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Risks and benefits of Acupuncture

There are several alternative treatments and therapies like acupuncture, homeopathy and mediation which do not belong directly to medical science, but are gaining a lot of popularity. Unfortunately, not much research and evaluation has been carried out on these types of alternative treatments, because the process is also not easy.

Some natural herbal products have been popularized for some specific illnesses, but they have not always been successful. Arthritis pain has shown to be cured by extracts from the hot chili pepper or the capsicum or saw palmetto preparations can cure benign prostatic hypertrophy. Another instance of botanical or herbal medicine is the ginkgo, which is used to cure dementia caused by circulation problems.

The actual practice of acupuncture involves understanding the centers and meridians of the body, and where the points that control various organs and bodily systems are. It involves the use of pressure, often applied by inserting fine steel needles into the body, at those points and manipulating those needles to achieve certain effects.

For example, a problem with an organ such as the liver is to be treated by sticking a needle into a certain point on the ear that is supposed to be the corresponding point for that organ, It is a method of diagnosis and treatment based on the unsubstantiated belief that the ear is the map of the bodily organs.

The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believes in functional methods than giving importance to terms related to structure. The 'acupuncture points' are a topic of controversy for many, like the NIH consensus statement, who can still not understand the medicinal value of the points and can therefore not define and characterize them. The TCM believes that there are two opposing and separable forces in the body which have to strike a balance. The two are opposites, because one is the passive and slow force and the other is the active and excited force. They are called yin and yang.

Is Acupuncture worth the risks and benefits, The chinese believe that Disease is caused by an imbalance of these forces and can be rectified by regulating the flow of energy in these meridians. Traditional practitioners say this is done by re balancing the Yin and Yang, unblocking Chi, along with various other mystical explanations. In mainstream medicine, acupuncture is known to work as a form of pain relief

Most people who have had acupuncture would not describe it as painful. There may be mild discomfort when the needles are inserted and some points on the body and face are more sensitive than others

We should compare the acupuncture risks benefit ratio. Now if something has no benefit then even a slight risk weighs very heavily? but if? some other therapeutic intervention has the potential to save your life then enormous risks are acceptable.

Before undergoing any acupuncture treatment your family doctor should be informed about it. Also the acupuncturist should be kept informed about any medical treatment that you are undergoing. There are several factors which can make the situation worse when you are undergoing treatment. First of all it depends on how experienced the acupuncturist is, and then how sensitive you are to the treatment and lastly, the gravity of your problem.

Studies suggest that there are a number of conditions which acupuncture can help to treat, including post-operative pain , migraines , and nausea . More high-quality research is needed into the effectiveness of acupuncture on other conditions.

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

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