing the release of biologically active substances, and to obtain 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 condition and on a decrease in the perception of pain. The study of nervous, biochemical and electrical reactions that arise 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 treatment technique is valuable for those who have functional disorders.

If the acupuncturist is not qualified enough, the result of acupuncture can be disastrous, in the best case - there will be no benefit, and in the worst - it will be harmful to health.

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

First of all, it should be noted the obvious fact that the diagnosis must be made correctly. At the same time, the use of the gifts of traditional medicine is allowed, which allows you 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 the correct selection of the scheme of acupuncture can be a routine diagnosis by pulse and condition of the tongue. The choice of the method of obtaining information about the patient’s health is determined individually by a specialist who needs to know exactly the anatomy and location of all 1700 acupuncture points.

A physician with the appropriate qualifications can cope with this task without difficulty, because most of the points are connected with landmarks of anatomical origin, which include exit points of nerves, blood vessels, some muscle and tendon areas. In addition, there is a special device that can also 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. An unorganized effect on points, including if they are “indicated” in the treatment of an existing disease, will not help bring the cure closer. Throughout the session, it is very important to observe many conditions and rules of acupuncture. This is the reason that a competent needle action on the human body can only be carried out with sufficient qualifications, that is, a specialist must undergo a long and full-fledged training course.

Acupuncture Service Cost

Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that, choosing a clinic, it is worth assessing not the cost of services, but the skill level of acupuncturists. On average, the duration of a course of acupuncture is about 10-15 procedures. For a smaller number of sessions, usually it is not possible to manage to get the desired level of therapeutic effect. If we consider the various Moscow clinics, then you should be guided in the amount of 15,000–55,000 rubles per course. It is advisable to repeat the procedure 2-3 times at intervals of several months.

Acupuncture cannot be considered a panacea, a mystical tool that saves from any disease, and certainly it should not be attributed to the remnants of the past.

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