Acupuncture

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient medical practice, originating in China more than 2,000 years ago. It uses metal needles to stimulate points in the body, often with the addition of manual manipulation, heat or electrical stimulation. Some practitioners use lasers instead of needles to stimulate the acupuncture points.

While acupuncture does appear to help in the treatment of some conditions, the theory of acupuncture is not able to be explained by current medical science. It is considered a complementary therapy.

Acupuncture is a form of treatment that involves inserting very thin needles through a person’s skin at specific points on the body, to various depths

What conditions can acupuncture treat?

Acupuncture may help relieve common types of pain including:

• neck and shoulder pain
• headaches and migraines
• fibromyalgia

In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) listed a number of conditions in which they say acupuncture has been proven effective.

These include:

• high and low blood pressure
• chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
• some gastric conditions, including peptic ulcer
• painful periods
• dysentery
• allergic rhinitis
• facial pain
• morning sickness
• rheumatoid arthritis
• sprains
• tennis elbow
• sciatica
• dental pain
• reducing the risk of stroke
• inducing labor

What are the benefits of acupuncture?

There are many health benefits associated with acupuncture. These include:

• Reduced stress levels
• Reduced muscle tension
• Relief from headaches / migraines
• Reduced eye strain
• Improvements to the immunity system
• Enhancements in mental clarity
• Increased energy
• Relief from digestive conditions
• Speedy recovery

Acupuncture can be beneficial in that:

• Performed correctly, it is safe.
• There are very few side effects.
• It can be effectively combined with other treatments.
• It can control some types of pain.
• It may help patients for whom pain medications are not suitable.