Acupuncture and Moxibustion: Traditional but powerful healer
Acupuncture and Moxibustion have been practiced as the treatment options for thousands of years in China and now used in many countries in the world. Theses are used to treat a variety of disease. Acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of fine, sterile needles into specific sites (acupuncture points) along the body's meridians to clear energy blockages and encourage the normal flow of energy through the individual. The general theory of acupuncture is based on the premise that there are patterns of energy flow through the body that are essential for health. Disruptions of this flow are believed to be responsible for disease. Acupuncture corrects imbalances of flow at identifiable points close to the skin. Today, acupuncture is an effective, natural and increasingly popular form of health care that is used by people whole over the world. The modern scientific explanation about the effectiveness of Acupuncture treatment is that needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain, including endorphins, enkephalins and other neuro-transmitters. Either these chemicals will change the experience of pain, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones that influence the body's own internal regulating system. The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture results in stimulating the body's natural healing abilities, and in promoting physical and emotional well-being. Acupuncture needles are so fine that there is no discomfort when they are inserted but a slight tingle (known as needle sensation) may be experienced. The needles are usually left in for approximately twenty minutes to more. The doctor may also stimulate the acupuncture points using other methods, such as moxibustion (a traditional technique that involves application of heat through the burning of mugwort, a small, spongy herb used to facilitate healing), cupping and electro-stimulation etc. in order to re-establish the flow. Acupuncture has several advantages. It is very effective to treat some diseases, where other methods of treatment could not achieve good result or failed. The diseases where acupuncture can be effective are arthritis, rheumatism or different types of pains, autism (ASD), depression, anxiety, delayed speech, sleep problems, attention deficit disorder, mental/behavioural problems, IBS, depression, sleep problems, epilepsy, tonsillitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, headache, paralysis, hair falling, acne, Burger's / Raynuad's disease, chronic wounds, cerebral palsy, weak memory, dyslexia (weakness in study), causeless sterility etc. This therapy does not require any medicine. So toxicity due to medicine will be avoided. Again, Moxibustion has been used throughout Asia for thousands of years; in fact, the actual Chinese character for acupuncture, translated literally, means "acupuncture-moxibustion." The purpose of moxibustion, as with most forms of traditional Chinese medicine, is to strengthen the blood, stimulate the blood flow and maintain general health. In traditional Chinese medicine, moxibustion is used on people who have a cold or stagnant condition. The burning of moxa is believed to expel cold and warm the meridians, which leads to smoother flow of blood. Adequate knowledge and experience is needed for providing the acupuncture and moxibustion therapy to patients. To avoid the unwanted complications in acupuncture treatment please avoid taking treatment by quack / fake acupuncturist. There are many around us without proper qualifications. In order to avoid complication, always consult a skilled acupuncturist. The method of treatment has already been started in our country. But due to less number of medically qualified acupuncturists available in our country and lack of proper perception about the application of this method in some specific diseases, the patients are depriving from the advantages of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. ...................................... The writer is Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Consultant. He is currently working as Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Govt. Unani - Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital. E-mail: thekhansbd@gmail.com
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