AcupunctureALTERNATIVE THERAPY SEMINAR

Acupuncture

is a form of alternative medicine and a key component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) involving thin needles inserted into the body at certain points.

that has been practiced for centuries. It's based on the theory that energy, called chi (say "chee"), flows through and around your body along pathways called meridians.

it's believed that illness occurs when something blocks or unbalances your chi. Acupuncture is a way to unblock or influence chi and help it flow back into balance.

Acupuncture

it is generally safe when done by an appropriately trained practitioner using clean needle technique and single-use needles.

When properly delivered, it has a low rate of mostly minor adverse effects. Accidents and infections are associated with infractions of sterile technique or neglect of the practitioner

Needles

- The most common mechanism of stimulation of acupuncture points employs penetration of the skin by thin metal needles, which are manipulated manually or the needle may be further stimulated by electrical stimulation (electroacupuncture).

- Acupuncture needles are typically made of stainless steel, making them flexible and preventing them from breaking.

Needles

- Needles are usually disposed of after each use to prevent contamination, Reusable needles when used should be sterilized between applications.

- Needles vary in length between 13 to 130 millimetres (0.51 to 5.12 in), with shorter needles used near the face and eyes, and longer needles in areas with thicker tissues; needle diameters vary from 0.16 mm (0.006 in) to 0.46 mm (0.018 in),[49] with thicker needles used on more robust patients.

Mechanism of Action

How acupuncture is said to work? Acupuncture dates back to at least 100 B.C., which

is when an organized system of diagnosis and treatment using needles was first described in writing in China.

However, the practice likely precedes this written history, according to Dr. Edzard Ernst.

But the modern practice of acupuncture has changed considerably since it was first introduced in China, according to David W. Ramey and Bernard E. Rollin, who describe the evolution of acupuncture in their book "Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine Considered"

Mechanism of Action

By the 18th century, acupuncture looked much different than the practices described in ancient Chinese texts. And by the early 20th century, aspiring doctors at the Chinese Imperial Medical Academy no longer studied acupuncture, according to the authors.

In traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is linked to the belief that disease is caused by disruptions to the flow of energy, or qi, in the body.

Mechanism of Action

Acupuncture stimulates points on or under the skin called acupuncture points or acupressure points, releasing this qi.

The qi then travels through channels called meridians, according to the Center for Spirituality & Healing at the University of Minnesota.

But the acupuncture treatments carried out in hospitals and other health care facilities in the West today are not based on the same principles that were established in ancient Eastern texts, according to Bao.

Mechanism of Action

Western scientists have been trying to study the mechanism of acupuncture for years and have come up with several hypotheses, she said.

"One major hypothesis is that acupuncture works through neurohormonal pathways. Basically, you put the needle through specific points in the body and stimulate the nerve.

The nerve actually sends signals to the brain, and the brain releases neural hormones such as beta-Endorphins.

Mechanism of Action

By doing that, the patient may feel euphoric, or happy, and this increases the pain threshold and they feel less pain," Bao said.

Another hypothesis is that acupuncture works by reducing pro-inflammatory markers, or proteins, in the body.

Some animal and human studies suggest that by doing acupuncture, you can significantly decrease these pro-inflammatory markers — including TNF and IL-1β — which decreases inflammation and reduces pain, Bao said.

Mechanism of Action

Yet another hypothesis applies specifically to how acupuncture can be used to treat nerve damage, such as chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy, a condition that often causes numbness or weakness in the feet and hands.

"The idea is that by putting the needle in, you stimulate the brain to secrete some nerve growth factor, and then that helps the nerve to regenerate," Bao said.

Applications of Acupuncture Low back Headaches and migraines Nausea and vomiting and post-operative pain

Low Back

A 2013 systematic review found that acupuncture may be effective for nonspecific lower back pain, but the authors noted there were limitations in the studies examined, such as heterogeneity in study characteristics and low methodological quality in many studies.

A 2012 systematic review found some supporting evidence that acupuncture was more effective than no treatment for chronic non-specific low back pain.

Low Back

The evidence was conflicting comparing the effectiveness over other treatment approaches, individualized acupuncture is not better in reducing symptoms than formula acupuncture or sham acupuncture with a toothpick that does not penetrate the skin.

The specific therapeutic effects of acupuncture were small, whereas its clinically relevant benefits were mostly due to contextual and psychosocial circumstances.

Brain imaging studies have shown that traditional acupuncture and sham acupuncture differ in their effect on limbic structures, while at the same time showed equivalent analgesic effects.

Headaches and migraines

A 2012 review found that acupuncture has demonstrated benefit for the treatment of headaches, but that safety needed to be more fully documented in order to make any strong recommendations in support of its use.

Headaches and migraines

A 2009 Cochrane review of the use of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis treatment concluded that "true" acupuncture was no more efficient than sham acupuncture, but "true" acupuncture appeared to be as effective as, or possibly more effective than routine care in the treatment of migraines, with fewer adverse effects than prophylactic drug treatment prophylaxis of tension-type headaches.

Nausea and vomiting and post-operative pain A 2014 overview of systematic reviews found

insufficient evidence to suggest that acupuncture is an effective treatment for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in a clinical setting.

A 2013 systematic review concluded that acupuncture might be beneficial in prevention and treatment of PONV, A 2009 Cochrane review found that stimulation of the P6 acupoint on the wrist was as effective (or ineffective) as antiemetic drugs and was associated with minimal side effects.

A 2014 overview of systematic reviews found insufficient evidence to suggest that acupuncture is effective for surgical or post-operative pain.

Nausea and vomiting and post-operative pain For the use of acupuncture for post-operative

pain, there was contradictory evidence. A 2014 systematic review found supportive but

limited evidence for use of acupuncture for acute post-operative pain after back surgery.

A 2014 systematic review found that while the evidence suggested acupuncture could be an effective treatment for postoperative gastroparesis.

Limitations and misconceptions Increasingly, mainstream doctors and medical

institutions are accepting the practice of acupuncture, particularly for treatment of pain and nausea.

For example, found that acupuncture could reduce vomiting and nausea among patients receiving chemotherapy, according to Cancer Research UK.

The World Health Organization maintains an extensive list of diseases and conditions (mostly pain related) possibly treatable by acupuncture.

Limitations and misconceptions Many doctors now do not discourage their patients

from receiving acupuncture when conventional medicine fails them or when convention treatment entails too many adverse side effects.

There is a growing body of research exploring whether acupuncture also can be used to treat depression, sleep disturbances and drug addiction.

In general, however, acupuncture is considered complementary to conventional treatments, and it is likely most effective when implemented along with certain healthy lifestyle habits, according to Bao.

Limitations and misconceptions "Usually, when people are more health conscious,

they pay attention to diet, they exercise more, they think about a mind-body approach to decrease stress, and they might also use acupuncture.

Ideally, I think these things should all come together, rather than having the goal be to use acupuncture to treat everything. That doesn't necessarily work," Bao said.

Thank You