Understanding Acupuncture and its Healing Properties

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that has been used for centuries to treat a wide range of health conditions. The practice involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate the body's natural healing processes. Acupuncture is believed to work by restoring the flow of energy, or Qi, in the body, which can become blocked or disrupted due to a variety of factors such as stress, illness, or injury.

Acupuncture has become increasingly popular in the Western world in recent years, with many people turning to this ancient practice as a natural alternative to Western medicine. There is a growing body of scientific research that supports the use of acupuncture for various health conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety, and depression.

One of the primary benefits of acupuncture is its ability to help alleviate pain. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective for a wide range of conditions that cause pain, including back pain, neck pain, joint pain, and headaches. Research has also shown that acupuncture can be helpful for chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis.

In addition to pain relief, acupuncture has been found to be effective for treating a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. Acupuncture is believed to work by affecting the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, which can help to regulate mood and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.

Acupuncture has also been shown to be effective for a range of other health conditions, including digestive disorders, respiratory conditions, and reproductive issues. For example, acupuncture has been found to be helpful for treating conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), asthma, and infertility.

Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials.

Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which acupuncture has been proved—through controlled trials—to be an effective treatment:

Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy

Allergic rhinitis (including hay fever)

Biliary colic

Depression (including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke)

Dysentery, acute bacillary

Dysmenorrhoea, primary

Epigastralgia, acute (in peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, and gastrospasm)

Facial pain (including craniomandibular disorders)

Headache

Hypertension, essential

Hypotension, primary

Induction of labour

Knee pain

Leukopenia

Low back pain

Malposition of fetus, correction of

Morning sickness

Nausea and vomiting

Neck pain

Pain in dentistry (including dental pain and temporomandibular dysfunction)

Periarthritis of shoulder

Postoperative pain

Renal colic

Rheumatoid arthritis

Sciatica

Sprain

Stroke

Tennis elbow

Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which the therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been shown but for which further proof is needed:

Abdominal pain (in acute gastroenteritis or due to gastrointestinal spasm)

Acne vulgaris

Alcohol dependence and detoxification

Bell’s palsy

Bronchial asthma

Cancer pain

Cardiac neurosis

Cholecystitis, chronic, with acute exacerbation

Cholelithiasis

Competition stress syndrome

Craniocerebral injury, closed

Diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-dependent

Earache

Epidemic hemorrhagic fever

Epistaxis, simple (without generalized or local disease)

Eye pain due to subconjunctival injection

Female infertility

Facial spasm

Female urethral syndrome

Fibromyalgia and fasciitis

Gastrokinetic disturbance

Gouty arthritis

Hepatitis B virus carrier status

Herpes zoster (human (alpha) herpesvirus 3)

Hyperlipaemia

Hypo-ovarianism

Insomnia

Labour pain

Lactation, deficiency

Male sexual dysfunction, non-organic

Ménière disease

Neuralgia, post-herpetic

Neurodermatitis

Obesity

Opium, cocaine and heroin dependence

Osteoarthritis

Pain due to endoscopic examination

Pain in thromboangiitis obliterans

Polycystic ovary syndrome (Stein–Leventhal syndrome) (PCOS)

Post extubation in children

Postoperative convalescence

Premenstrual syndrome

Prostatitis, chronic

Pruritus

Radicular and pseudoradicular pain syndrome

Raynaud syndrome, primary

Recurrent lower urinary-tract infection

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy

Retention of urine, traumatic

Schizophrenia

Sialism, drug-induced

Sjögren syndrome

Sore throat (including tonsillitis)

Spine pain, acute

Stiff neck

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Tietze syndrome

Tobacco dependence

Tourette syndrome

Ulcerative colitis, chronic

Urolithiasis

Vascular dementia

Whooping cough (pertussis)

Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which there are only individual controlled trials reporting some therapeutic effects, but for which acupuncture is worth trying because treatment by conventional and other therapies is difficult:

Chloasma

Choroidopathy, central serous

Colour blindness

Deafness

Hypophrenia

Irritable colon syndrome

Neuropathic bladder in spinal cord injury

Pulmonary heart disease, chronic

Small airway obstruction

When considering acupuncture as a treatment option, it is important to find a qualified practitioner who has the necessary training and experience. Acupuncture needles must be inserted at specific points on the body, and the depth and angle of insertion can vary depending on the condition being treated. Improper insertion of needles can result in pain, bleeding, or other complications.

Most people find acupuncture to be a safe and comfortable treatment option. The needles used in acupuncture are very thin and flexible, and most people report only a slight tingling or sensation of warmth during treatment. Some people may experience mild soreness or bruising at the site of needle insertion, but this is usually temporary and resolves quickly.

Overall, acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment option for a variety of health conditions. While it may not be suitable for everyone, it is worth considering as a natural alternative to Western medicine for those who are seeking a more holistic approach to their health and wellness. With proper training and experience, acupuncture can be a valuable tool in helping to promote overall health and well-being.

If you're considering trying acupuncture, it's crucial to find a skilled and experienced practitioner. Our clinic, specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine in Thalang, Phuket, Thailand, is staffed with highly trained acupuncture experts. We can collaborate with you to create a customized treatment plan that addresses your unique needs and goals, and assists you in reaching your best level of health and wellness. Contact us now to discover more about our services!

Acupuncture_WHO_2003.pdf

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