Related Procedures of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine that has been utilized as a method of natural healing for centuries and it is gaining more and more appeal in the Western world. Acupuncture is concerned with balancing the yin and yang in the body. It is believed that correcting this imbalance can help rid a person of illness and disease. Acupuncture also places tremendous emphasis on qi, which is an energy force that is evident in the human body and nature as a whole.

Acupuncture has been shown to work and there are other related procedures that are offshoots of the practice. For example, electro-acupuncture is commonly used for pain relief or the prevention of pain all together. Electro-acupuncture, as the name implies, involves the use of very tiny electrical impulses that are introduced into the body by way of acupuncture needles. The power used is approximately a few micro amperes however the current's frequency can vary anywhere from 5 to 2,000 Hz. General pain relief tends to use lower frequencies while the higher ones are saved for surgery (such as abdominal surgeries). The first documented use of electro-acupuncture that was deemed a success was in 1958 when it was used for a tonsillectomy that was performed in China. In China it is very common for electro-acupuncture to be used as a method of surgical analgesia. Two other common procedures are sonopuncture (which is acupuncture using sound weaves and lasers) and ear acupuncture (otherwise known as auriculotherapy).

Moxibustion is another related procedure of acupuncture and this is defined as "the "treatment of diseases by applying heat to Acupuncture points." Acupuncture and moxibustion work very well when used together and their benefits to a person's health are tremendous. For this reason the two natural practices are considered to be complementary. The most common reasons that moxibustion is used is to help bring relief for ailments such as bronchitis, bronchial asthma as well as arthritic disorders and a number of different kinds of paralysis.

Cupping is another related procedure. Cupping involves applying stimulation to a variety of acupuncture points and this is done by applying suction by way of a wood, glass or metal jar and in this way a partial vacuum is designed. Cupping allows for a certain amount of blood congestion to appear at the site in question and this allows for deep stimulation. This technique is especially used for soft tissue injuries, low back pain, sprains as well helping to drain fluid from the lungs when a person is suffering from chronic bronchitis.

Acupressure is another common procedure. Basically this is acupuncture minus the needles. The acupuncture points are stimulated with the fingers or a tool that has a "hard ball shaped head." Reflexology (or zone therapy) is another form of acupressure. In this case the feet (and in some cases, the hands) are stimulated in order to help treat diseases or disorders that exist in the internal organs of the body.

It is essential that you do thorough research on acupuncture and all of its related procedures before you go ahead and begin any particular type of treatment. Speak with qualified health professionals to gain as much information as you can concerning each one of these natural health practices.