Acupuncture As A Remedy for Back Pain
by: David A Griffiths
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| Acupuncture As A Remedy for Back Pain |
If you suffer from back pain you
probably would not consider acupuncture as a treatment until you have exhausted
many other alternatives. However, acupuncture is a type of ancient Chinese
medicine that's been around for over 2,500 years and throughout this time it
has been used for back pain relief, increasingly so in these modern times.
While it is not traditionally a
part of western medicine, nowadays your doctor is quite likely to send you for
this treatment if you are suffering from back or neck pain either persistantly
or due to accident or injury.
If you are going to have this
therapy you may want to know a little about how it works. The general belief is
that the body has 20 energy flow patterns called meridians or pathways. Through
these pathways it is thought that the life force or vital energy flows, this is
known as the qi (it is pronounced chee) and is considered to be essential to
maintain good health. There are over 2,000 points on our bodies that connect
with these pathways and it is at these points which the hair-thin needles are
inserted, this is done in varying specific combinations depending on the
treatment required. These actions are believed to either correct the flow of qi
or to reinforce it.
Even though it cannot be proven
that this works as a type of pain relief, it is thought that as a result the
central nervous system is stimulated. Most patients say that they get a pins
and needles sensation on the insertion of the needles and indeed into the
duration of the treatment, which usually lasts about 15 to 30 minutes. Some
people report that they feel energised or even very relaxed so it appears as if
the effect can be is somewhat different depending on the individual.
The acupuncturist will use up to
20 metallic needles during a treatment session and the depth they are inserted
is dependent upon the area, deeper muscular or fatty areas need more
penetration and the scalp for example would be just below the surface. The
practitioner may turn the needles one way or another depending on what they are
trying to achieve, in my personal experience they were turned on insertion,
then again about half way through the treatment. At no point is the treatment
painful, there is a mere sensation of the needles going in and they do not feel
sharp at all, this is because unlike needles used for injections, an
acupuncture needle’s tip
come to a smooth point without sharp edges. They are also very thin, about 20
times thinner than a hypodermic needle. In my experience the most troublesome
part of the treatment is lying in the same position without moving for up to 30
minutes, especially if you suffer from back pain or similar.
Although there are many medical
experts who believe acupuncture is an effective way to treat certain conditions
such as back pain, there is no true consensus. Some adhere to the theories of
qi and meridians whilst others attribute acupunctures benefits to the
biological changes that are brought about in the body as a result of treatment.
Needless to say there will always be the sceptics who deny that acupuncture has
any effect at all, but in my opinion if you are suffering from ongoing back
pain it is certainly worth trying.
from : http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_12508.shtml
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