Is acupuncture safe and what conditions can it help?

Acupuncture is known to be a safe and painless choice for treating any ailment of the human body. Millions of people have found acupuncture to be an even better solution than drugs or surgery. Acupuncture promotes the body’s natural ability to heal itself, and is a complete system of medicine that is used to treat a broad spectrum of health issues and ailments. It is a form of alternative medicine that originated in ancient China between 1600 – 1100 BCE. Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles at specific points of the body that correspond with energy channels in the body, known as meridians. These energy channels work in harmony with the body’s circulatory, nervous, muscular, digestive, genitourinary- and all other- systems of the body. Acupuncture was virtually unknown in the United States until the early 1970’s when President Nixon visited China. Since that time, there has been an explosion of interest in using acupuncture alongside Western Medicine in the United States and Europe. Historians have said: “Over the centuries more people have been helped by acupuncture than by all other health sciences combined.”

At our Lake Worth Acupuncture clinic, we can help resolve the following common conditions:

• Allergies, asthma, colds and other respiratory problems
• Arthritis, fibromyalgia, CTS, and other work-related aches and pains
• Back pain, ongoing issues and new injuries
• Depression, anxiety, insomnia and stress
• Gastrointestinal issues, especially if focusing on weight loss or a change to your eating habits
• Skin conditions such as lupus, rashes, psoriasis, hives and eczema
• Women’s health care, especially infertility and PMS

What Conditions Can Acupuncture Treat?

• Arthritis And Chronic Pain

Most forms of arthritis are progressive with effects such as increased pain, joint destruction and limited movement. Many people try to alleviate these symptoms with prescription medications, which may give temporary relief, but are known to have harmful side effects. In comparison, acupuncture is completely free of side effects, and can relieve pain, stiffness, swelling and help increase movement.

• Sports Related Injuries

A rigorous exercise program can result in aches and pains, various types of injuries to joints, muscle cramps, as well as tightness and fatigue. Acupuncture can alleviate these problems as well as improve overall performance. Acupuncture can also help to prevent future injury by promoting maximum circulation and functioning of the body.

• Gynecological Problems

Uncomfortable symptoms accompanying the menstrual cycle plague many women and disrupt their sense of well-being. Acupuncture can alleviate not only painful cramps but also the accompanying depression, fatigue, food cravings and irritability commonly known as PMS (premenstrual syndrome.) Head and back pain associated with menstruation can be treated effectively, as well as amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea and irregular menstruation.

• Headaches And Migraines

Headaches are a frequent source of pain for many people, with varying levels of intensity and differing sensations in each individual. Prescription drugs and over-the-counter pain medications may offer temporary relief, but do not correct the source of the problem. In a study at the London National Hospital for Nervous Disorder, acupuncture proved to be an effective long-term headache treatment in 59% of the cases, whereas Inderal (Propranolol) – a drug commonly prescribed for migraines – only had a 25% rate. The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture as the best existing treatment worldwide for migraine headaches.

• Addiction

Acupuncture is a useful detoxification aid for short or long-term tobacco addiction, as well as drug and alcohol abuse. Safe and effective withdrawal can be achieved using protocols developed at the Substance Abuse Division of Lincoln Hospital in New York. This treatment protocol is based on over 16 years of clinical experience, and 850,000 treatments using specific acupuncture points on the patient’s ears and body, resulting in reduced cravings and a strong calming effect.

Other Commonly Treated Conditions

Skin: eczema, herpes, acne, rashes, pruritus and shingles.

Digestive: indigestion, constipation, colitis, diarrhea, gas, spastic colon, hemorrhoids, gastritis, ulcers, hyperacidity, heartburn and hiccoughs.

Musculo-Skeletal: back pain, sciatica, arthritis, carpal tunnel, bursitis, neck pain, whiplash, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, muscle ache, tendonitis, TMJ and gout.

Nervous: anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, bursts of temper, depression, crying spells, Bell’s palsy, ringing in the ears, and lack of energy.

Respiratory: asthma, sinusitis, allergies, bronchitis, pulmonary, congestion, common colds, recurrent colds, rhinitis, laryngitis, nosebleeds, ear infections, chronic tonsillitis and chronic cough.

Cardiovascular: high blood pressure, poor circulation, angina, palpitations and dizziness.

Uro-Genital: chronic cystitis, incontinence, bedwetting, impotence, frigidity, infertility, PMS and symptoms of menopause.

Is Acupuncture Painful?

Most people would assume having a needle inserted into the skin would be painful; however acupuncture needles are very fine and flexible, about the diameter of a thick hair. Insertion by a skilled practitioner usually will be completely painless; in most cases needles are inserted just below the surface of the skin. Acupuncture bears no resemblance to the feeling of getting an injection, as the main source of pain from injections is the hollow needle and the medication being forced into the tissue by pressure.

Are Acupuncture Needles Sanitary?

Your health is our primary concern. We only use sterile, single-use, disposable needles.

How Does Acupuncture Assist In Relieving Pain?

Acupuncture has received a lot of publicity in the western world for it’s ability to relieve both chronic and acute pain. The central nervous system relays pain signals due to physical trauma, as well as acting as a warning sign of fatigue, stress, improper diet, emotional strain, etc. When the condition causing the pain is treated with acupuncture, the nerves, muscles, bones, blood vessels and organs are revitalized, and the condition that created the pain sensation is relieved. While acupuncture is effective in relieving pain, it is important to note that both acupuncture and Oriental medicine are much more than “painkilling” techniques.

Can Acupuncture Help People Stop Smoking And Lose Weight?

People often lose their desire to smoke or over-eat when life energy in the body is balanced and flowing smoothly. Cravings associated with with smoking and over-eating are often symptoms of an imbalance that existed before the behavior began. There are certain acupuncture points that have been used the treat these issues, but the same point will not work for all people. Correct diagnosis by an experienced practitioner is the most effective way to treat these conditions.

How Do Most People Respond To Acupuncture?

Most patients feel progressively better after each treatment. In general, illnesses of a short duration respond quickly to treatment, while chronic conditions respond more slowly. Some chronic conditions and illnesses so dull the senses that the full severity of the symptoms is no longer clearly felt. As the life force is balanced, sensitivity returns, so a patient may temporarily feel worse; however, this passes in a short time.

How Many Treatments Are Necessary?

The duration of the disease, the amount of deterioration, and the constitution of each patient must be taken into account when determining the number of treatments necessary. Most chronic conditions require a minimum of ten treatments to alleviate symptoms and balance the energy.