ACUPUNCTURE PROCEDURES
Needling Sensation:
Acupuncture sensation is called deqi. When the needle is inserted into the body there is a slight pain. In addition to pain there are four types of sensation: Numbness, Soreness, Heaviness, Distention. It is an indication of the needle having been inserted at the correct point and to the correct depth. During needling, patient experiences a minute prick on some points whereas in majority of other points it is painless. Sometimes bleeding occurs on withdrawal of the needles. Slight Bruising and ecchymosis at the sight of acupuncture is fairly common and has no dangerous implication. Fainting is a common cause and is related to hypogalcaemia, tiredness, hunger & general weakness, hence to avoid it never take acupuncture session on empty stomach. It is commonly used for pain relief,though it is also used to treat a wide range of conditions The majority of people who seek out acupuncture do so for musculoskeletal problems. Treatment is based not only on diagnostic evaluations derived from subjective signs and symptoms but on an accurate assessment of a patient’s constitution.
Electro Acupuncture:
“In electro acupuncture, needles are inserted on specific acupuncture points along the body. The needles are then attached to a device that generates continuous electric pulses using small clips. These devices are used to adjust the frequency and intensity of the impulse being delivered, depending on the condition being treated. Electroacupuncture uses two needles at time so that the impulses can pass from one needle to the other. Several pairs of needles can be stimulated simultaneously, usually for no more than 30 minutes at a time.”
Moxibustion
Moxa is a herb, Botanical name of the plant is artemesia vulgaris. In India it is known as nagdona. Moxa has a property of producing mild heat which removes the obstruction in the meridians and collaterals. It is used to warm regions and meridian points with the intention of stimulating circulation through the points and inducing a smoother flow of blood and qi. Moxa adds new energy to the body and could treat both excess and deficient conditions.It is claimed that moxibustion mitigates against cold and dampness in the body, and can serve to turn breech babies.There are several methods of moxibustion. Three of them are direct scarring, direct non-scarring, and indirect moxibustion. Direct scarring moxibustion places a small cone of moxa on the skin at an acupuncture point and burns it until the skin blisters, which then scars after it heals. Direct non-scarring moxibustion removes the burning moxa before the skin burns enough to scar, unless the burning moxa is left on the skin too long. Indirect moxibustion holds a cigar made of moxa near the acupuncture point to heat the skin, or holds it on an acupuncture needle inserted in the skin to heat the needle. There is also stick-on moxa.
Cupping
Cupping is the procedure of stimulating acupuncture points by suction. A hollow vessel preferably transparent glass with rounded thick and smooth rim is used in which vacuum is created. By pulling the skin i.e by negative pressure acupuncture point over the area are stimulated.Here the pull is so strong that red mark remains at the sight of cupping for eight days and disappears. There are various ways to administer cupping like dry cupping, wet cupping and fire cupping. Cupping is used to dispel Qi stagnation, stagnant blood and lymph, thereby improving qi flow relief of pain.Cupping is claimed to treat a broad range of medical conditions such as blood disorders like anaemia, haemophilia, rheumatic diseases,arthritic joint and muscular conditions, fertility and gynecological disorders, and skin problems like eczema, cosmetic procedures etc.Cupping has greater efficacy in cases of pain in abdomen and diarrhea. Great efficacy is achieved in cases of shift of umbilicus. It brings the umbilicus to its normal position.
Blood Letting
It is the withdrawal of blood from a patient to cure or prevent illness and disease. Bloodletting was based on an ancient system of medicine in which blood and other bodily fluids had to remain in proper balance to maintain health. Any excess was removed through Blood letting.
Plum Blossom Therapy
“Plum blossom also known as 7 star hammer refers to the use of multiple needles to simultaneously puncture the skin. The 7-star hammer is a superficial needling modality.Use of the 7-star hammer intentionally causes irritation to the skin and, in certain conditions, minor bleeding may be induced to increase therapeutic effectiveness. Redness and beneficial bruising are the common effects of 7-star hammer therapy and they naturally resolve within a few days to a week, in the average patient. After 7-star hammer treatments extra care should be taken to avoid exposing the treated area to wind and cold and it is advisable to avoid wetting or dirtying the treated area for four to six hours after treatment to ensure that the skin has properly and thoroughly sealed itself thereby reducing the risk of infection. It is most often used in skin related conditions and hair loss.”
Acupressure
In treatment, physical pressure is applied to acupuncture points with the aim of clearing blockages in these meridians. Pressure may be applied by hand, by elbow, or with various devices.
Embedding Therapy
“ Some tiny needles are left in the skin for few days on acupuncture points.Mostly this needles are used for cosmetic purpose like face lifts, fine lines etc. ”
Homeopuncture
“ Homeopathy combined with acupuncture is called homeopuncture. The needle is dipped in homeopathic medicine and inserted deep inside the tissue at a predetermined acupuncture point. ”
Laser Therapy
Laser is light amplification of stimulated emission of radiation. It is a special kind of light with rays of the same wavelength and frequency which is intense, concentrated and unidirectional used for stimulating the points. The most commonly used laser are Helium neon and infrared laser.
Magnets
The magnets employed here are low power permanent magnets. They are used to channelise the energies or Chi in our body.
Light Impulse Device / Joto
To conduct light treatment specially designed devices are used. They are semiconductor light emitting diode producing light of various colours. It is an absolute painless treatment method that children & patient with low pain threshold may be employed with.
Message Ring
It is used in case of extensive injuries of the limbs & trunk when simultaneous stimulation of a great no of points is required.
Seeds
Seeds are the most frequently used surface stimulators of natural origin. Being live biological structures, the seed possess a great stock of life energy necessary for the development of a new plant. When the seeds are applied to the points , their biological field starts interacting with the correspondence to the affected organ or parts of the body thus restoring their energy potential.
Chromo Puncture
This depends on the principle that each person has got an aura of colour around his body. This aura depends upon the planetary influences over the body at that particular period of time i.e organ clock. Colour suitable to patient according to their aura is chosen for his ailment.