What exactly is acupuncture? Let's talk about it.

Have you ever heard of acupuncture ? Maybe a friend or relative of yours has tried it for a persistent backache or knee pain. But many people are a little afraid of it, because it's normal to feel a little scared and nervous when you hear the word "pins and needles" in your body. But today we're going to talk about exactly what it is, what it does, and whether it's safe or painful.

What is acupuncture simply?

Simply put, acupuncture is a form of treatment that comes from traditional Chinese medicine. It involves gently stimulating specific points on your body (such as your back, neck, head, and face) using very fine, thin steel needles . The main goal is to provide relief from a health condition or symptom, such as pain.

Most importantly, scientific studies have confirmed the effectiveness of this method for some medical conditions. But remember, acupuncture is often a supplemental therapy, which is used in addition to your main medical treatment . This means that you may need to take Western medical treatment to fully recover from your condition.

What diseases can be cured by this treatment?

Acupuncture can help relieve a wide range of health problems. In particular, people use it to relieve long-term (chronic) pain. Let's take a look at what those are.

Are there different methods of acupuncture?

Yes, there are several approaches. Some practitioners work in the traditional Chinese style. They focus on balancing the flow of energy, or `qi` (pronounced “chi”), in the body.

Others use a modern Western medical approach to this treatment. They use needles to stimulate systems in the body, such as the nervous system. But many skilled practitioners use a combination of both methods.

What is Trigger Point Therapy?

This is also a special form of acupuncture. Myofascial pain is pain that occurs in the muscles and the tissues that connect them. When muscles are strained, tense, or injured, they develop “trigger points,” which are tight, painful knots. Surprisingly, a knot in one place can cause referred pain in a completely different part of the body. Acupuncturists can use needles to help “release” these knots.

Tell us about Auricular Acupuncture.

This involves inserting needles into specific points in your ear. This method is especially used to relieve chronic back pain and cancer pain.

How does this actually work?

According to Chinese medicine, the energy that flows through our bodies is called `qi`. They believe that when the flow of this `qi` is disrupted, the body's energy balance is disrupted and disease occurs. So one of the goals of acupuncture is to rebalance this energy flow by touching specific points (acupoints) on the body with needles.

The modern scientific explanation is a little different. According to this, the needles stimulate the body's central nervous system and immune system. Therefore,

• Chemicals like endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, are released.
• Chemicals such as `neurotransmitters' that control nerve impulses are released.
• The body receives signals to respond to a disease or symptom.
• The body's balance is restored.

What happens when I go for treatment? Will it hurt?

During your first appointment, the practitioner will talk to you about your condition and then examine your body to identify areas that may respond to treatment.

The needles used are sterile, disposable, and as fine as a human hair . The practitioner inserts these needles to varying depths (perhaps from a fraction of an inch to several inches). The needles can be left in place for a few minutes to 20 minutes.

Sometimes the needles may cause a slight heaviness, numbness, or a slight tingling sensation in the muscles. Your practitioner will ask you about these feelings, as these feelings indicate that the treatment is working successfully.

Are there any risks with this treatment?

When performed by a qualified, experienced practitioner, acupuncture has virtually no complications or side effects.

The needles used here should be used once and discarded. However, getting treatment from someone who is not qualified or who uses unsterilized needles can be very dangerous. It can lead to serious conditions such as infection, damage to an internal organ, and damage to the nervous system. Therefore, it is imperative to carefully investigate the qualifications of someone when choosing a treatment.

Are Acupuncture and Dry Needling two different things?

Although many people confuse the two, they are not the same thing. Although both use needles, the principles and purposes of the two are completely different.