An ancient Chinese practice of piercing the body with needles with the intent of relieving pain or treating disease. An adjunctive therapy used in the treatment of chronic pain and other disorders, as well as in opioid detoxification.
Needles are inserted in the acupuncture points along the meridians running through the body to balance the flow of Qi (pronounced ‘chee’), which is the vital motivating energy.
The insertion of very fine needles into patterned areas of the body for the relief of pain.
A treatment based on needles being inserted through the skin into nerve centres in order to relieve pain or treat a disorder.
Method of producing analgesia or treating disease by inserting very thin needles into specific sites on the body along channels, called meridians, and twirling, energizing, or warming the needles.
A technique in which extremely thin needles are inserted into specific points on the body to treat or prevent illness. Acupuncture is an ancient form of traditional Chinese medicine that has been practiced for 3,000 years.
A traditional Chinese system of healing in which symptoms are relieved by thin metal needles inserted into selected points beneath the skin. The needles are stimulated either by rotation or, more recently, by an electric current. Recent hypotheses suggest that the needling activates deep sensory nerves, which cause the pituitary and midbrain to release ‘endorphins, the brain’s natural pain killers. Acupuncture is widely used in the Far East for the relief of pain and in China itself has become an alternative to anesthesia for some major operations. Acupuncturists in the West may be medically qualified but many are not.
An alternative or complementary therapy of Oriental origin in which fine needles are inserted in the body along “meridians” of the torso, carefully rotated, and then removed. Acupuncture is used for various purposes, such as treatment of various conditions, control of pain, and surgical anesthesia. Under some circumstances, the needles, when gold, are purposely broken off and left in the body permanently. A practitioner is called an acupuncturist.
A traditional Chinese method of healing by inserting thin needles into certain areas beneath the skin and rotating them. Its rationale is that disease is a manifestation of a disturbance of Yin and Yang energy in the body, and that acupuncture brings this energy back into balance by what is described as ‘the judicious stimulation or depression of the flow of energy in the various meridians’. What is still unclear to Western doctors is why needling, which is the essence of acupuncture, should have the effect it is claimed to have. One theory is that the technique stimulates deep sensory nerves, promoting the production of pain-relieving endorphins. Acupuncture is increasingly used in the West, by medically qualified doctors as well as other practitioners of complementary medicine. As long as proper sterilisation procedures are followed, the treatment is safe: two recent and extensive UK studies detected no serious adverse effects.
A technique for treating painful conditions, producing regional anesthesia, treating acute or chronic illness, or preventing future disease by passing thin needles through the skin into specific points on the body. The free ends of the needles are manually twirled, heated with burned mugwort (a technique called “moxa” or “moxibustion”), or connected to a weak electrical current. They are then typically left in place for about 20 minutes. Although in Asia and Europe acupuncture has a variety of uses, in the U.S. it is principally considered a treatment for local pain syndromes. It is often used in combination with other therapies, including but not limited to massage, meditation, and herbal remedies. Research suggests that acupuncture relieves pain by stimulating the release of endogenous opioids, other neurotransmitters including serotonin, and by directly affecting afferent nerve fibers. Acupuncture has also been found to be effective in veterinary applications. In the U.S., professional proficiency in acupuncture is attained by passing an examination administered by the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture.
A health care practice that originated in traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture involves inserting needles at specific points on the body, in the belief that this will help improve the flow of the body’s energy (or qi) and thereby help the body achieve and maintain health.
One of the oldest systems of therapy in the alternative medicine complex. Patients are treated by having needles stuck into their skin at designated acupuncture points and then twirled manually or agitated with the aid of a low frequency electrical current. The acupuncture points, called “meridians,” are claimed to lie along invisible energy channels that are said to be connected to internal organs, some of which are, in effect, nonexistent. The treatment is believed to manipulate and balance the body’s flow of “life energy” (called chi or qi) flowing through the channels. Many of these ancient systems share the conviction that all treatments have to adjust the imbalance of the body’s “vital force.”
Acupuncture is said to have been recognized in China more than 3,500 years ago when it was considered possible that soldiers who survived arrow wounds in battle were recovering from other long-standing ailments. The word “acupuncture” is a European term meaning to prick with a needle. It was coined by a Dutch physician who introduced the practice into Europe after a stay in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1683. In the early 19th century British doctors used the treatment for pain relief and fever. The first edition of the British medical journal The Lancet (1823) reported that it was successful in the treatment of rheumatism.
Chinese practice of insertion of needles into specific body locations to relieve pain, to induce anesthesia, and for therapeutic purposes.
The act of puncturing the body’s surface with slender needles, precisely positioned along the peripheral nerves’ routes, to stimulate surgical anesthesia, mollify discomfort, and encourage recuperation.
Acupuncture is a branch of Chinese medicine that involves the insertion of needles into a patient’s skin as a therapeutic approach for various disorders. It is commonly used to alleviate pain or induce anesthesia.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the body is traversed by pathways called meridians through which the life-force energy, known as chi, flows. It is believed that the occurrence of health issues is linked to blockages within these meridians. Acupuncturists endeavor to promote well-being by strategically inserting needles at specific points, referred to as acupuncture points, along the affected meridians in order to restore the smooth flow of chi and restore balance to the body.
Research findings indicate that acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins, which are natural pain-relieving substances resembling morphine, within the central nervous system. This mechanism of action contributes to the analgesic (pain-relieving) effects observed in acupuncture treatments.
The specific disorder being treated and the desired level of anesthesia determine various factors in acupuncture, such as the temperature of the needles, the location of insertion, whether the needles are stimulated through rotation or electric current, and the duration of needle retention. These factors are carefully considered and tailored to individualize the acupuncture treatment.
Acupuncture serves multiple purposes in the realm of healthcare. It can be employed as an anesthetic during surgical procedures, offering a unique alternative to conventional anesthesia. Furthermore, it is utilized to alleviate pain following surgical operations and for chronic conditions. Additionally, acupuncture is purported to be beneficial in the treatment of addiction, depression, and anxiety, providing potential therapeutic effects in these areas.
Following acupuncture treatment, certain individuals may temporarily experience a transient worsening of symptoms. Conversely, others may encounter sensations of lightheadedness, drowsiness, or even a sense of heightened well-being for a brief period. These post-treatment experiences can vary from person to person.
It is crucial to ensure that acupuncture procedures are conducted by fully qualified acupuncturists. This is because the use of improperly sterilized needles can pose a risk of transmitting various infections, including hepatitis B and HIV. By seeking treatment from qualified practitioners, patients can significantly minimize the potential risks associated with acupuncture and ensure their safety.
An ancient Chinese healing method involving the insertion of silver or gold needles into specific areas to create counterirritation and alleviate pain. In its contemporary resurgence, stainless steel needles are predominantly utilized, primarily for anesthesia purposes.