What pains can be treated with acupuncture?
Acupuncture has proven to be very effective for the treatment of pain in different aspects according to the World Health Organization and published in scientific journals of impact. At the head of this group of pains are headache and migraine, acts positively, studies show it, joint and muscle pain, back pain is a very important chapter, cervical and lumbar, shoulder pain, elbow pain and tennis elbow. Another important section would be neuralgic pain and post-surgical pain. It is also important to highlight visceral functional pathology, for example gastralgia or dysmenorrhea. Acupuncture is also very effective in the pain of childbirth and a really interesting section would be the analgesia and dental anesthesia, the pain that have to do with putting an implant. And finally highlight the role of acupuncture in the treatment of cancer pain by alleviating the side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in patients.
What does the treatment consist of, is it painful?
Acupuncture treatment basically consists of the insertion of very fine needles in the points called acupuncture points. These points were described within 12 meridians and approximately 360 points are known within the meridian and 80 outside the meridian that are considered extraordinary points. The insertion of this needle does not produce any pain in the patient, if done well, and produces a sensation called chi. This sensation runs along the arm or leg, where the insertion of the needles has been made, and produces a sensation of heaviness or numbness, in some cases. The needles are left in for a variable time of between 15 and 20 minutes and after this time the needles are removed and the patient is left with a feeling of tranquility, an absence of pain and freed from this weight that has brought him/her to the consultation.
How many sessions are necessary?
The sessions are very variable and will depend on the patient’s pathology. An acute injury can be cured in 3 – 4 sessions and a chronic pathology will need more sessions, so we agree with the patient and as long as the result is positive, he/she leaves the treatment already cured.