The treatment of ailment with acupuncture was discovered approximately 2,000 years ago, in China. From that point on and up to today, it is still one of the most widely used medicines in the world and one of the oldest. This was not a very popular treatment method in North America, until around the 1970s. From that time, it basically took off there too, making it one of the most widely used practices in the United States and around the world. It is said that even dentists are getting into the fray now with acupuncture to relieve pain in their patients. Therefore, it is clear that there are many benefits to the old Chinese medicine. Considering this treatment is used for so many different purposes, it is clear to see why it is becoming so popular. It can be used to treat illness, pain, stiffness the list can go on. This treatment is relatively pain free, as most people say they feel no pain at all. The needles that are used for acupuncture are basically as thin as hair, and are made from steel. They fractioned uses a thin metal tube to align the needle to the location in which they want it to be placed and then they insert it through the needle into the skin.

The common idea of acupuncture is relatively new to Western society, as it is basically the manipulation of nerves and their endings to get a desired response. What this means is that if there is a pain in someone’s neck par say, the specialist can insert a needle in say your foot and relieve the pain. This may seem odd to some however, if you look at a chart of the human bodies nerve system and its mapping you can see that all nerves tend to follow paths that are all connected to each part of the body. If there is a nerve attached to the foot that is also running into the neck, the relief can be made by simple triggering the right nerve. Most people that have this sort of treatment claim that it is very relaxing and calming, considering the fact that these people do find relief in this treatment it is easy to see why they keep going back for more treatment. Many people now schedule a weekly session, and will not miss this appointment if at all possible. They claim that it has changed the quality of their lives and will not live without it.

If, for some reason, the people are fidgety or squirm on the table, there is a risk of the needle going in at the wrong angle, this will cause some discomfort to the patient at that time and could carry out for the rest of the day. Sometimes if there is a defective needle, like with a small barb at the end or it is bent slightly the same effects can be had. This is very rare however, as most specialists take great pride in their work and their tools of the trade. If you are interested in giving this a shot, speak with your doctor first and find out if they feel it may be right for you.

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But does acupuncture actually relieve migraine symptoms?  Although several studies have concluded that acupuncture is an effective migraine prevention strategy, nothing conclusive has yet been determined, though much research is available to suggest that it is effective for managing mild to moderate migraine attacks. How acupuncture treatment typically works is by inserting fine needles specific points on the body, which are then gently manipulated with the needles. This supposedly increases blood flow in the tissues.  This blood flow is called the axon reflex.  It works by dilating the blood vessels around the needle area, allowing for an increase circulation where blood flow had previously been poor.  This process is called stagnation and is considered to be a very good response for most chronic conditions for which one would seek acupuncture treatment, including migraine prevention. This is not the only method of using acupuncture to treat migraines, however.   Because the pain experienced during a migraine is associated with the dilation of cranial blood vessels, prompting the reaction described above by inserting needles into the head and neck might not be the best thing to do during a migraine episode.   In fact, it could worsen the pain and bring on nausea.  For that reason, some acupuncture practitioners try to reduce the amount of movement in the blood vessels in the head and neck during a migraine attack by restricting the acupuncture points to those on the arms and legs.  To avoid unnecessary dilation of the cranial vessels, therefore, the head and neck areas are rarely stimulated. In addition, rather than treating the patient in a prone position as would normally be done, this method of treatment is usually done with the patient sitting up because the blood vessels are can be better controlled when in a sitting position.  This greatly reduces the possibility of undesired dilation of the blood vessels following acupuncture.  Under some circumstances, a high frequency electrical current is sometimes connected to the acupuncture needles in order to help with constricting of vessels.    Of course, like most other treatments for migraine pain, acupuncture doesn’t come without its own side effects.  Unfortunately, when it comes to acupuncture, it’s less a question of side effects and more a question of side injuries.  Unlike the most common side effects of medication—nausea, vomiting, swelling, hives—when acupuncture goes bad it can be life threatening.  The most common serious injury associated with acupuncture involves the accidental puncture of the lung, which often results in a partial collapse of the lung.  In addition, one should also be aware of the dangers of infection.   The most common infection associated with acupuncture treatments is viral hepatitis, which can potentially develop into a serious infection of the liver.  Other possible side effects include bacterial infections developing locally at the site of needle insertion in the skin and elsewhere in the body.  Generally, side effects seem to relate to poor hygiene and training of the acupuncturist so make sure you see some qualifications of your acupuncturist and get some recommendations beforehand if possible. 

Throwing a money wrench into the whole idea, unfortunately, was a report sponsored by the Journal of the American Medical Association that claimed to find no available evidenced supporting the contention that acupuncture possesses any effectiveness in treating migraines.  Until other studies conclusively reach the same opinion, however, the decision on whether to seek treatment by sticking needles into your body remains between you and your pain threshold.

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