Acupuncture is an ancient practice that has been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. It is a key component of traditional Chinese medicine and is most commonly used to treat pain. Increasingly, it's being used for overall well-being, including stress management. But how does acupuncture work? The concept behind acupuncture is that acupuncture points stimulate the central nervous system, releasing chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain.
These biochemical changes can boost the body's natural healing capacity and promote physical and emotional well-being. During an acupuncture treatment, the acupuncturist inserts very fine needles into specific points on the body. The needles can be manipulated manually or stimulated with small electrical currents (electroacupuncture). In recent decades, Western medicine has increasingly adopted acupuncture as a possible treatment for inflammation.
In contrast, many Western professionals view acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissue. While studies like this have been promising, more evidence is still needed to confirm that acupuncture is effective for carpal tunnel syndrome. There is evidence that acupuncture can help relieve symptoms of seasonal allergies, stress incontinence in women, and nausea and vomiting related to cancer treatment. A review of medical studies also suggests that acupuncture may increase the effectiveness of fertility treatments.
In two large studies, people receiving acupuncture were found to have tension headaches for fewer days than those receiving conventional care. Each person who performs acupuncture has a unique style, often combining aspects of Eastern and Western medicine approaches. The World Health Organization lists 28 different conditions that are sometimes treated with acupuncture. Ma is also interested in exploring other signaling pathways that acupuncture could stimulate to treat conditions that cause excessive inflammation.
They found that there are considerably more neurons in the forelimb muscles of the hind limbs than in the hind muscles, resulting in a stronger response to electroacupuncture in the anterior region. For example, according to studies, acupuncture needles that are placed in the outer ear to help people quit smoking don't work. Acupuncture is an ancient practice with a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. It involves inserting small needles to stimulate specific parts of the body and its neural network. While more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness for certain conditions, there is evidence that it can help relieve symptoms of seasonal allergies, stress incontinence in women, and nausea and vomiting related to cancer treatment.
