Types of Acupuncture |
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There are several different types of acupuncture in practice in nowadays. Whichever you settle with, they are all intended to do the same thing and that’s to treat diseases or relieve pain.
The first is called TCM (Traditional Chinese medicine) based acupuncture. In this type of acupuncture the 8 principles of complementary opposites are used to create harmony in the body. These opposites include yin/yang, excess/deficiency, internal/external or hot/cold. The next type is called French energetic acupuncture and it’s often used by MD acupuncturists. Here meridian patterns are emphasized, in particular the yin-yang pairs of primary meridians. The Korean hand acupuncture is another form of acupuncture. In this the practitioners believe that both hands and feet have larger concentrations of qi, and that applying the thin acupuncture needles to these areas as an beneficial effect for the entire body. There is also the auricular acupuncture type where the ear is thought of as a microcosm of the whole body. What this means is that the acupuncture needles are placed on certain points on the ear for the treatment of certain addiction disorders. The myofascial-based acupuncture is most often used by physical therapists as it involves feeling the meridian lines searching for tender points before the application of the needles as this is where abnormal energy flows are found. In the Japanese styles of acupuncture referred to as "meridian therapy", there is the tendency to highlight the needling technique and feeling meridians in diagnosis. Today even impulses of electromagnetic energy are also being used as our body generates tiny electrical discharges which in turn influence the function, growth and maturity of certain cell types. By inserting the needles in these areas and stimulating, it alters the neurotransmitters in the body thus making the patient feel better after the treatment. This procedure is also sometimes used for diagnosis and testing. There are even forms of acupuncture that don’t use needles. For example sonopuncture, uses an ultrasound device that transmits sound waves to the points in the body to treat a patient. Some practitioners even use tuning forks or other vibration devices. Acupressure is another needle free form of acupuncture. Here, the professional will use only their hands to relieve the patient’s pain. This technique can be used on its own or combined with other manual healing techniques. The number of treatments needed depends mainly on the patient’s condition. But on average this could be anywhere from 5 to 10 treatments and 2 to 3 times a week. How much these will cost also varies and this could range from $40 to $150. Today some HMO’s and insurance companies cover that cost in total or partially so you should check if this is included in your policy. Anyone can try acupuncture treatments to relieve pain or prevent one but many practitioners will decline to see women during pregnancy, but if it’s already started, it’s generally safe to do so until the child is born. In some case the acupuncturist may ask you to take in some herbs as part of the treatment. Since you’ll have no idea what these can do, it’s better to check first with your doctor to make sure it is safe as these herbs could interact with some of the drugs you are taking causing negative side effects. So which type of acupuncture should one try? That’s up to you, as all of them are effective so discuss it with your doctor and do some research, so that you know what you are getting yourself into. Each of these techniques is painless so just relax and let the professionals do the rest. Just like in conventional medicine, we can’t expect an improvement overnight as this takes time so you must keep an open mind. |
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