How Does Acupuncture Work?

Insomnia Acupuncture is a form of treatment that involves inserting very thin needles through a person’s skin at specific points on the body, to various depths. Research suggests that it can help relieve pain, and it is used for a wide range of other complaints. However, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), there is limited evidence for its effectiveness in areas other than pain. How acupuncture works scientifically remains unclear. Some people claim it works by balancing vital energy, while others believe it has a neurological effect. Acupuncture remains controversial among Western medical doctors and scientists.

Treatment Modalities

Cupping

Cupping is one of the oldest deep-tissue therapies available which dates to ancient China, Egyptian, and Middle Eastern cultures. They perform many different types of cupping. The most popular is the dry cupping/fire cupping which uses the fire and small glass cups on the acupuncture points or muscles. The cups are left on top of the acupuncture points for about 10 to 15 minutes. Gliding cupping is performed on the back mostly to break up adhesions and increase circulation, loosen muscles, and calm the nervous system. Cupping is often used to relieve any pain or stiff muscles, but it could also be used for diagnosis purposes. They recommend cupping for all initial patients for this reason. Cupping is safe, but you may get some bruises that could last up to a week.

Gua Sha

Gua sha is a massage technique designed to encourage lymphatic drainage or circulation using many different tools such as jade stone or ox’s horn. Depending on the tool and the depth of the scrapping different benefits can be achieved. When done on your body, it can promote soft-tissue mobilization, remove adhesions, or breakdown scar tissues. When gua sha is administered on the face it promotes a brighter complexion, reduces fine lines, and restores firmness and elasticity. They recommend gua sha for patients, mobility issues, patients with cellulite, or simply as an add-on service to the facial treatments.

Dry Needling

Sometimes known as intramuscular stimulation, dry needling is an invasive procedure in which a needle is inserted into the skin and muscle directly at a myofascial trigger point for patients with myofascial pain syndrome. A myofascial trigger point consists of multiple contraction knots, which are related to the production and maintenance of the pain cycle. Patients will be able to feel the ‘jumping sign’ or ‘twitching’s when the needles hit the trigger points.

An Acupuncture center Los Angeles will insert needles into a person’s body to balance their energy. This, it is claimed, can help boost wellbeing and may cure some illnesses. Conditions it is used for including different kinds of pain, such as headaches, blood pressure problems, and whooping cough, among others.

About This Author

Raah Acupuncture Joined: June 5th, 2020