Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world. The term acupuncture describes a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques.
Practices of acupuncture incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. The acupuncture technique that has been most studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.
In the past two decades, acupuncture has grown in popularity all over the world. Acupuncture needles are metallic, solid, and hair-thin. People experience acupuncture differently, but most feel no or minimal pain as the needles are inserted. Some people are energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed. Improper needle placement, movement of the patient, or a defect in the needle can cause soreness and pain during treatment. This is why it is important to seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture practitioner. They should use a new set of disposable needles taken from a sealed package for each patient and should swab reatment sites with alcohol or another disinfectant before inserting needles. When not delivered properly, acupuncture can cause serious adverse effects, including infections and punctured
organs.
Promising results have emerged, showing efficacy of acupuncture, for example, in adult postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in postoperative dental pain. There are other situations -such as addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps.- in which acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive management program.
A practitioner should inform you about the estimated number of treatments needed and how much each will cost, the treatment may take place over a few days or for several weeks or more.
