Interested in acupuncture? What form is right for you?
Acupuncture is a medicine that’s been used for thousands of years. This medical technique uses fine needles inserted into the body to relieve a variety of ailments. The benefits of acupuncture treatments include the relief of chronic pain, increased blood flow, mental clarity, and more. To give you an idea of how vast this tried-and-true medical treatment can be, we’re going to provide you with a quick guide to several different types of acupuncture that are available.
Body Acupuncture
Body acupuncture refers to the insertion of very fine steel needles into specific body points, each of which has a therapeutic effect. These points exist all throughout the body, from the tip of the head to the bottom of our toes. Depending on where these needles are inserted, this technique can treat a variety of medical, emotional, and mental conditions.
Auricular Acupuncture
Also known as “ear acupuncture,” this uses needles inserted into various points of the ear. The belief here is that different spots on a person’s ear correlate with specific organs, emotions, or senses. It can be used for a variety of issues, including chronic pain, anxiety, depression, allergies, substance abuse, insomnia, etc.
Electro-Acupuncture
Used in conjunction with body acupuncture, this involves a small electrical current being sent between two acupuncture needles. This current is slight, resulting in only a mild tingling sensation for the patient. This will often increase the effectiveness of the acupuncture and is particularly effective in relieving pain and restoring a better sense of well-being.
Japanese Acupuncture
Much of how we use acupuncture is derived from traditional Chinese medicine. Japanese acupuncture is very similar but uses slightly different techniques. For example, the needles are even finer than those used in Chinese acupuncture. They are also applied at the skin’s surface rather than deep within it.
Korean Hand Acupuncture
With this type of acupuncture, various points in a person’s hand correlate with parts of the body, making it very similar to auricular acupuncture. The hand is regarded as a complete microsystem where you can find 14 acupuncture meridians and 404 identified points. It can be done on its own, but often acts as a complementary treatment to others on this list.
Medical Acupuncture
The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture is comprised of allopathic and osteopathic physicians. Its sole purpose is to deliver authoritative, evidence-based research on integrating acupuncture with allopathic medicine. This basically comes into play when acupuncture has been recommended by a medical professional with specific treatment instructions.
Acupuncture and Moxibustion
An interesting augmentation of acupuncture that’s been popularized in recent years is called moxibustion. With this technique, an herb is attached to the top of an acupuncture needle and then lit. As the herb smolders, you’ll experience a safe, warming effect on the area where the needle has been inserted. This is commonly used to treat medical conditions of a cold nature.
Cupping and Acupuncture
Another popular augmentation is the use of cupping. With this technique, an acupuncturist creates a vacuum within a cup using a quickly extinguished flame. It brings blood to the surface of the skin, which is the result of increased blood flow.
Cupping is used to treat conditions where the flow of energy has been stagnated by internal or external forces. The therapist may also add an oil to your body during the procedure that will allow the cup to be moved around easily.
Acupressure
Many people are under the false misconception that acupressure is used in situations where a patient is scared of needles. While that might enter into it on rare occasions, the truth is that acupressure is an alternative technique that helps with the flow of energy. With certain conditions, the massage therapist who’s using acupressure may show their patient where to massage so they can do some of the therapy at home.
Bonus!
Veterinary Acupuncture
As you can probably figure out from the name, this is acupuncture that’s performed on animals. Many people are surprised to learn that this type of procedure even exists. But, in fact, it’s a respected medical field that requires formal certification and training. It uses the same concept, with needles being inserted by a veterinarian for the relief of ailments.
East West Healing Solutions offers different types of acupuncture
East West Healing Solutions uses all types of acupuncture depending on a patient’s specific needs. Our certified staff can use these techniques and others to improve your health and well-being. If you have questions or would like more information about our facility, call our incredible staff at (727) 216-3972 to schedule an appointment today!
