Acupuncture is a complementary therapy that was developed
by the Chinese almost 5,000 years ago. It means when needles
are inserted into the skin at specific points.
How does it Work?
Acupuncture was highly regarded
as an effective therapy by the ancient Chinese, as they believed
that by inserting needles into the skin, the needle point
unblocked pathways called ‘meridians’, these pathways
channel the natural energy of the body and when the pathways
become blocked they cause pain.
Medical practitioners believe
that by inserting needles into the skin, the puncture point
stimulates neurological processes which trigger the release
of chemicals from the brain and spinal cord, that help in
the reduction of pain.
Although 2% of the population
of the United Kingdom use acupuncture annually, the results
of how efficient it is have been found to be quite uncertain.
This makes its scientific quality extremely difficult to measure,
therefore difficult to recommend as a treatment. There are
many variables to remember when trying to measure the success
of a treatment.
The patient’s expectations
of it working, the incidence of needle-phobia, the levels
of pain experience by patients and the availability of tools
available for measuring pain.
There have been findings that
show acupuncture can help to reduce pain and allow periods
of increased physical activity for up to three months for
those people who suffer from chronic back pain.
For these patients, it is a very cost-effective treatment
as it is a pretty fast, straightforward and inexpensive procedure
which also lessens the need for other painkilling treatments.
There is however, no sign
of it being a successful treatment for those suffering from
acute back pain. In any condition, acupuncture only treats
the symptoms of back pain, not the underlying cause.
Risks
The same risks apply to all
needles, all equipment should be for single-patient use, always
kept in sterile packaging, and used in a controlled and sterile
field so as to reduce the risks of hepatitis, HIV and other
infections.
As long as this standard is
met, it is quite a safe treatment, with other less serious
side-effects such as dizziness and nausea. Make sure that
you are well supported and cannot fall when receiving acupuncture.
Who Performs Acupuncture?
Sadly there is no governing
body or government legislation concerning the practice of
acupuncture, which means anyone can set themselves up as an
acupuncturist without having to complete any training. Not
only is this unsafe, serious diseases such as cancer could
also go undiagnosed, and there are no guidelines on price
or whether the equipment will be of a high and sterile condition.
Always check the qualifications
of your practitioner and ask for references. It is possibly
for the best to avoid practitioners who advertise in local
papers, on leaflets or at fairs and exhibitions as these may
be unlikely to have any medical knowledge.
The safest option is to ask
for a recommendation from your GP, there may be an acupuncturist
who may actually be able to perform the treatment in the surgery.
The British Acupuncture Council,
although it is not an official body, it has 1,700 members
and speaks in favour for the completion of a thorough training
programme, and is working with the British Medical Association
into making acupuncture available to all patients and in every
clinic; at the moment it is offered in 85% of pain clinics.
Costs
With acupuncture becoming
more and more available within the NHS, the need to seek private
consultation is lessening. If a sufferer does decide on private
treatment, costs vary for each patient as multiple sessions
are usually required, which last from just a few sessions
to a treatment plan that continues over several weeks.
A typical session normally
costs around £30-£40, though a medical physician
may be able to charge a higher fee than a non-medical acupuncturist.
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