Users.rowan.edu



Hannah LewisConsumer HealthComplementary and Alt. Medicine Analysis11/15/2013Acupuncture for Chronic Pain??????????? Acupuncture is an alternative therapy that is now becoming more complementary and readily used by osteopathic medical doctors. Acupuncture originated in China thousands of years ago. In the past two decades, its popularity has grown significantly in the United States and is practiced worldwide. The procedure involves the insertion of extremely thin needles at various depths at strategic points on your body (Mayo Clinic). After placement the needles are often stimulated with electricity or heat. The acupuncture needles are regulated by the Federal Drug Administration although they do not recognize acupuncture as a legitimate medical treatment. According to traditional Chinese medicine, stimulating specific acupuncture points corrects imbalances in the flow of qi through channels known as meridians. This qi is a part of the chi which is believed to be the life-force that every living thing posses. The chi is said to regulate the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance.??????????? Although many Western medical practitioners have begun to support the use of acupuncture as treatment, insurers have not fully accepted it as a legitimate medical practice therefor many agencies do not provide coverage. The average prices for individual acupuncture sessions can range from 60-120 dollars depending on the specific treatment and length of the session. Medical practices have also been collaborating with acupuncturists and incorporating acupuncture into treatments for their patients. This may decrease the session price and insurance agencies may cover some of the cost.??????????? Vickers, Cronin, Maschino, Lewith, MacPherson, Victor, Foster, Sherman, Witt, and Linde (2012) studied patients noted of having chronic pain.? Chronic pain was defined and 17,922 patients were analyzed.? The method of this study focused on four different conditions regarding the kind of pain the patient was experiencing – (1) back or neck pain, (2) shoulder pain, (3) chronic headaches, (4) osteoarthritis.? Acupuncture was measured against a control group and a group that was given sham acupuncture.? The results showed a statistical significant difference between both the acupuncture group vs. the sham acupuncture group as well as the acupuncture group vs. the no treatment group for all four conditions.The previously mentioned study supports the theory that along with modern medical treatments as a complementary method, acupuncture can ease chronic pain in patients. The use of acupuncture along with contemporary medicine has statistically shown to decrease chronic pain in patients that undergo treatments either over a monthly basis or even instantaneously. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years and remains unchanged and the methods are continuously shown to yield positive results. There are countless supportive studies that show acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic pain and many other conditions.A study conducted by Claudia M. Witt, Susanne Jena, Dagmar Selim, Benno Brinkhaus, Thomas Reinhold, Katja Wruck, Bodo Liecker, Klaus Linde, Karl Wegscheider, and Stefan N. Willich (2006) concluded through a study of patients treated with acupuncture for lower back pain, that “In conclusion, our study showed that acupuncture, in addition to routine care, resulted in a clinically relevant benefit and was cost-effective among patients with chronic low back pain from primary care practices in Germany. Thus, acupuncture should be considered a viable option in the management of patients with chronic low back pain”.? The use of acupuncture for the treatment of many different medical problems is supported through this study’s statistical results as a cost effective alternative to pain medications and other anti-inflammatory drug treatments. Individuals looking for a more holistic way to control chronic pain may choose to receive acupuncture therapy.?????ReferencesAcupuncture. (n.d.). Accupunture. Retrieved November 18, 2013, from , A. J., & Maschino, A. C. (2009). The Acupuncture Trialists' Collaboration: Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis Of Chronic Pain Trials. Acupuncture in Medicine, 27(3), 126-127.Witt, C. M. (2006). Pragmatic Randomized Trial Evaluating The Clinical And Economic Effectiveness Of Acupuncture For Chronic Low Back Pain. American Journal of Epidemiology, 164(5), 487-496. Retrieved November 15, 2013, from ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download