What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient form of medicine that began in Asia and is generally thought to be started in China. It is currently practiced and accepted as a viable form of medicine all over the world. Acupuncture works on the idea that a person’s qi, or “life force” runs throughout the body along certain meridians, and points along these meridians can be stimulated to have specific and definite physiological effects on the body. Acupuncture is a full modality of medicine that is used to treat internal disease, stress and anxiety, pain or neurological disorders and psychological disorders.
Within the last few decades, acupuncture is becoming more main stream, and accepted by the western medical community. Acupuncture has shown to be effective, nonintrusive, little to no side effects, and cost effective. The use of electricity with acupuncture is becoming very popular among acupuncturists worldwide for its ability to decrease pain and enhance the healing process.
What is Electo-acupuncture?
Electro-acupuncture (EA) is an acupuncture technique where traditional acupuncture points and treatment are done and augmented by applying a mild electric stimulation to the needles. Two points are used creating a current between them, and several sets of needles can be treated at the same time. You will feel a mild tingling or tapping but it should be comfortable and relaxing.
So why use Electro-acupunture in the first place?
Healing occurs on the cellular level. Whether there is a traumatic injury or disease process it has to heal from the cells up. Every action in the body, from cells to gross motor actions (movement), begins as electrical impulses. When there is injury or disease there is also an inflammatory process going on in the tissue.
Inflammation is a natural part of the healing process; however, it can become chronic where it is associated with free radicals and oxidative stress. Free radicals are molecules that have an imbalance of electrons. Chronic inflammation can lead to breakdown of tissue and is a major component to diseases from arthritis, heart disease and even cancer. Inflammation and injury to the individual cells disrupts the body’s naturally occurring electrical current and the balance of energy within the cells.
How does electricity promote healing?
Electrons (electricity) are negatively charged. Electrons easily flow from negative to positive correcting the damaging effects of free radicals. By restoring the natural electrical potentials necessary for cellular activity that have been stalled by free radicals and inflammation, Electo-acupuncture re-establishes and intensifies the healing process. This helps the body get back to its natural state and ability to heal itself. Effects of electrons on the body’s physiology include diffusing inflammation, reduce or eliminates chronic pain, reduces stress, increases energy, can improve sleep, speeds up the healing process and can shield the body from other electro-magnetic fields like power lines or radiation from our electrical equipment such as cell phones, blu-tooth devices, computers, etc.
With Electro-acupuncture the effects are often felt faster and more intensely than with traditional acupuncture. With the addition of an electrical current to the needles a larger area is stimulated, and more nerves are affected. Studies are now showing that by stimulating nerves at different frequencies the body will secrete its own analgesics, such as endorphins, as well as other neurotransmitters, hormones and natural anti-inflammatories. A trained acupuncturist in Electro-acupuncture can pinpoint and modulate the neuropeptides desired for the treatment and modulate and balance the autonomic nervous system. It is also being used successfully with drug and opioid addiction.
The use of acupuncture with electro stimulation or Electro-acupuncture has a multitude of applications for healing the body from a general “tune up” for energy and preventive measures to being an adjunctive therapy for severe and chronic diseases. It is commonly used for injury and pain, gastrointestinal disorders, women’s health issues, stress and anxiety, neurological disorders and insomnia.
What are contradictions of Electro-acupuncture?
Contraindications are generally any implanted electrical device such as pacemakers or morphine pumps and seizure disorders, unless approved by the primary physician. Acupuncture without electrostimulation can be used for these disorders as well.
Where to go for Electro-acupuncture?
Linda McCray at T L Spa & Wellness has been practicing electro-acupuncture for 27 years. She combines Electro-acupuncture with other holistic modalities, such as massage therapy, diet and nutrition, exercise and lifestyle changes for a balanced and personalized treatment in order to achieve optimal results.
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