19 June 2024 Acupuncture is an ancient technique that was developed in China over 3,000 years ago. It has always been a source of interest to the western world. IHowever, it has only begun to gain credibility in the last 30 years, thanks to the research and scientific work on its mechanisms of action. Traditional acupuncture is used to assess and influence the flow of vital energy. In medical acupuncture , the patient's approach is guided by a scientific perspective, integrating all the knowledge acquired in order to propose the most appropriate treatment for each situation. Medical Acupuncture is also a competence of the Portuguese Medical Association, with its own college. This technique is approved by the World Health Organization for the treatment of various diseases. It is recommended as a complementary treatment for pain and not only by several national and international scientific societies. The technique is known to be effective in the following conditions: Headaches and migraines Pain in the spine: neck, back and lower back pain and sciatica Pain in the shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and heels Tendinitis, tendinosis, muscle cramps, joint pain, effects of trauma and / or sprains, postoperative recovery and carpal tunnel syndrome Nausea and vomiting after surgery or associated with chemotherapy. There are other conditions where acupuncture has shown good results, such as: Bowel or bladder problems (irritable bowel, interstitial cystitis, incontinence) Menstrual pains (dysmenorrhoea) Symptoms of menopause Some forms of rhinitis and sinusitis. It has also been used in smoking cessation to deal with the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. However, before starting acupuncture it is necessary to rule out any serious or potentially serious illness that requires other forms of treatment. It may be used as a complementary treatment in these situations but not as an alternative. Situations in which medical acupuncture may be used This technique is known to be effective in the following pathologies: Migraines, tension headaches, trigeminal neuralgia and other types of headaches; Musculoskeletal pain in general, such as tendinitis (shoulder, elbow, among others), pain associated with various arthrosis (knees, hip, spine, among others), carpal tunnel syndrome, low back pain (with or without irradiation), contractures, sequelae of trauma and/or sprain, post-surgical state, other pain derived from the musculoskeletal system and/or the nervous system; Peripheral facial paralysis or help in stroke recovery; Neuropathies (diabetic, post-chemotherapy, among others) and post-herpetic neuralgia. These pains are usually felt as “tingling”, “cold”, “heat/burning” or “electric shocks” in various body locations; The treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, pregnancy and post-surgery; Gut and bladder functional disorders (irritable colon, interstitial cystitis, incontinence); Menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea) or other benign changes in the menstrual cycle; Menopause symptoms; In pregnant women, it can be used to alleviate symptoms such as nausea, stomach pain, musculoskeletal pain or help to “turn” the baby in the cephalic position to allow a vaginal birth; Some forms of rhinitis and sinusitis; Insomnia, anxiety or depression; Side effects of oncological treatments (fatigue, nausea or vomiting, polyneuropathies); Skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, psoriasis, etc.; Smoking cessation, improving symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. What are the contraindications of acupuncture There are other diseases that, while not contraindicated for acupuncture, require special care. For this reason, it is important to inform your acupuncture practitioner of any illness and your regular medication . Do not forget to inform the physician: If you have epilepsy If you have an implanted metal or electrical device (pacemaker or defibrillator) If you are taking anticoagulant medication. How is the acupuncture treatment performed? The patient is first assessed not only on the basis of the disease requiring acupuncture, but also their general state of health. If necessary, additional diagnostic test will be requested. A treatment plan is then drawn up . To start with, treatments are usually weekly After that, they can be done at longer intervals depending on the disease and the response to treatment. In each session several needles are inserted into the skin and left in position for some time (it may vary from five to 40 minutes). While they are in place, needles may be stimulated : Manually (circling) Electrically with its own equipment. When the needles are electrically stimulated, the patient feels the muscle contract. What kind of needles and how many needles are inserted? Acupuncture needles are: Made of metal Very thin Sterilised Single use (disposable). The number of needles varies with the patient's clinical condition . There may be only two or three but usually there are around 10. In some situations, other instruments may also be used at the acupuncture points, such as seeds, semi-permanent needles, cups, manual stimulation or others. What does the patient feel during the treatment? Although insertion of the needles is practically painless, you may sometimes feel some pain. Some patients feel faint. During electrical stimulation , some patients: Feel their muscles contracting The following day they report muscle pain of the kind experienced after physical exercise. Drowsiness is common during and after treatment. There may be a slight, temporary worsening of symptoms after treatment. This is considered a sign of a good response and is usually followed by a significant improvement. Is medical acupuncture safe? Acupuncture is generally very safe . The most common complications are minor bleeding or bruising at the needle insertion point. Serious complications are very rare (less than one in 10,000 treatments): Infection; Damage to nerves, blood vessels or organs; Pneumotorax. This article was written with the support of physicians and other clinical professionals from the Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
