Acupuncture is a treatment which can relieve
symptoms of some physical and psychological conditions and may encourage
the patient's body to heal and repair itself, if it is able to do so.
Acupuncture stimulates the nerves in skin and
muscle, and can produce a variety of effects. We know that it increases
the body's release of natural painkillers - endorphin and serotonin - in
the pain pathways of both the spinal cord and the brain. This modifies
the way pain signals are received.
But acupuncture does much more than reduce
pain, and has a beneficial effect on health. Patients often notice an
improved sense of well-being after treatment.
Modern research shows that acupuncture can
affect most of the body's systems - the nervous system, muscle tone,
hormone outputs, circulation, antibody production and allergic
responses, as well as the respiratory, digestive, urinary, and
reproductive systems.
Each patient's case will be assessed by the
practitioner and treatment will be tailored to the individual; so it is
impossible to give more than a general idea of what treatment might
involve. Typically, fine needles are inserted through the skin and left
in position briefly, sometimes with manual or electrical stimulation.
The number of needles varies but may be only two or three. Treatment
might be once a week to begin with, then at longer intervals as the
condition responds. A typical course of treatment lasts 5 to 8 sessions.
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