The thought of sticking pins into your arm, head, leg or any other part of your anatomy to relive pain or stop smoking might seem a little farfetched. It is the process of acupuncture an ancient Chinese medical practice that is classed as being a more alternative therapy in the West. We may be more inclined to use Dental Equipment supplies like the ones available from https://www.photonsurgicalsystems.co.uk/ as opposed to the insertion of a needle in a gum to stop a toothache. However, this is a form of medical treatment that has been around for centuries, so we shouldn’t dismiss it straight away, should we?
The main reason people go to an acupuncturist is that they are in pain and everything else has stopped working. It’s mainly suggested for those of us with muscle pains especially in the neck, knee and back area. To be honest if you have a back pain condition then you’ll try anything to get it relived so a few thin needles being stuck in you is probably worth a shout.
You may well be thinking at this point “surely needles being jabbed about my physical being may well make things worse! After all needles are sharp, pointy things and that usually means ouch”. Going against all logic this is actually not the case. The area of the skin is sterilised first, and the needles are so tiny that you’ll barely notice them. The other good news is that the acupuncturist chucks the needles after they have been used. As with anything make sure you go to an accredited and reputable one. There is a British Council of Acupuncturists so it’s best to look for their logo and the certification. It’s an art that dates back to the beginning of China so that makes it thousands of years old. Modern needles are made of anti-rusting metal material so it’s not like you can get a mate, or yourself for that matter, to start jabbing away in a DIY version with some safety pins that you’ve dipped in TCP the next time one of you has got a headache.
There isn’t any proof that it actually works, my Dad spent a week with two jammed through his earlobes to stop him smoking but to no avail. Remember that we said earlier that it’s an art? Well this maybe its true ability to heal. Research as shown that under the right circumstances some relief can be found. However, this may not be the needle itself but more the mind set of the person receiving it. The theory goes that if you sell the process as a cure or as a form of relief the person getting the treatment will get some benefit out of it and feel better. You don’t even need to stick a needle in you can use a dummy one. Therefore, It seems that the art of acupuncture is to be as a placebo and it’s all in the mind. Whatever the case if it works for you then that can’t be a bad thing.
