Acupuncture

1. Acupuncture Presented by JziggyCajucom and JzappyCajucom

2. When it was developed? The first recorded attempt treating disease dates back to about 1500 BC during the Shang dynasty. However, Acupuncture has a clearly recorded history of about 2,000 years, but some authorities claim that it has been practiced in China for some 4,000 years. In fact, Chinese believed that the practice of acupuncture began during the Stone Age (when stone knives or sharp edged tools was made).

3. What it is? Acupuncture is one of the traditional Chinese medicines. Acupunctureinvolves Inserting very fine small needles into various points ("acupoints") in the body to stimulate nerve Impulses and cure specific diseases and conditions. Traditional Chinese acupuncture is based on the idea of 'qi' (vital energy) which is said to travel around the body along 'meridians' which the acupuncture points affect.

4. How it is able to improve or optimise health? Acupuncture is widely used in china in the treatment of hay fever, headaches, ulcers, some type of blindness, arthritis, diarrhoea, and acupuncture. It is also used as a general anaesthetic during childbirth and some types of surgery. Unlike conventional anaesthesia, acupuncture does not reduce blood pressure or depress breathing, in addition the patient stays fully conscious and there’s no feeling of hangover and nausea.

5. Any risk to health? • Some of the acupuncture risks associated when performed in-correctly. • Shared needles: One of the main things to keep in mind that, accidents can happen any time. Sharing of needles can happen and this can be a real trouble. Hence, it is very necessary to know what kind of needles are being used by the therapist make it a point that you tell your acupuncturist not to use shared needles. • Body pricking: Another risk you need to consider when going in for acupuncture is pricking of body. Remember that the needles can hurt or injure you if the acupuncturist not careful. Hence, it is extremely necessary to appoint an experienced therapist for the treatment. This will make sure that there are no accidents. • Minor bleeding: There can be minor bleeding once the needles are removed. This is seen in about three precent of patients. This can be stepped via holding cotton on the spot for one minute. • Hematoma: About 2 precent of the patients tend to face this acupuncture risk. The risk is seen as bruises. These tend to disappear within some days. • Dizziness: Some people may feel Dizziness during the treatment of acupuncture. This is because some people have conscious or unconscious fear of needles. This may result in dizziness and anxiety in certain patients. • Nerve injury: These results due to nerve puncture during acupuncture accidentally. • Brain damage: This may result due to deep needling at the skull base. • Pneumothorax: This is dangerous and usually results due to deep needling inside the lung. • Kidney damage: Deep needling to the lower part of back can result in kidney damage. • Haemopericardium: This is a case where the protective membrane around the heart tends to get punctures. This results in a serious heather problem. • Pregnancy termination: According to a research, it has been proved that using acupuncture points can stimulate oxytocin and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) production. • Low blood pressure: Acupuncture can also result in temporary low blood pressure and this may cause the patient to faint. • Rashes: Some people may be allergic to metals and this can ultimately result in allergic such as rashes. • Other Acupuncture risks: • Fainting • Muscle spars • Nerve damage • Bleeding • Muscle stiffness • Fatigue

6. Bibliograpghy • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture • http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Acupuncture • http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/Acupuncture