The Various Benefits Of Using Acupuncture Instead Of Traditional Medicine

There was a February 2011 issue of The Female Patient that contained and article saying that acupuncture has become more mainstream in the world of medical treatment. It also stated that there has been an increase in Los Angeles of acupuncturists treating pregnant women who want to limit complications and risks involved with taking pharmaceuticals. Via personal experience and word of mouth many Los Angeles women have found that acupuncture works and that the risks to their well being is limited, even though there aren’t any scientific studies or costly clinical trials to support proof of the benefits. There have however been some studies that show that acupuncture can help with certain pregnancy symptoms such as depression, nausea, vomiting and can also help alleviate back and pelvic pain. Acupuncture has also shown positive results in reducing labor pain, greatly reducing the need for analgesia during labor and helping to induce labor. The risks from acupuncture are minimal acupuncture provides a reliable alternative to using medication, which can cause complications during pregnancy. Keeping this in mind many women are ready to explore acupuncture and experience its benefits, when there are positive results patients will return to acupuncture without scientific support through clinical trials. Patients experience for themselves why acupuncture works and how successful it can be.

Many women experience nausea and vomiting during pregnancy about %50 to %90. Through stimulation of one point called PC-6 (which is located on the forearm, palm side between two tendons approximately three finger width up from the crease of the wrist) using Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in alleviating symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Using electro stimulation (electroacupuncture) and acupressure may improve results when used at this point (PC-6). Patients are not concerned with exact mechanism or scientific proof of these results if it works.

Other common symptoms during pregnancy that Acupuncture can help relieve are pelvic pain and back pain. Out of the twenty five percent of women who will seek medical help for these symptoms up to eight percent will be bed ridden and up to seven percent will still suffer with these symptoms after childbirth. Acupuncture has been shown to have positive results in relieving back and pelvic pain in women who are pregnant. The standard treatment for these symptoms is physical therapy Acupuncture has evidence suggesting that it may be more effective. Acupuncture allows for low risk treatment that does not involve pharmaceuticals to treat lower back pain and pelvic pain in pregnant women.

Pregnant women from ages 25 to 45 often experience depression. Medical professionals have been looking for more natural methods to help with depression, as it is vital to the health of the infant, mother and families. Staying away from pharmaceuticals during pregnancy reduces complications. There are random controlled clinical trials that have indicated that there is a 63% positive response rate in using acupuncture to treat depression during pregnancy. Using Acupuncture has shown to be an excellent alternative to pharmaceuticals for treating depression and the risks are minimal.

Acupuncture is not popular for inducing labor just yet, although it has been shown to reduce the necessity for analgesics during childbirth. Every acupuncturist must be made aware of specific precautions when treating pregnant women. Acupuncture is an excellent alternative to many medications and is a low risk, natural practice. Veterinarians have been successful at showing how well acupuncture works by using it on animals thus eliminating the thought that acupuncture creates the placebo effect.

Clinical trials are very costly. Acupuncture does not have anything to patent like pharmaceutical companies do so, there is no financial bonus to gain by conducting clinical trials for acupuncture. We must wait for government organizations or non- profit organizations such as the National Institute of Health to fund and conduct these studies. This is a far longer process than for a profit private sector. During acupuncture treatments MRI scans of the brain show positive readings when the insertion of the acupuncture needle sends signals to the brain through the afferent nervous pathways, this stimulates a response of the central nervous system (CNS). The central nervous system sends the desired signal to the areas of the body that have been targeted through the efferent nervous system pathways. One of the most important reactions achieved through acupuncture is to relax the sympathetic nervous system. Acupuncture may allow the CNS to do its job, restoring and maintaining health by removing the patient from the fight or flight scenario.

Acupuncture is becoming very popular in mainstream medicine although there is a lack of several scientific studies proving why and how it works. Many patients are going to try acupuncture because of the low risk, and that it is natural. Acupuncture is also pharmaceutical free. Patients pass the positive results of along to others and keep using acupuncture because of their own beneficial results. Because it has grown in popularity many Medical Doctors and other practitioners are made aware of the effective results of acupuncture, which will prompt them to refer patients to an acupuncturist. Eastern and Western medicine has the ability to provide patients with an array of treatments this in turn, creates more opportunities for success.

I you want to try alternative medicine like Acupuncture, find an Acupuncturist that can meet your needs.