Acupuncture

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Acupuncture needles are very different from hypodermic needles used for injections and inoculations. They are very fine and flexible and usually barely felt when inserted. Some people feel a slight pinch or prick as the needle pierces the skin. There are certain sensations associated with the therapeutic effects of acupuncture such as a feeling of heaviness, distention, tingling or electric sensations traveling along the meridian. If any discomfort is experienced, it is usually mild. Most people experience increased relaxation and often fall asleep during the treatment.

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), acupuncture is a helpful treatment for: 

• ear, nose, and throat disorders (such as toothaches, pain after tooth extraction, gingivitis, acute and chronic otitis, acute sinusitis, acute rhinitis, nasal catarrh, and acute tonsillitis. 
• respiratory disorders (such as asthma, bronchitis, coughs, colds and allergies). 
• gastrointestinal disorders (esophageal and cardio spasm, hiccup, acute and chronic gastritis, sour stomach, chronic duodenal ulcers, acute and chronic colonitis, acute bacillary dysentary, constipation, diarrhea, and intestinal blockage due to paralytic ileus). 
• eye disorders (acute conjunctivitis, central retinitis, nearsightedness in children, and cataracts without complications). 
• neurological and muscular disorders (headaches, migraines, trigeminal neuralgia, facial paralysis within first 3 to 6 months of onset, post-stroke paralysis, peripheral neuritis, neurological bladder dysfunction, bed wetting, intercostal neuralgia, cervical syndrome, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, sciatica, low back pain, and osteoarthritis. 

In addition, acupuncture has been used for centuries in China to treat a host of other problems, such as joint pain, sprains and strains, stress, skin problems, infertility, sexual dysfunction, PMS, and most gynecological complaints.  

The nature, severity, and history of each individual‘s complaint, as well as the individual, determine the number of treatments necessary. Between 5 to 15 treatments are generally adequate for the majority of chronic complaints. Many acute conditions may only require a single treatment and some degenerative conditions may require scores of treatments. The primary focus is on correcting the underlying cause of illness, thus producing a lasting cure. Symptoms can often be relieved in a relatively small number of treatments; however, the curing of the illness is a much longer process. 

Most people will find some benefit from regular treatments or seasonal tune-ups. Small children and people with bleeding disorders or a fear of needles may respond better to treatments that utilize bodywork techniques or herbal therapies.