Acupuncture: Alternative Medicine

Acupuncture is surprisingly one of the oldest healing practices in the world. The Chinese have been using it for thousands of years and it is considered a traditional type of medicine there. The goal of acupuncture is to first restore good health by stimulating certain points throughout the body and then to help the body maintain that health for the rest of a person’s life. Acupuncture is a combination of procedures that involve stimulating specific points throughout the body using a variety of techniques. The most common technique in the U.S. is the use of inserting hair-thin, metallic needles through the skin.

Unlike the Chinese, Americans consider acupuncture to be a fairly new type of medicine. It is categorized in the United States as a type of alternative medicine, which means it is not the common type of health care that is provided in hospitals. Studies are beginning to show that acupuncture is a consistent form of medicine that has few complications if it is practiced by a qualified practitioner. Studies have shown that back pain is the most common reason for the use of acupuncture in the United States. Research has also proven that acupuncture reduces nausea and vomiting after surgery and chemotherapy.

Some of the injuries that can be cause by the improper use of acupuncture include nerve injury, brain damage, strokes, pneumothorax, kidney damage, and the risk of terminating a pregnancy. The nerve injury can occur if a nerve is accidently punctured by a needle. The brain damage can occur if very deep needling occurs around the base of the skull. Most injuries that occur from the use of acupuncture are a result of deep needling in extremely sensitive areas. Kidney problems can arise from deep needling in the lower back. If used correctly, acupuncture is a a good way of improving health throughout a person’s lifetime. However, if used incorrectly, acupuncture can cause serious problems for a person and potentially be life threatening if a deep needling procedure goes wrong. This is why it is important to only allow acupuncture to be performed on yourself by a certified practitioner.