What is Acupuncture?

The technique that involves inserting hair-thin acupuncture needles up to various depths in the skin in order to relieve pain is known as acupuncture. Treated through acupuncture are weight loss, sinus headaches, asthma and eczema, and to help people who want to quit smoking.

Using Acupuncture Needles For Treatment

Series of weekly treatments are involved in the therapy and including in each visit are exam and assessment of patient’s current condition, then subsequently is the insertion of acupuncture needles, with each session lasting almost 30 minutes.

Along the course, patient might feel a sharp but mild pain when needles are inserted giving a deep aching sensation when needle reached the correct depth but the procedure is not that painful.

Kinds Of Acupuncture Filaments

Available extensive range of acupuncture needles to include are tube copper needle, with tube extra long copper needle, without tube copper needle, spiral handle needle, golden coated needle, right hand needle, steel handle needle, Nickel-coated needle, aluminum handle needle and flat handle needle.

Since they are very thin and quite flexible, stainless steel needles are what most of the practitioners prefer to use. These not reusable needles are just inserted a little bit.

Doing Acupuncture With No Needles

Certain interconnected points, known as meridians, throughout the body are stimulated by applying acupuncture. What positively respond to stimulation resulting to relief of pain and overall sense of well-being are the limbs, organs including these meridians.

Acupuncture Treatments for Smoking

I am frequently asked if acupuncture can help with smoking cessation. The answer is a qualified “Yes.”

I have found that acupuncture can be very helpful with the cravings experienced when trying to quit. The calming effect and increased lung function can be immediate. Chinese herbal medicine formulas can also help with the anxiousness and irritability that many people experience.

The core treatment I use is the stimulation of points in the ears, which is known as auriculotherapy. Auriculotherapy can be prolonged by applying semi-permanent needles (they look like tiny stud earrings, but don’t go all the way through) or non-penetrating magnets to the points in the ears. This can be a real advantage and greatly increase the likelihood of success.

If I use the semi-permanent approach, I find I only need to treat a motivated smoker once or twice. Some acupuncturists offer a flexible series of treatments for a fixed price. This can also be a good way to go – it ensures a patient can come in as needed during the critical first couple of weeks.

I dislike the idea of using nicotine patches or gum. However, using negative reinforcement and/or relaxation techniques can be a big help in altering the mental and social aspects of the addiction. Combined with acupuncture, they can be enough to help you make the fabulous change into a non-smoker.

Acupuncture To Cure Fertility

Because they are used as aides to fertility, there are many questions which surround acupuncture and IVF. Some studies have found that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for certain types of infertility. Knowing which types of fertility apply in this regard and which do not is the first step in understanding the use of this treatment for IVF.

Acupuncture is not a one-time cure for any ailment. Acupuncture is usually not a treatment that is used by itself. Along with acupuncture, one is usually given herbal treatment. One should consult with their doctor before taking any recommended herbs in case there are contraindications with any other medications being used.

After a woman is pregnant, there are certain points that should not be stimulated by acupuncture. Any herbal treatments being used should be reassessed once the woman is with child, as well.

There are good reasons why many women consider both acupuncture and IVF. Before IVF, acupuncture is often used to treat fertility conditions including spasmed tubes which are seen to be reduced with the application of acupuncture. Acupuncture is also used to treat unexplained infertility and sometimes to treat infertility in the male partner.

Acupuncture will not treat certain types of fertility conditions. Blocked tubes, for instance, will not respond to acupuncture. Acupuncture and IVF are both types of medical intervention that require a solid professional. In most states, one needs to have an active license to work as an acupuncturist. Be certain any practitioner used has such certification and that they have expertise in treating pregnancy and fertility issues before engaging their services.