How electro acupuncture is performed

Acupuncture is often regarded as the oldest form of alternative medicine.  Over time, this treatment has evolved and presently, it is normal to see it practiced in many other ways. One such therapy is electro acupuncture. The basic principle of stimulating certain acupuncture points remains unchanged over the years since needles are inserted on specific points in the body. Acupuncture needles, which are most often not coated, are attached to a electrical medical device that produces electric pulses which are transferred via small clips. The intensity and frequency of the impulse will largely depend on the condition being treated. Two needles are normally used at a time so that an impulse can pass from one needle to another.

The flexibility of the procedure

When administering this particular therapy, a practitioner does not really have to be precise with the insertion of the needles for the simple reason that the current passing through the needle does stimulate a larger area than the needle itself. Also, electro acupuncture can be administered without the use of needles. Normally, electrodes are taped to the surface of the skin. This is useful because it accommodates people with fear of needles and can be used by people with a condition that prohibits needling. In essence, the device will normally identify points of low resistance and then send electrical impulses to them. Actually, this procedure works through the release of endogenous opiates – often called the “feel-good chemicals – into the brain. Most importantly, electro acupuncture is literally painless.

Conditions that electro acupuncture treats

This therapy has been said to be most effective for pain that is extremely sharp. It has previously been used as a form of anesthesia besides being a treatment for neurological disorders and skin conditions such as acne and renal colic. Nausea caused by cancer medications can also be treated in this way. Through the activation of the endorphin system, the electrical stimulation of the acupuncture points leads to the lowering of blood pressure as well as a reduction of the risk of heart disease. Stroke victims with paralysis on one side as well as patients with Bell’s palsy and multiple sclerosis will find this treatment really useful. There are no major side effects, though it is common to experience some tingling sensation during treatment due to the electric current. With the needles hitting small blood vessels, some bruising or bleeding may at times occur.

 The potential risks

Most people tend to worry about an electric shock but fortunately, this is an extremely safe technique. To begin with, it is important that would-be patients seek to divulge as much information as possible as well as request for clarification from the acupuncturist as a way of averting any potential risks. Patients with a history of seizures, heart diseases or epilepsy, just to name a few, should not undergo electro acupuncture. The electrical impulses used during electrical stimulation are normally weak but nonetheless, it is also important to avoid running current across any medically implanted devices like joints, screws or pacemakers. The therapy should also not be performed on a patient’s head or throat or over the heart. It is also recommended that when acupuncture needles are connected to a suitable electrical current, the current should not be made to travel across the midline of the human body.