Therapies... - Acupuncture - Ailments / Situations Where Used

Acupuncture is widely accepted as an effective healing method for pain management. This therapy can be used to tone muscle and improve circulation in sprained / strained / swollen muscles and joints resulting from injury. It is also commonly used to treat lower back pain, chronic pain, tennis elbow, and pain from kidney stones. By pressing various pressure points, muscle tension is relieved, muscle fibres relax and lengthen, blood flows more freely to the injury, and swelling is reduced. The pressure stimulation also promotes the release of neurotransmitters that inhibit the reception and transmission of pain.

Nausea related to anesthesia, cancer therapy, motion sickness, and pregnancy can all benefit from acupuncture by focusing on the P(C) 6 point on the wrist. Sea bands can also be used (see below).

Alcoholism, drug addiction, smoking dependency, and various forms of substance abuse (cocaine, heroin, et cetera) can all be treated with a special acupuncture technique. Your acupuncture practitioner will likely attach a very short, circular needle to a point on your ear. When you experience withdrawal symptoms, simply press this point and the craving will subside. Acupuncture also makes for an excellent complement to any substance abuse detoxification program.

Arthritis, asthma, and depression respond favourably to acupuncture, as acupoint stimulation triggers the release of the neurochemicals serotonin and cortisol. Serotonin promotes a general feeling of well-being, while cortisol helps reduce inflammation.

Acupuncture also promotes general hormonal balance and increases white blood cell count. Many people also respond well to acupuncture when dealing with allergies, dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps), headaches, migraines, premenstrual syndrome, or stress. Weight loss is often a "fringe benefit" of acupuncture treatments.

Sea bands are elastic wrist straps that contain a small bump designed to apply continuous pressure to the P(C) 6 point on the wrist. The bands are most popular with sailors to combat sea sickness and pregnant women dealing with morning sickness. For more information on pressure-related acupuncture techniques, see Acupressure.