Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine involving the insertion of solid acupuncture needles into the skin at specific points on the body to achieve a therapeutic effect. No drug is injected through the needle. The needles alone create the beneficial effects of acupuncture by restoring the harmony within a person’s body.
Acupuncture is used to achieve natural healing, reduce or relieve pain, and improve the function of affected areas of the body. It is safe and effective and is often successfully used as an alternative to medications or even surgery. Relief is often obtained with acupuncture when traditional medicine therapy has failed.
Acupuncture needles are “atraumatic”, meaning that they do NOT have a cutting edge like a hypodermic needle, which slices through tissue. Their design allows acupuncture needles to slide through the skin smoothly, and makes them unlikely to cause bleeding or damage to the underlying tissues.
Acupuncture points (also referred to as “acupoints”) are places on the skin that have a lower resistance to the passage of electricity than the surrounding skin and are part of a network of points that were mapped centuries ago by the Chinese. Most are found along “meridians” or “channels” that are believed to be the pathways by which energy or Qi (pronounced “Chee”) flows through the body. Your physiotherapist will educate you on the relevance of the acupoints selected for your treatment program.
The needles are left in place for 15-30 minutes, and the practitioner may manipulate the needles to strengthen or reduce the flow of Qi. Lifting, tapping, twisting, and rotating are some of the needling techniques your physiotherapist may use.
Other related techniques:
Electro-acupuncture – needles are electrically stimulated by a battery-powered machine using wires with small clips on the ends.
Auricular acupuncture – the ear is a “micro system”, meaning that there is a point on the ear that represents every part of the body. This techniques makes use of tiny needles or “ear buds”.