Electroacupuncture

From ArticleWorld

Electroacupuncture is an extension of the traditional form of acupuncture where needles are inserted into the skin at specific key points around the body, with the difference that two needles are usually inserted at the same point instead of one. The needles are then attached to a device that generates electric pulses which pass from one needle to the other. Depending on the condition being treated, the frequency and intensity of the pulses can be adjusted.

Alternatively, electroacupuncture can be applied without the use of needles in a procedure where electrodes are taped to the skin surface at the acupuncture points and the pulses then pass through the electrodes.

Uses

The use of this kind of acupuncture is considered particularly useful in the treatment of chronic pain where, according to practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine, the vital energy called ‘qi’ which flows through the body via meridians or channels has been blocked and has accumulated. It is also considered useful in cases where problems are caused because of the difficulty in stimulating the ‘qi’.

Most modern scientists have difficulty with the concept of ‘qi’ and label the meridian theory on which many traditional therapies are based unscientific. The fact that some therapies seem to work in the area of pain relief is attributed to the release of endorphins resulting from stimulation of the body.