Acupuncture: This is how the needles work and help

acupuncture-this-is-how-the-needles-work-and-help

Acupuncture is an alternative medical treatment method and method of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Metal needles are placed at specific points, so-called acupuncture points, in the skin or in deeper tissue layers. Their effectiveness in certain diseases has been scientifically proven.

The acupuncture belongs to the herbal medicine as well as special massage techniques, movement exercises and dietary guidelines to the main treatment methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine, in short TCM . The term acupuncture comes from the Latin and means something like “Nadelstechen” (acus = needle, pungere = sting). In the natural healing process, metal needles are inserted at specific points, so-called acupuncture points, into the skin or into deeper tissue layers.

The concept of acupuncture

The concept of TCM – and thus acupuncture – is based on the “qi” (spoken: chi), which translates as “life force” or “universal power” means. Accordingly, the life energy flows through the body in special paths. The 14 meridians will each be assigned specific organ functions. Along the meridians there are more than 350 acupuncture points that can influence the “qi”.

In healthy people, this vital energy flows through the meridians evenly. In the case of diseases or disorders of bodily functions, the flow of energy is disturbed, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Targeted stimulation of the acupuncture points should restore the balance of the energy flow. For this purpose, sterile acupuncture needles are inserted into the points on the skin. By stimulating the points, the body should be stimulated to normalize the flow of energy, which can overcome diseases.

Different forms of acupuncture

In addition to the classic needle acupuncture, there are other forms of acupuncture, which work on the same principle, in which the irritation of the acupuncture points, however, takes place in different ways. For example:

  • the acupuncture by heat stimulation ( Moxibustion )
  • the electroacupuncture
  • the laser acupuncture
  • the ear acupuncture.

How acupuncture works

Acupuncture is generally considered to be a regulative procedure, the use of which is useful in disturbed functions. In these cases, the acupuncture stimulus should set in motion impaired or blocked body reactions and improve self-healing .

According to the understanding of TCM, the most varied body regions and organ systems can be affected by the disturbances of the energy flow and corresponding malfunctions. The field of application of acupuncture is correspondingly broad. In Western countries, acupuncture is mainly used as an adjunct to conventional treatments. Most commonly, it is used to relieve pain, for example in head, back, joint or nerve pain.

That’s what conventional medicine says about acupuncture

Although the traditional understanding of the effects of acupuncture, the existence of the vital energy “Qi” and the meridians can not be proven by modern scientific methods, various studies have shown that acupuncture is effective especially for the treatment of pain, but also in other indications is.

When do health insurances pay the costs of acupuncture?

Since 2007, acupuncture belongs to the range of services of the statutory health insurance companies. However, it is only reimbursed for the treatment of chronic back pain and knee pain in gonarthrosis. In both indications, acupuncture has been shown to be equivalent or even superior in studies to conventional treatments (medications, physiotherapy).

Patients with these complaints are entitled to up to 10 acupuncture sessions per year without special request, and further sessions may be possible on request. Prerequisite for the reimbursement is that the acupuncturist is a certified acupuncture doctor who meets the strict training criteria. From private funds acupuncture is sometimes taken over in other indications.

Acupuncture not only at the doctor

Doctors of various disciplines, naturopaths and midwives often offer acupuncture in their range of services. In any case, the acupuncturist should have an appropriately certified education and have enough routine. On the website of the German Academy of Acupuncture eV can be searched for experienced doctors with acupuncture training.

While alternative practitioners offer acupuncture for a wide range of ailments and usually take a holistic approach to alleviating ailments, physicians are often specialized in the treatment of specific illnesses or symptoms, depending on their specialty. Before opting for acupuncture as a cure, it is generally advisable to have the causes of the complaints clarified by a doctor. The same applies if symptoms persist permanently or worsen for no apparent reason.

Application areas of acupuncture

Basically, there are numerous diseases and symptoms in which the acupuncture is used. Especially with chronic pain such as back pain, a herniated disc or migraine , the use of acupuncture is popular. Even with allergies such as hay fever acupuncture is used as an adjunctive therapy.

While proofs of efficacy of acupuncture, which are proven for some application areas by studies, are available, such evidence is still pending in other cases or studies have yielded negative results. The effectiveness of acupuncture treatment has been proven especially in the following indications:

  • Pain disorders such as back pain, knee pain, tension and chronic headache , pain in the temporomandibular joint, pain after surgery
  • Tiredness and vomiting

Unsecured effectiveness

In addition, acupuncture can bring positive results in many other conditions, although the efficacy of treatment has not been conclusively proven in studies. This includes:

  • Menopausal
  • Prostate cancer and breast cancer
  • Erectile Dysfunction
  • Restless Legs Syndorm
  • Stroke rehabilitation
  • facial paralysis
  • Joint rheumatism
  • smoking cessation
  • Drug addiction (opiates, cocaine)
  • weight loss
  • neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea)
  • Diseases of the ear, nose and throat, such as tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
  • Inflammation and pain on teeth, tooth nerve and gums
  • Sleep disorders , anxiety, nervous restlessness
  • Irritable bladder with uncontrolled urine output

Acupuncture can also help with certain ailments during and after pregnancy (vomiting, nausea , hemorrhoids , back pain), and the needles can help prepare and facilitate childbirth . Influencing the position of the unborn child in the womb is also possible through acupuncture during pregnancy. After birth, pain in the puerperium, for example, by episiotomy or caesarean section reduce.

Whether acupuncture could help with these indications in individual cases should be clarified after consultation with the attending physician.

When is the acupuncture ineffective?

The acupuncture has proven to be ineffective as anesthesia method during operations. It is therefore no longer used for this purpose.

This is how an acupuncture treatment works

The acupuncture treatment is preceded by a thorough diagnosis. In addition to the dysfunction of the diseased organ, individual aspects of the patient’s medical history and personality factors are examined, and certain acupuncture points are then selected. The treatment is usually done in a quiet room in a relaxed position, either lying down or sitting down.

Classic needle acupuncture

Depending on the procedure and area of ​​the skin, acupuncture needles are either superficially inserted into the skin, into the subcutaneous tissue or sometimes also into deeper tissue layers (for example, on the buttocks) in the conventional classical acupuncture acupuncture. To stimulate the acupuncture points, the acupuncturist can easily rotate, lift, lower, or tap the needles. Normally, piercing the acupuncture needles causes little or no pain .

Acupuncture needles are disposable needles , which are packed sterile before use – ie germ-free. The ultra-fine needles are usually made of stainless steel and can vary greatly in length depending on the application. In order to make the puncture as painless as possible, acupuncture needles are also provided with a special bevel and usually also coated.

In most cases between four and ten needles are placed per treatment, but a different number is possible. In the area of ​​the puncture sites, patients often experience a tingling sensation, a feeling of warmth, cold or pressure, or the feeling of heaviness or numbness. This is called De-Qi-feeling and understood as an expression of effectiveness.

In the classical acupuncture acupuncture takes a session about 20 to 30 minutes , during which the patient should rest and relax. After removing the needles, the patient should sit up slowly.

As a rule, there are ten, with chronic complaints also up to 20 treatments necessary, which take place around once or three times a week. In each session, different sting techniques and acupuncture points can be selected, depending on how the symptoms develop. Sometimes permanent needles are set, which remain for a few days.

Special forms of acupuncture

Moxibustion:

Some acupuncturists use additional warming stimuli in certain indications to stimulate the acupuncture points. For this purpose, for example, small cones of mugwort fibers (Moxa) are applied to the needle tips and burned. Derived from this, this process is called moxibustion. Instead of the acupuncture needles, moxa cones or so-called moxa cigars for heat stimulation at the acupuncture points can also be applied directly to the skin.

Detailed information on Moxa Therapy can be read here.

Electroacupuncture:

The electroacupuncture corresponds in principle to the usual acupuncture with needles. However, in order to achieve a stronger stimulation of the points, one lets in addition a weak current flow over the pierced needles. Patients feel a slight tingling in the skin, they may also perceive minor muscle twitching. Electroacupuncture is particularly suitable for chronic back pain or other chronic musculoskeletal disorders. However, electroacupuncture is comparatively rarely used in Germany.

Laser acupuncture:

Another special procedure is laser acupuncture. In this variant, the stimulation of the acupuncture points is completely painless, that is without the use of needles. Instead, one uses a laser beam, which is held on the points to be excited. In contrast to natural light, the laser light has a high energy density – the prerequisite to stimulate the acupuncture points. However, the intensity of the laser is so low that there is no danger to the skin (such as burns). Laser acupuncture is a good alternative when treating children with acupuncture, as treatment with needles is difficult in young children.

The acupuncture on the ear was already practiced in ancient China. Today’s needles on the pinna has the French doctor. Paul Nogier founds and researches. The basis of the ear acupuncture is the idea that the entire body is projected onto the pinna at certain points.

It is possible to imagine the position of the individual organs as if the shape of an upside-down human being in embryonic position were depicted on the auricle. That is, at the upper outer edge of the ear are, for example, points that are related to the feet, the inner turn of the auricle corresponds to the spine, while the innermost furrow represents the projection surface of the organs.

Other forms of acupuncture such as craniofacial, nose, throat, mouth and jaw acupuncture as well as foot reflexology are based on the same ideas .

The duration of ear acupuncture varies according to the indication. In chronic pain, for example, so-called permanent needles are frequently used . In contrast to the usual acupuncture sessions, which last about 20 to 30 minutes, the permanent needles remain on the ear for three to seven days. To avoid injury, the acupuncturist covers the needles with a patch for this period.

Ear acupuncture is especially useful for chronic musculoskeletal pain such as back pain. The ear acupuncture can also provide good support for smoking cessation and weight loss. As a rule, the treatment comprises about two to five sessions, often the ear acupuncture is combined with the “needles” of other body regions.

Side effects of acupuncture

Overall, acupuncture is a very low-side-effect method , especially when used properly. It should therefore only be done by appropriately qualified acupuncturists or certified acupuncture physicians.

However, there are some side effects that are, in most cases, temporary and harmless.

Acupuncture may cause pain at the site of injection , minor bleeding or bruising (hematoma). Also infections at the injection site are possible. Therefore, the sterility of the acupuncture needles must always be ensured in order to minimize the risk of infections and to rule out transmission of infectious diseases such as HIV or hepatitis. In Germany, therefore, only disposable needles are used.

Aggravation

As a result of acupuncture, there may be a so-called first aggravation, the patient noticed, especially in the first hours or on the first day after treatment, a significant, temporary worsening of the symptoms treated .

In people with low circulation or mentally ill people, treatment can sometimes trigger a fainting or fainting. However, this happens very rarely, especially if the treatment is done while lying down.

Tiredness and sore muscles

Patients often experience increased fatigue after treatment , which may affect responsiveness and driving ability. On the day after acupuncture, it can also cause muscle hangover-like pain, not only on the needled body regions.

In rare cases, improper use of acupuncture, larger blood vessels or organs can be injured. The acupuncturist must be especially careful when needling the thorax and trunk to avoid injury to the lungs, heart, nerves and spinal cord.

If the current is set too high in electroacupuncture , this can lead to circulatory collapse or cardiac arrhythmia . The setting of permanent needles on the ear sometimes causes inflammation of the auricular cartilage.

Acupuncture in pregnancy

Pregnant women are advised against acupuncture treatment of the back and abdomen, which may cause labor . Other acupuncture treatments such as acupuncture for birth preparation and for the treatment of nausea and vomiting can basically be done.

When to refrain from acupuncture

As with most treatments, there are contraindications for acupuncture where the procedure should not be used. The contraindications of acupuncture include, for example:

  • severe neurological disorders
  • severe mental illness
  • Diseases in which perception and pain on the skin are impaired. This can happen with diabetes ( diabetes mellitus)
  • Blood coagulation disorders or the use of anticoagulant drugs (risk of hard to stop bleeding through acupuncture)
  • Skin inflammation and diseases affecting the areas with the acupuncture points to be treated
  • increased risk of infiltration of bacteria into the blood (bacteraemia), such as in bladder catheters or existence of purulent disease

The first three months of pregnancy are also often considered contraindications since acupuncture may cause labor. Exception: The treatment is used to treat nausea. Patients with epilepsy, patients with cardiac pacemakers, cardiac arrhythmia, shock or fever should not receive electroacupuncture .

The moxibustion (needles and burning) is not suitable for the treatment of the face, head and mucous membranes.

Generally with caution apply any forms of acupuncture with unknown cause of the complaints. In addition, acupuncture should not be carried out alone, but as a concomitant of conventional therapy, when a more effective or better documented conventional therapy is available.