What kinds of needles are used in an acupuncture treatment?

Acupuncture needles are very specific needles. They're much thinner than any needles that most people are aware of, much thinner than hypodermic needles and the needles that are used to draw blood. Usually they're made of stainless steel, and, again, they're usually packaged, single use, sterilized and disposable, so the needle is used once then thrown away to minimize risk of infection.

What is acupuncture?

Q.  What is acupuncture? A.  It is a 5,000 year old Chinese system of natural healing (no drugs - no surgery), It is concerned with  restoring proper energy flow to the various organs, glands and tissues of the body on the premise that  most diseases are the result of malfunction due to disrupted energetics. Q.  Where does this interruption of energy flow occur? A. In the channels of energy flow, which are called meridians, located throughout the body  just beneath the skin surface.

 

Q. Are there other causes of disease besides interference with transmission of energy flow?

A.  Yes, of course.   Psychosomatic states, hereditary factors, poisons, adverse environmental conditions,  injury, germs, malnutrition, etc., are all disease producing.

Q.  How is this disturbance in energy flow detected in the patient?

A.  By many methods, including certain signs, symptoms, pain spots, organ reflex points,  meridian reflex points and by pulse or instrument findings.

Q.  Assuming I'm going to take acupuncture treatments, how are they performed?

A.  First the related TRIGGER POINTS are determined in the skin.  Then they are appropriately treated by inserting needles or other methods. The methods adopted are - Long needle insertion Short needle penetration. Electrical stimulation. Moxabustion (the burning of herbs over the points). Using Helium -Neon Laser beams.

Q. What are the noticeable effecs of Acupuncture treatment ?

A sense of well being spreads in the body soon after administering the Acupuncture. As it works  on energy level the patient immediately feels energetic and active. The Noticeable effects are

- Relaxation - Tonification of the body -Motor recovery ( Improves movement) - Immunity improving (Decrease in infecion) - Balancing ( Decrease in Blood pressure and balance of hormones, endocrine and enzyme secretions) -A sense of well being both physical and mental (psychological)

Q.  What are some of the conditions commonly treated by acupuncture?

A.  Most patients come for treatment of nerve - muscle - bone conditions.    The fact, however, is that over 200 conditions may respond to acupuncture. This ancient technique may be used for anything and everything. Although usually  associated with pain, it also can help with depression, infertility, stomach problems,  toothaches, asthma, addiction and even for general well being.

Q.  Out of say, 10 patients accepted for acupuncture health care, how many usually  respond favorably?

A.  On an average eight out of ten respond satisfactorily. Others fail to respond for a  variety of reasons.  Advanced age, severity of the condition, irreversible tissue damage, etc.,  are deterrents to recovery.

Q.  Does Acupuncture have another name?

A.  Yes.  In fact the word acupuncture is incorrect because it implies needles only.    The proper wording is "Meridian Therapy," or Ching Lo Chi Liao in Chinese.   It was named "acupuncture" in the 16th century by Portuguese sailors who knew no better.  The wrong name stuck.

Q. Can you tell us something about the needling ?

Placing incredibly thin (approximately 20 of these could fit into a hypodermic needle),  sterile needles in specific points on the body, an acupuncturist locates the pain and  works to relieve it. Once the needle is put in the skin, the cells attack the foreign object,  sending sensations of tingling up and down the body. In other words, it gets the blood flowing.

Q. Can you discuss how it helps back pain ?

Back pain is one of the most traumatic pain affecting almost every person sometimes or  other during his life. The present life style of long travel and working in computers have increased the possibility more. Ladies are prone to the problem either after child birth or  during menopause when the pelvic area becomes very weak.   The back pain can be either in the upper back involving shoulder and hand pain or the lower back involving pelvic area and the legs. It is generally connected to one of the  spinal vertebrae. It may be the neck , thoracic or lumbar – sacral vertebrae as per the  area of the pain.   Acupuncture offers excellent remedy both for the management of pain as well complete  eradication of pain if the problem is not chronic and is of fairly recent origin. Rather it is  advised if Acupuncture is employed as the first line of treatment it may avoid costly  investigations like MRI and others.

In Acupuncture the approach is three fold-

To reduce the pain by use of analgesic point stimulation To improve working of the organ behind the disturbed area – If upper area thoracic  organs like lungs and heart, if lower area then digestive organs like stomach,liver  and if still lower back intestines and kidney will be strengthened. Alleviate the pain from the local point stimuation as well remote corresponding  point stimulation and bring in energy flow to the affeced parts

Q.In Acupuncture (Meridian Therapy) are there other important factors besides  TRIGGER POINTS stimulation ?

A.  Yes, there are laws to obeyed for those who desire health and longevity: 1) Proper nutrition. 2) Adequate rest. 3) Moderate exercise. 4) A positive mental attitude.

Acupunctre Needles

BODY Acupuncture Points

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient art of healing that dates back to at least 8,000 years. It has been widely practiced in China and many other Asian countries. Only recently has acupuncture made its way into the western world. Acupuncture accentuates on the natural healing of the body. It involves stimulating acupuncture points by the insertion of very fine, solid, metallic needles.
          The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved Acupuncture as the mode of treatment. WHO also studied the effects of acupuncture and concluded the list of disorders, which can be treated with Acupuncture.

Do acupuncture needles hurt?

While we call them acupuncture "needles," they are very different from the hypodermic needles used in medicine to draw blood or to give injections. Acupuncture needles are more accurately described as filaments. They are very fine (not much thicker than a human hair) and flexible. They rarely draw blood, and patients rarely feel them being inserted. Once the needle is inserted just beneath the surface of the skin, your acupuncturist will gently stimulate the needle by lifting or rotating it until a response is elicited. This response is detected when the acupuncturist feels a slight tug, twitch, or gripping on the needle. Patients often report feeling a sensation, which they liken to a muscle twitch or a dull ache. Sometimes they report feeling warmth or tingling. Once patients overcome any initial anxiety over trying something new, they usually find acupuncture to be deeply relaxing.