Acupuncture Studies

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical treatment for multiple issues, and is characterized by needles being strategically inserted into pressure points on the body to relieve symptoms. This is believed to reset you qi or life force within your body. This practice is carried out by acupuncturists all over the world. In western medicine, while we don’t know the exact mechanism of action, it is thought to increase blood flow and raise natural painkiller levels in the body. This rise in natural painkillers and increased blood flow are the major benefits of acupuncture. The risks are very few, there is a very limited chance of organ damage, infection, or soreness after a treatment (Mayo Clinic 2012).

A study as discussed by Science Daily from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center aimed at finding a correlation between meditation practice and stress relief, and it's effect on the speed at which Alzheimer's, and “other dementias” progressed. The study participants were adults ranging in age from 55 to 90, 14 of the participants had already been diagnosed with “mild cognitive impairment.” The adults in the study were then broken off into two groups, one of which used meditation and yoga as a form of “Mindful Based Stress Reduction” (MBSR), while the other received normal

Some non-pharmacological therapies (such as music therapy, aromatherapy, pet therapy, and massage) may be beneficial to people with dementia. However, a lack of research prevents us from determining the effectiveness of many alternative treatments. The Alzheimer Society is funding projects in these areas in order to identify beneficial therapies for people with the disease. (Resource Notes

These experiments still do not support acupuncture as an effective treatment option. The percentages of most have

However, there is much research in this area of interest that can prove the detection of change in blood flow, but not enough claims to support any actual positive impact from this change. One study to analyze the effects of acupuncture used photoacoustic tomography on ten mice to map the blood flow of the brain after the administration of acupuncture. The results yielded a direct change in blood flow upon acupuncture administration. However no further claims could be reported and therefore it was concluded that future research is needed in order to support any actual correlation of acupuncture and its beneficial remedy (Li,

Alzheimer 's disease (AD) is an irreversible and incurable form of dementia characterized by rapid cell death, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuritic plaques (Cavanaugh, Blanchard-Fields, & Norris, 2008). Structures of the brain affected by rapid cell death includes the hippocampus, the cerebral cortex, and the forebrain (Cavanaugh et al., 2008). A definitive diagnosis of AD is made only at autopsy (Cavanaugh et al., 2008). As AD progresses, memory and ultimately self-identity are destroyed, however, interventions can improve the quality of life of older adults (Cavanaugh et al., 2008). Interventions in AD should focus on helping patients make the most effective use of their functioning (Cavanaugh et al., 2008). A non-pharmacological intervention by Bredesen (2014) appears to be restoring some cognitive function in some patients with AD (Dador, 2014). Bredesen (2014) asserts that some of the effects of cognitive decline can be reversed through his therapeutic program. Jimbo, Kimura, Taniguchi, Inoue, and Urakami (2009) also assert the potential of non-pharmacological interventions. They found that aromatherapy has the potential to improve cognitive function. Other non-pharmacological interventions such as exercise or physical activity (PA) have been studied for their effects in cognitive decline (Farina, Rusted, & Tabet, 2014; Tortosa-Martinez & Clow, 2012). This paper explores the effects of non-pharmacological interventions in cognitive decline associated with AD.

Acupuncture is gaining popularity as numerous claims are being made to its validity and effectiveness. Although many studies and experiments regarding acupuncture have been done, the scientific basis of the principles of this alternative approach still remains unclear (http://www.health.org/pubs/acu-nih.htm).

Ten’s of millions of dollars have been poured into research for this treatment, and yet all have come back with virtually insignificant results. All of the participants, control group as well as those who received the treatment, reported almost the same about of pain relief. Harriet Hall, an ex-physician and noted critic of CAM, had this to say: “ We have no evidence that acupuncture is anything more than theatrical placebo,” ( Interlandi 24 ). Although placebo is often seen as bad or ineffective experience in medicine and studies, it could be used as a treatment all of it’s own. As a placebo is where the brain is “tricked” into believing the body is undergoing effects that, in reality, it is not. In simply reshaping the reality of some patients situations, they can be healed ( Benedetti 22 ). The human mind is a complex system that controls more body functions than we are aware of in many cases. If a patient believes that they will never get better, treatment can only do so much, there must be belief and treatment before the patient can become well ( Chandler np

Other conditions that have been favorably treated with acupuncture are digestive ailments, neurological complaints, allergies, urinary tract complaints and also asthma.

Acupuncture is a Chinese medicine for thousand of years. In this medicine have been evaluating, diagnosing and effectively treating a large mixture of heath condition. The common conditions and specialization are given below the list.

Acupuncture is starting to be the new face of advanced medicine. It treats many conditions form your pets to even patients with cancer. Many people turn to acupuncture as a form of pain reliving. Originated in China, around 2000 years ago, acupuncture has benefitted many people. It relieves stress and pain, gives the body positive energy and many doctors have started to prescribe acupuncture as a form of treatment even for pets.

Advantages of acupuncture have been studied with positive results from its analgesic effects and the ability to be used across the life span. However, more research is needed to define specific approaches such as for treatment of disabilities, which can be difficult to pinpoint its effectiveness. Acupuncture is popular by name, but “it is used at a low level by a small to moderate proportion of the population for conditions that are either mild, self-limiting, or without a definitive conventional treatment, and it is rarely used in lieu of conventional medical care”(McKenzie, 2011, p. 1). Hopefully, as holistic nursing continues to evolve, more insight will be given on how to apply this specialty to the promotion of overall

Acupuncture improves circulation, relaxes muscles, stimulates the nervous system and impacts the release of substances that reduce pain and prevent inflammation.

Today, around 70 million Americans are affected by chronic pain, whether it be chronic headaches, back pain, abdominal pain, joint pain, or musculoskeletal pain, in general. (treatment of chronic medical conditions). For many, conventional rehabilitation therapy has proven to be an effective form of treatment, but for some, not so much. In these types of cases, doctors refer their patients to alternative forms of medicine, such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, meditation, or hypnosis (principles and practice of pain medicine). One of the more popular types of alternative medicine among researchers and medical professionals is acupuncture.

A literature review was conducted to decide whether acupuncture treatment is more effective in decreasing pain intensity compared to standard pain protocols in geriatric patients experiencing chronic pain. The CINAHL database was used to find nine research studies, from 1999 to 2016, on the topic of acupuncture and chronic pain. The results were inconclusive about whether acupuncture reduces pain intensity. For both chronic neck and back pain, most studies supported the effect of acupuncture in reducing pain intensity, while one study per these categories which suggested no effect. For chronic spinal pain, both studies suggested no significant impact in reducing pain intensity. The findings showed that acupuncture is effective in decreasing