Acupuncture

How does acupuncture work?

Nowadays acupuncture is done widely in order to improve the body's functions and promote the natural self-healing process. Acupuncture stimulates specific anatomical positions which are known as acupuncture points or acupoints. Mostly the acupuncture method is a way to stimulate acupoints by inserting a fine, sterile needle into the skin. Utilizing pressure, heat, or even electricity can enhance the effects of acupuncture. Other acupoint stimulation techniques include manual massage, moxibustion or heat therapy, cupping, and the application of topical herbal medicines and linaments. Acupuncture is a part of traditional Chinese medicine that is based on an ancient philosophy that describes the universe, and the body, in terms of two opposing forces: yin and yang. The time that these two forces are in Ballance the body is in complete health. Type of energy called "qi" (pronounced "chee") flows along specific pathways, called meridians, throughout the body and so this constant flow of energy keeps the yin and yang forces balanced. Nevertheless, if the flow of these energies gets blocked, exactly like water getting stuck behind a dam, the disruption can cause the pain, lack of function, or even different types of illnesses. Acupuncture therapy can release blocked qi in the body and stimulate function, evoking the body’s natural healing response through various physiological systems. Novel researches has demonstrated acupuncture’s effects on various body systems including nervous system, endocrine and immune systems, cardiovascular system, and digestive system.

What happens during an acupuncture treatment?

First of all like all types of treatments your health provider will ask you some questions about your health history. Physical examinations like your tongue’s shape, color, and coating, feel your pulses, and even some additional physical examinations are performed. These examinations depend on your health situation and your chief complaint. Then for Starting the acupuncture treatment, you should lay comfortably on a treatment table whilst precise acupoints are stimulated on various areas of your body. Don't be afraid because most people feel no or minimal discomfort as the fine needles are gently placed in suitable positions. The needles are usually retained between five and 30 minutes. During and after treatments, people feel very relaxed and they don't have any concerns.

How many treatments will I need?

Although most patients ask this question, there is no exact answer as the frequency and number of acupuncture treatments are different in patients and mostly depends on the health condition and chief complaint. Some patients will tell that they experienced dramatic relief in their first treatment. For complicated or long-standing chronic conditions, one to two treatments per week for several months may be suggested. For acute problems, usually, fewer visits are necessary, usually eight to ten visits in total treatment duration.

Case-controlled clinical researches have shown that acupuncture has been an effective solution for the following diseases, symptoms, or conditions:

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 labor

Knee pain

Leukopenia

Low back pain

Malposition of fetus, correction

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

Risks of acupuncture:

The risks of acupuncture are very low if you have a competent, certified acupuncturist who uses sterile fine needles. Common side effects include soreness and minor bleeding or bruising at the needle's positions. Single-use, disposable needles are now the practice standard, so the risk of infection is minimal. Be aware that not everyone is a good candidate for having acupuncture. You may be at risk of complications if you:

Have a bleeding disorder

Your chances of bleeding or bruising from the needle positions are increased if you have a bleeding disorder or if you're taking blood thinners.

Have a pacemaker

 Acupuncture that involves applying mild electrical pulses to the needles can interfere with a pacemaker's operation.

Are pregnant

 Some types of acupuncture are thought to stimulate labor, which could result in a premature delivery before the right time.

The following diseases, symptoms or conditions have limited but probable evidence to support the therapeutic use of acupuncture, and maybe in the future more studies may prove the effectiveness of acupuncture in their treatment:

Osteoarthritis

Pain due to endoscopic examination

Pain in thromboangiitis obliterans

Polycystic ovary syndrome (Stein-Leventhal syndrome)

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 (excessive salivation)

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)

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

InsomniaLabour pain

Lactation, deficiency

Male sexual dysfunction, non-organic

Ménière disease

Neuralgia, post-herpetic

Neurodermatitis

Obesity

Opium, cocaine, and heroin dependence

How much does acupuncture cost?

It is a type of treatment that is covered by many health insurance companies, but not all of them. If your plan does not cover acupuncture treatment, you may still receive the service for a cash fee. Cash, checks, and all major credit cards are accepted. Ermateb which is one of the perfect medical tourism groups will offer you this service at a very affordable price that you can not find anywhere else. You can have a perfect medical journey in a beautiful place and relax.