Acupuncture

obmar · Acupuncture

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/

Blue1moon

I never liked needles, and though I don't faint or freak, I was 40 before I got my ears pierced.

Fibromyalgia runs in my family. When it hit me, I knew from sis that acupuncture had helped her. I got myself right to the acupuncturist.

My M.D's treatments kept making me worse. In fact I think it was something I was prescribed that triggered it in the first place (though the tendency was clearly there - as both younger sisters had been so afflicted for years.)

I can't tell you what a difference acupuncture made - it gave me my life back (not cured, but functional).

And guess what? The needles are sooo tiny (not like a shot when needle needs to be hollow and big enough for liquid to pass through), that for the most part they are close to painless. With fifty needles stuck in me I would fall asleep most weeks. Amazing stuff, far fewer risks, then meds, surgery.... for so many illnesses.

obmar

Now they have needles that are wired. electrical current /pulse to energise points.

But though it is not painful the idea of having so many needles in you is not so nice unless you have no choice...

Blue1moon

I did not have a good experience with the electrified version - no thanks on that one. But then Fibro (especially in our family) seems to have some very weird electrical manifestations.

I did have a superb practitioner and who a real feel for it and understanding. Trained/experienced in both Japanese and Chinese acupuncture, as well as many other things: P.T., suction cups-cupping, nutrition, massage.... now I live far away and he has retired and moved further (sigh). I did find someone in Vermont that I see when needed.

Yes, I think most would probably wait until they were in dire need, and nothing else worked - and that is a shame, because it is amazing in big things and in small.

Blue1moon

Oh... and as far as the needles, you almost never feel them at all once they are in. I will say that Japanese acupuncture is much gentler, and almost pain free. The Chinese version tries to release a "zing" (chi, i think) which can be experienced as painful. So I would recommend starting with a Japanese practitioner or one who knows both.

Some of the acupuncture points cause relaxation, which is why one often falls asleep while the needles are in - the only thing is that if you have a lot of needles (I don't think this is necessary for everyone/illness) then you cannot obviously move around much. Usually pleasant, relaxing music is playing in background...

The Inquisitor

I've only had acupuncture done on me once, in Mexico. It was to treat a hangover and consisted of using the electrical method.

I about tossed not only my cookies, but everything connected to them as well.

Blue1moon

obmar

Cupping:

Cupping was a common treatment during the Middle Ages. With wet cupping, a small cut on the skin (usually on the back, but sometimes on the head or elsewhere) was made and a cupping glass created a suction to pull out a small amount of blood. With dry cupping, the glasses were applied to the skin with heat from a flame to make a vacuum in the glass. No cut was made in dry cupping. Ibn Sina, the famous doctor, recommended cupping at certain times of day and times of the year. Cupping was to draw inflammation away from deep parts to the surface and away from important organs, to take away pain, and to bring warmth and blood to an affected organ and take "humors" from it. Cups were applied for 10 to 15 minutes. [The Traditional Healer's Handbook - A Classic Guide to the Medicine of Avicenna, by Chishti, Healing Arts Press, Vermont 1988, page ]

"Whenever somebody came to Prophet Muhammad with complaints of headache, he directed him to undergo cupping and whosoever complained of pain in legs, was advised to apply Henna."
[Sahih al-Bukhari, abu Dawud]

Blue1moon

Thanks for the additional information on that, Obmar! I didn't know that much about it.

I had dry cupping then.

Heat was not used in creating the suction, and I think they were left on only a minute or two.

I had another related treatment - I forget the name - but it involved lighting a thick (cigar size) stick of ? and holding it very close to certain parts of the body. The smoke smelled so much like marijuana (but wasn't) that the acupuncturist had to hang a sign outside his office when using it, so as not to create a rucus! LOL

He gave me one to use at home, however, the smell must have triggered some kind of memory or brain thing, because I became so drowsy smelling it (which shouldn't have actually happened) that I was afraid I would burn myself, or light something on fire - nodding off. Needless to say I gave up that treatment at home.

In Vermont, my acupuncturist used something similar, but they were very tiny, needle like sticks that were attached to the body, lit, and allowed to burn down to the skin. Slightly painful, at times. Not sure how effective that was.

Blue1moon

Oh, and I forgot to mention that to me, the 'cupping' process actually felt good - I asked for increased suction! I could feel it drawing out the tense knots in shoulders. In fact, for first time in as long as I can remember, those knots are acutally gone. Just realized that a couple months ago - though last treatment was many months prior to that.

obmar

Acupressure

Acupressure is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) technique based on the same ideas as acupuncture. Acupressure involves placing physical pressure by hand, elbow, or with the aid of various devices on different acupuncture points on the surface of the body. Traditional Chinese Medicine does not usually operate within a scientific paradigm but some practioners make efforts to bring practices into an evidence-based medicine framework.

There is no scientific consensus over whether or not evidence supports efficacy of acupressure beyond a placebo. Reviews of existing clinical trials have been conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration and Bandolier according to the protocols of evidence-based medicine; for most conditions they have concluded a lack of effectiveness or lack of well-conducted clinical trials.

The points used may or may not be in the same area of the body as the targeted symptom. The TCM theory for the selection of such points and their effectiveness is that they work by stimulating the meridian system to bring about relief by rebalancing yin, yang and qi.

This theory is based on the paradigm of TCM, not that of science.An acupressure wristband that is claimed to relieve the symptoms of motion sickness and other forms of nausea is available. The band is designed to provide pressure to the P6 acupuncture point, a point that has been extensively investigated.

The Cochrane Collaboration, a group of evidence-based medicine (EBM) reviewers, reviewed the use of P6 for nausea and vomiting, and found it to be effective for reducing post-operative nausea, but not vomiting.

The Cochrane review included various means of stimulating P6, including acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, transcutaneous nerve stimulation, laser stimulation, acustimulation device and acupressure; it did not comment on whether one or more forms of stimulation were more effective. EBM reviewer Bandolier said that P6 acupressure in two studies showed 52% of patients with control having a success, compared with 75% with P6 acupressure. One author of an article published in the Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine disagreed.

A Cochrane Collaboration review found that massage provided some long-term benefit for low back pain, and said: It seems that acupressure or pressure point massage techniques provide more relief than classic (Swedish) massage, although more research is needed to confirm this.

Many East Asian martial arts also make extensive study and use of acupressure for self-defense and health purposes (chin na, tui na).

The points or combinations of points are said to be used to manipulate or incapacitate an opponent. Also, martial artists regularly massage their own acupressure points in routines to remove blockages from their own meridians, claiming to thereby enhance their circulation and flexibility and keeping the points "soft" or less vulnerable to an attack.

Attacking the acupressure points is one theme in the wuxia genre of movies and novels.

Reference

Luo Points

Luo Points is an acupuncture term referring to special points in the body that are believed to have greater significance. According to acupuncture theory, the points, twelve in all, are places where the body can be manipulated to greater effect when applying acupuncture or tui na techniques, and can be used to aid the circulation of qi so as to keep the body healthy.
Fire Cupping

Fire Cupping is a method of applying acupressure by creating a vacuum next to the patient's skin. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) it involves placing glass, plastic, or bamboo cups on the skin with a vacuum. The therapy is used to relieve what is called "stagnation" in TCM terms, and is used in the treatment of respiratory diseases such as the common cold, pneumonia, and bronchitis. Cupping is also used to treat back, neck, shoulder, and other musculoskeletal pain. Its advocates claim it has other applications as well. This technique, in varying forms, has also been found in the folk medicine of Vietnam, the Balkans and modern Greece, among other places.

Blue1moon

My acupuncturists have used acupressure as part of their treatment.

I had a lot of relief from symptoms with the combo of acupuncture/pressure and cupping.

rickyvogay

Hi..
Cool buddy.. i am looking for the information regarding it... its really help while you are tired...