The Benefits of Acupuncture for Pain Relief and Other Ailments
Acupuncture and pain relief
For most people, acupuncture is not a topic that is likely to come up in a normal discussion and it's unlikely that they would know much about the subject of acupuncture anyway.
However, for those of us who have suffered bouts of severe pain of any sort for which we cannot find a cure, acupuncture may represent a last chance to obtain relief.
That applies to the types of pain that has not been alleviated after visits to doctors, or by taking prescribed medications or over-the-counter pain pills, or by chiropractic treatment or physiotherapy, some of which themselves can perhaps prolong the episodes of pain, not to mention their out of pocket costs.
So what is acupuncture and what are the benefits of acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a principal component of traditional Chinese medicine and it has been practiced, it is believed, for about 2000 years. One can conclude that any medical procedure that has been used for that long must have some merits and warrants consideration for the types of treatment it claims to be effective for.
Does it hurt?
At first thought, when one learns that the acupuncture procedures involve the insertion into this skin of a series of very thin needles, questions arise on whether this is going to be a painful process in order to treat an already painful condition.
Actually, it is not a painful experience, there should be no pain during placement of the needles and many people find acupuncture a relaxing experience. A patient may feel a slight tingling sensation but not much more, certainly nothing compared to the real pain for which treatment is being sought. The ultra thin needles that are used may be in place for a few seconds or more up to perhaps 20 minutes, depending on the particular condition being treated. Credible scientific research studies have shown that a positive attitude helps too.
Pain relief
Some of the types of pain for which acupuncture benefits have been achieved include: severe low-back pain, headache, arthritis, neuralgia, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, menstrual cramps, among others.
But acupuncture benefits include more than pain relief
Acupuncture has also been found to be effective in treating, or as a supplement to conventional treatment for, a wide variety of common ailments including: anxiety, depression, infertility, addictions, digestive disorders, nervous system diseases, respiratory diseases, and many other health conditions.
In the United States and Canada and many other countries, acupuncture practitioners must be licensed and hold an appropriate medical qualification in accordance with individual State regulations.
Side effects not an issue
The FDA receives few reports of side effects, the procedure is considered safe as long as it is being rendered by a qualified professional practitioner in accordance with the government's health regulations.
Cost of acupuncture
Cost and duration of a course of treatments varies and is something to be discussed with the practitioner. By most people's standards, acupuncture treatment is not cheap, which can be a problem for people on a limited income, and that often includes elderly people who may be seeking relief from arthritic pain.
Acupuncture not covered by Medicare
Therefore, patients seeking acupuncture must pay for their treatment unless they are covered by an alternative health plan or other medical insurance.
For most people, acupuncture is not a topic that is likely to come up in a normal discussion and it's unlikely that they would know much about the subject of acupuncture anyway.
However, for those of us who have suffered bouts of severe pain of any sort for which we cannot find a cure, acupuncture may represent a last chance to obtain relief.
That applies to the types of pain that has not been alleviated after visits to doctors, or by taking prescribed medications or over-the-counter pain pills, or by chiropractic treatment or physiotherapy, some of which themselves can perhaps prolong the episodes of pain, not to mention their out of pocket costs.
So what is acupuncture and what are the benefits of acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a principal component of traditional Chinese medicine and it has been practiced, it is believed, for about 2000 years. One can conclude that any medical procedure that has been used for that long must have some merits and warrants consideration for the types of treatment it claims to be effective for.
Does it hurt?
At first thought, when one learns that the acupuncture procedures involve the insertion into this skin of a series of very thin needles, questions arise on whether this is going to be a painful process in order to treat an already painful condition.
Actually, it is not a painful experience, there should be no pain during placement of the needles and many people find acupuncture a relaxing experience. A patient may feel a slight tingling sensation but not much more, certainly nothing compared to the real pain for which treatment is being sought. The ultra thin needles that are used may be in place for a few seconds or more up to perhaps 20 minutes, depending on the particular condition being treated. Credible scientific research studies have shown that a positive attitude helps too.
Pain relief
Some of the types of pain for which acupuncture benefits have been achieved include: severe low-back pain, headache, arthritis, neuralgia, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, menstrual cramps, among others.
But acupuncture benefits include more than pain relief
Acupuncture has also been found to be effective in treating, or as a supplement to conventional treatment for, a wide variety of common ailments including: anxiety, depression, infertility, addictions, digestive disorders, nervous system diseases, respiratory diseases, and many other health conditions.
In the United States and Canada and many other countries, acupuncture practitioners must be licensed and hold an appropriate medical qualification in accordance with individual State regulations.
Side effects not an issue
The FDA receives few reports of side effects, the procedure is considered safe as long as it is being rendered by a qualified professional practitioner in accordance with the government's health regulations.
Cost of acupuncture
Cost and duration of a course of treatments varies and is something to be discussed with the practitioner. By most people's standards, acupuncture treatment is not cheap, which can be a problem for people on a limited income, and that often includes elderly people who may be seeking relief from arthritic pain.
Acupuncture not covered by Medicare
Therefore, patients seeking acupuncture must pay for their treatment unless they are covered by an alternative health plan or other medical insurance.