The Chinese discovered the theory of acupuncture practice before theCommon Era. Presently, therapists mostly use metallic needleshowever, long sharp bones and sharpened stones were applied in theacupuncture care by 6000 BCE. A range of documented evidence to provethat acupuncture existed several years back does exist. For instance,the Chinese Ma-Wang-Dui tomb had sealed records dating back to 198BCE that talked about the meridians, although they did not discussacupuncture directly. Nonetheless, the knowledge regarding meridiansis essential for one to understand the principle of acupuncture.According to the Acupuncture theory, the human body has twelve energy(qi) channels (Lippelt 18). The energy movement can be manipulated toimprove health hand balance in the body. The premise argues that theqi rotates around the entire body via twelve essential feeds called‘meridians.’ The conduits, nevertheless, follow a differentpathway from both blood flow and nerves (Mandal). For many years, thewestern medicine has been popular in many civilizations.Unfortunately, it relies on introducing chemicals that could havesevere side effects to the users. Similarly, some procedures areconsidered primitives, for example, surgically repairing or removingan organ that is not functioning efficiently. In some cases, westernmedicine has proven ineffective, especially with the conditions thatresult in chronic pain since most of the available drugs areaddictive and loose efficiency over time. However, acupuncture treatsvarious diseases through a small insertion of a needle to control theenergy flow (Gillette Children`s Specialty Healthcare para.4).
Thesis statement. Acupuncture is a valid medicaltechnique that should be included in the procedures offered byhospitals, in particular for the treatment of chronic pain, mentalconditions and other common diseases that lack effective cure inwestern medicine.
Acupuncture is an effective pain management therapy. According to astudy conducted by Gillette Children`s Specialty Healthcare in St.Paul, Minnesota, and published in the Medical Acupuncture Journal,kids ailing from complicated medical conditions use a variety ofdrugs. However, the prescriptions are dangerous due to high amountsof toxins. Scott Schwantes, a physician and pediatrician working atGillette Children`s Specialty Healthcare, provided that youngpatients suffering from different health conditions such as spinalcord and cerebral palsy diseases experience extreme pain (GilletteChildren`s Specialty Healthcare para 3). As such, therapists oftenprescribe medication that could result in weight gain, enhanced moodswings and sleep induction. Nonetheless, acupuncture treatment isnon-toxic because it relies on insertion of needles on specific skinpositions. The insertions correspond to the meridians, which in turnhelps to obstruct and channelize energy (qi) to the areas that needit in high amount. Schwantes adds that the treatment takesapproximately thirty minutes to offer the patients complete painrelief. Furthermore, the approach is minimally invasive hence, it isa viable alternative for children who are overburdened bymedications, surgeries, and constant hospital stays (GilletteChildren`s Specialty Healthcare para. 6).
Acupuncture can also help in the treatment of several commonconditions such as sleep disturbance, which are otherwise hard totreat effectively using the regular western drugs. According to thetraditional Chinese healing techniques, insomnia results from lack ofpsychological peace. The effect can result from body pain, periodiclimbs movements, anxiety, pain and sporadic muscle spasms in thelimbs. These conditions predispose an individual to daytime fatigueand extreme mood swings. In many cases, patients with theseexperiences are either suffering or predisposed to anxiety anddepression (Montakab 28). Luckily, it is possible to treat the sleepdisturbance condition using the acupuncture approach. The treatmentapproach could be effective if adopted in the health care centers toassist patients suffering from severe conditions overcome the illnesswithout using drugs that could result in severe side effects.
According to the Gillette Children`s Specialty Healthcare research,the main drawback of acupuncture therapy is that some people have thephobia of needles. Besides, it may not offer effective treatment inthe case where an organ, for instance, kidneys have malfunctioned(Gillette Children`s Specialty Healthcare para. 6). Cooper andYamaguchi (2011) dispute this weakness by asserting that it ispossible to reach the same acupuncture treatment without piercing apatient. Instead, pressure can be applied in the regions wheretherapists intend to use in controlling energy flow in the meridians.For example, a doctor can utilize the trancutaneous electrical nervestimulation (TENS), which is a form of a decommissioned electricalunit (p. 224).
In conclusion, acupuncture is a valid medical technique that shouldbe included in the procedures offered in hospitals, especially forthe treatment of chronic pain, mental conditions and other commondiseases that lack effective cure in western medicine. The approachhas been in use for several millenniums, with the first officialdocumentation being discovered in year 198 Before the Common Era.Physicians recommend the application of this treatment procedure inthe management of chronic pain since it is minimally invasive, yethighly effective in many cases. Furthermore, the treatment approachinvolves sticking of needles on the patients’ skin, and along themeridian channels, with the intention of controlling the flow ofenergy in the body. Some of the benefits identified by this treatmentapproach over the western medication include negligible adverseeffects and quick pain relief, as well as insignificant negativeeffects.
Works Cited
Cooper, Edwin L, and Nobuo Yamaguchi. Complementary andAlternative Approaches to Biomedicine. New York: Springer, 2011.Print.
Gillette Children`s Specialty Healthcare. “Acupuncture may be aViable Option to Manage Pain in Children with Complex MedicalConditions.” News Medical Life Sciences, 24 August 2016,news-medical.net/news/20160824/Acupuncture-may-be-viable-option-to-manage-pain-in-children-with-complex-medical-conditions.aspx.15 Dec. 2015.
Lippelt, Ulrich Wilhelm. The Five Elements and Other EssentialRules in Acupuncture Treatment. Bloomington, Author House. 2011.Print.
Mandal, Ananya. “Acupuncture History.” News Medical LifeSciences, 26 Apr. 2013,news-medical.net/health/Acupuncture-History. 15 Dec. 2015.
Montakab, Hamid. Acupuncture for Insomnia: Sleep and Dreams inChinese Medicine. Stuttgart: Thieme, 2012. Print.
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