Acupuncture for Pain Management

Acupuncture for Pain Management E genuinelyone at one prognosticate in his or her life has felt agony. Image if you had constant pain with no relieve in site. With stylostixis, relief is just a thin equip away. Scientists ar not ready to admit that acupuncture works in pain management. However, studies have shown that acupuncture can modifies the perception of pain and how it is processed by the school principal. Through neuro resource and genomics, scientists can see the changes in spite of appearance the brains pain center. They have observed molecular changes in the nervous and immune system.Acupuncture has very few side effects, compared to side effects that one might receive from a management that uses drugs. Overall, one could say that acupuncture is the better choice for pain management. Acupuncture is one of the oldest healing practices in the world. There is recorded evidence that it can be dated back to 200 B. C. Acupuncture is one of the discover components of the t raditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). (NCCAM1) It was widely used in China and Asian countries, until 1972 when acupuncture gained attention in the United States.In 1972, James Reston, a reporter traveling with President Nixon in China, had to undergo an emergency appendectomy. He was impressed with his post-operative pain relief consisting of acupuncture and upon his return to the United States, he wrote an phrase in the New York Times about his experience. Then in 1997, acupuncture was formally recognized as a mainstream medicine healing option. (UOMaryland) Acupuncture is depict as a system of healing where the patient is treated by insertion of extremely thin needles into their body at specific points.It is a belief of Chinese medicine that works off your bodys energy called qi, which can be described as ones life force, or energy. This energy flows through pathways called meridians and each meridian is attached to one organ or a group of organ to maintain proper flow of Qi. Whe n there is a blockage of energy, illness and pain can happen. Insertion of extremely thin acupuncture needles into the precise point within the meridian can sever balance and restore energy flow. nccam1) With classic Taoist philosophy, believes that illness is cause by imbalanced elements of yin and yang. Yin refers to material substance and yang is energy. When there is an imbalance between yin and yang, acupuncture helps restore balance. (Brit) All of our life we have been conditioned into believing that drugs and medication are the only relief for our aches, pains, and discomforts. Medication comes in two varieties, over the takings and prescription drugs. Over the counter drugs is what most people take for pain, rather than prescription drugs.The most common type of over the counter drugs is NSAIDs, around common names are Aleve, Ibuprofen, and Tylenol. To find out more about a drug and their side effects, you can look on line, read the package, or consult a physician desk r eference (PDR). Take Aleve for example it is for temporary relief of minor aches and pains and can temporary reduce a fever. Some common side effects are constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, gas, headache, heartburn, nausea, stomach upset and stuffy nose. Also listed on the PDR for consumers page online are some monstrous side effects for AleveSevere allergic reactions (rash hives itching trouble breathing tightness in the chest swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or saliva wheezing) bloody or black, tarry stools change in the amount of urine produced chest pain confusion dark urine depression fainting fast or irregular heartbeat fever, chills, or intractable sore throat loss of appetite mental or mood changes numbness of an arm or microscope stage one-sided weakness pale stools red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin ringing in the ears seizures severe headache or dizziness severe or persistent stomach pain or nausea severe vomiting shortness of breath sudden or unexp lained weight gain swelling of the hands, legs, or feet unusual bruising or bleeding unusual joint or muscle pain unusual tiredness or weakness vision or speech changes vomit that looks like coffee grounds yellowing of the skin or eyes. (drugs. com) Acupuncture works off ones own energy within the body to eliminate pain, without the major side effect that drugs can produce. How acupuncture works is not entirely clear, but technology has allowed scientists it uncover pathways in the brain that respond to acupuncture. The number of meridians varies, ranging from 14 to 20 with at least 2000 acupuncture points. nccam1) One theory of many, suggest that acupuncture stimulates the nerve fibers that transmit to the brain and spinal cord, which activates the bodys central nervous system. This in turn releases hormones that make us feel less pain and improve overall health. (uofmary) Researchers are apply genomic techniques to see what happens on a cellular level and the effects in the expr ession of genes involved in pain. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and megnetoencephalography (MEG) that are able to reveal areas of the brain that are affected during pain and show the impact of acupuncture. (nccam2) Dr. Vitaly Napadow, a Harvard medical exam School neuroscientist, and his colleagues performed a research con on patient with carpal tunnel syndrome.This study used fMRI before and after acupuncture demonstrated that the brain responded to acupuncture with greater activation in the hypothalamus region of the brain and deactivation in amygdala, located deep in the temporal lobe of the brain. These areas of the brain are connected with long-term memory, emotions, behavior and the living of persistent pain state. (nccam2) The FDA has had very few complications reported with the amount of people who receive acupuncture and the number of needles used. Some of the common side effects are minor bruising and forgotten needles. Fainting has also been repor ted as a side effect. With the use of single usage needle, infections are rare, but still a possibility. There are some but very rare cases of organ puncture. (AFP Article) Work Cited Unites States. Dept. of Heath and Human Services. Acupuncture An Introduction. NationalCenter For Complementary and substitute Medicine. Aug. 2011. Web. 11 Nov. 2011 United States. Dept. of Heath and Human Services. Acupuncture and Pain Applying Modern Science to an Ancient Practice. Feb. 2010. Web. 11 Nov. 2011 Rosted, Palle. Adverse Reactions after Acupuncture A Review. The Medical Acupuncture Web Page. Web. 12 Nov 2011. Williams, Craig. Modern Pain, Ancient Solutions. Acupuncture Today. Nov. 2011 Vol. 12, Issue 11. Web. 12 November 2011. Novella, Steven. Acupuncture Does Not Work for Back Pain. Science-Based Medicine. 13 May 2009. Web. 11 Nov. 2011. Novella, Steven. Does Acupuncture Work or Not. Neurologica Blog. 25 Sep. 2007. Web. 11 Nov. 2011.