An integral part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture has been adapted in cultures worldwide for millennia. Acupuncture involves the insertion of reed thin needles at certain points in the body called acupuncture points or acupoints as a form of analgesic or surgical anesthetic for the treatment of pain. Despite the countless researches, tests and studies done to test the efficacy of acupuncture (and how acupuncture manages to pass all these efficacy tests), there are still some sectors in the medical community who are skeptical about this treatment. However, no one doubts its ability to treat a number of conditions. Acupuncture works by removing blockages in pathways that allow electromagnetic energy and blood to flow throughout the body.
Acupuncture is generally applied for back and neck pains. People suffering from chronic back pain have benefited from acupuncture’s ability to relieve painful and distressing conditions in a long-term or permanent basis allowing them to enjoy pain-free and healthy living once again.
Most painful conditions such as labor pain, headaches, menstrual cramps and migraines are relieved by acupuncture. This is seconded by the World Health Organization (WHO) who have listed more than 30 conditions acupuncture is said to cure. The WHO states that acupuncture can treat migraines and headaches. The WHO further states that respiratory problems like allergic rhinitis are also treatable with acupuncture. Actually, acupuncture is more potent than most types of medications and does not cause debilitating side effects. It also has been reported to relieve bronchial asthma symptoms for short amounts of time. However, acupuncture may not be as effective in treating viral or bacterial infections such as tonsillitis as antibiotic therapy does.
Studies also record of acupuncture’s ability to treat stroke aftereffects. Besides this, studies also reveal acupuncture’s positive effect in the improvement of neurological function of a patient in coma, which greatly improves the chances of the patient to regain consciousness. The treatment also treats insomnia as well as depression and anxiety. Studies also acknowledge acupuncture’s superior benefits over psychotherapy in treating competition stress syndrome. This wonderful alternative therapy is fast becoming the treatment of choice for many alcohol and smoking addicts.
Acupuncture is known to likewise treat digestive problems. It is stronger in potency in its pain-killing abilities than anisodamine with atropine or morphine to treat pain caused by peptic ulcers and other stomach disorders. Symptoms of stomach disorders such as illnesses caused by chemotherapy, morning sickness, nausea and emesis are ably addressed by acupuncture.
The versatility of acupuncture makes it a more promising type of treatment for many more types of disorders in the future. Innovations in technology and more medical research into the benefits of acupuncture will allow this treatment to be applied to other types of illnesses in the near future.