Acupuncture

The availability of application, simple tools and rich practical experience are the advantages of this method. The patient receives an oriental diagnosis, which corresponds to a specific set of impact points, or points are selected in accordance with the rules of Oriental Medicine. Stainless steel and silver needles of 1 to 12 cm and of 0,26-0,32 mm
diameter are used. If there is necessity to leave needles in tissues for a long period, it is better to use silver needles.

Various techniques of insertion of the needle provide minimal pain. The depth of a needle insertion, the period of insertion, the ways of manipulation are of great importance. There are three degrees of depth of insertion: superficial, of medium depth and deep. The three types of insertion are straight (vertical), tilted and nearly horizontal.

All active points can be sedated or toned. The irritation from direct insertion of the needle can be very weak if to insert superficially or stronger if to promote the needle deeper. To increase the irritation the needle must be turned.

Besides needles, the tissue irritation can be increased by rotation around the axis of the needle. The degree of rotation of the needle may range from 30 to 360 grades, the bigger is the degree of rotation, the greater is the irritation of the tissue point. The up and down
swing of the needle causes additional irritation. The greatest strength of stimulation points is achieved by a combination of rotation and up and down swing. Such a strong and prolonged stimulation (30 to 40 minutes) allows reaching analgesia, which is used during surgery.

 

Time plays an important role in acupuncture. The period of a needle remaining in the tissue ranges from 15 to 60 minutes or more. A course of treatment ranges from 2 to 20 sessions. During a session of acupuncture the topography (location) of the internal organs is taken into account to avoid the damage. Each tissue point has peculiar ways of insertion of the needle. For example, the needle is introduced onto facial acupuncture points at an angle of 35-40 degrees with limited insertion depth of 6-10 mm. the thorax acupuncture is
performed only at an angle. Before the introduction of the needle into the lower part of the abdomen, the patient should be sure to empty the bladder. If the ripple large vessel is determined at injection site, the needle must be moved to another point. If the points are located in places where the large nerve trunks are, needle manipulation must be extremely careful. When injected into the trunk of the nerve with rough and rapid introduction of needle rotation, it can cause nerve inflammation - traumatic neuritis.

 

Mental characteristics of the patient, age, sex, general condition of health are always considered during the sessions of acupuncture.

The result of acupuncture should be accompanied by the sensations provided by the so-called "rebound phenomenon". Acupuncture to the points in the abdomen often causes a feeling of heaviness, the impact on the points in the periosteum and tendons cause feelings of fullness, on the muscle area - numbness in the upper and lower extremities. Sometimes feelings are provided by a combination of different phenomena: bloating, heaviness, heat, aches, chills, etc.

Such sensations in acupuncture are of great importance. From ancient literary sources, we know that the therapeutic effect is achieved only when these feelings arise. Modern studies have shown that getting a "rebound phenomenon" is 2-3 times more effective for pain
relief than the insertion of a needle into the same zone, but without feeling.

If the feeling did not arose immediately after insertion of the needle, then some techniques should be used: the rotation of the needle, the needle manipulation termination, incomplete extraction of needle, rotation with immersion, vibration. If after all the methods provided for manipulating emotions do not emerge, affect other nearby points.