For centuries, an Eastern medical technique known as acupuncture, has been used for a wide range of physiological conditions in Asian cultures. These past decades, it has entered the United States and has broadened treatment for several different health problems. Some of which include:
• Gynecological and Digestive Problems
• Headaches
• Fibromyalgia
• Knee Injuries
• Sports Injuries
• Neck and Back Pain
One of the surprising ways acupuncture is used as a form of treatment is its role in limiting the effects of substance abuse withdrawal.
In 1970, a neurosurgeon be the name of H.L. Wen, was preparing to use electro-acupuncture as a form of anesthetic for surgery. The patient, who at that time was withdrawing from the effects of opium addiction, reported some kind of relief of his withdrawal symptoms. Wen proceeded to cancel the surgery and sought out patients who were also suffering from drug withdrawal symptoms. He applied a similar acupuncture treatment and observed that these patients also experienced a decrease of their symptoms. From this moment on, acupuncture became a major form of substance addiction treatment as well as the withdrawal symptoms that came with it.
Acupuncture provides relief for the following symptoms:
• Muscle cramping
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Headache
• Body aches
• Cravings
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Reduction of withdrawal symptoms
The flow of vital energy or chi is increased when needles are inserted into channels called ‘meridians’ underneath the skin. If chi flows smoothly, it protects the body and smoothens the transition from one body state to another. According to Chinese medicine, sickness develops when the chi is unable to flow freely through the meridians. Inserting the needles into the acupoints, the acupuncturist clears out the blockages in the meridians enabling chi to circulate freely.
In detoxification of the body, the ear has certain acupoints that relate to specific organs in the body. To be a bit more specific, this includes: the nervous system, lungs, kidneys, and liver. In each ear, needles are inserted into points associated with each aforementioned organ. The whole procedure takes about forty five minutes to finish. During that time, the patient is told to meditate, relax, and take his time to think about changes that need to happen in his life. Some believe that acupuncture alleviates symptoms by stimulating the production and release of natural body chemicals called endorphins. These are neurotransmitters that help increase feelings of relaxation, minimize withdrawal symptoms, and eradicate cravings.
Before a French doctor named Paul Nogier completed research on auricular acupuncture, the Chinese have been using the right acupuncture points for hundreds of years to treat the underlying cause of a disease. When testing the activity of electricity on the skin surface, Dr. Nogier discovered that all the traditional body acupoints on the body of a person had a corresponding point on the ear. From that moment on, auricular acupuncture, which is the stimulation of acupoints on the ear, was used. This form of stimulation therapy has benefits unique for the treatment of substance abuse as it grants for several therapies to simultaneously take place eliminating the need for privacy.
A person begins to feel a tingling or warm sensation when needles are inserted in his ears. While some people may not feel anything from the treatment, it makes others fall asleep. Auricular acupuncture is all normal and natural regardless of how you respond to the treatment. Its natural way of treating a health problem makes it an all natural form of treatment which means it will won’t reap instant results but instead may require a few to several treatment sessions before results are seen.
The aim of detoxification therapy is to eliminate toxins from the bloodstream that have been accumulating due to substance use. The body is capable of filtering out the toxins that have been building up. This increases the flow of blood on the body, which helps the person sleep well at night and relieve pains and aches in his body.
When discomfort is felt during treatment, it is advisable to let your acupuncturist know so that he may change the pressure points or include other points in the treatment.
Acupuncture is an amazing adjunct therapy to add on to conventional therapies for the management and control of substance abuse. A whole team of medical experts needs to be incorporated in order for the treatment to be effectively dealt with. If the patient specifically requests a natural form of treatment, we recommend auricular acupuncture in Jacksonville, as it is a holistic program uniquely customized for the treatment of addiction.
COMMENTS