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Facts You Should Know about Neuro-acupuncture

Does the term “neuro-acupuncture” ring a bell? If no, continue reading to learn some facts about it. Before that, you should know that the nervous system is a complex and highly specialized parts of the body that coordinate its activities. From seeing things around us to conversing with people, memory to breathing, perceiving odors to walking, all these functions and more are only possible when the nervous system is working. It is divided into two major systems: central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) and peripheral nervous system (all the neural elements such as peripheral and autonomic nerves). Other key organs of the system include the eyes, ears, sense of taste, sense of smell, and sensory receptors.

When something goes awry in the system, it is said that you have a neurological disorder. Simply put, neurological diseases include a wide range of disorders that disrupt the normal activities of those organs and nerves. Stats have shown that about 20 million Americans experience the condition. Away from the United States, the disorder affects millions of people each year and many of these people don’t even know they have it. In this article, you will learn more facts about this ailment, such as its symptoms, how you can use neuro-acupuncture to treat the symptoms, and various studies that prove its efficacy.

Symptoms of Neurological diseases

Just like all ailments, neurological disorders have signs and symptoms. Some of the symptoms are discussed below:

  • Headache: Most people who have this condition often have headaches and this is common among people of all age brackets. In fact, the headache is sudden and keeps recurring repeatedly. In some instances, the headaches come with stiff necks and light sensitivity. The headache is typically a stress-induced migraine
  • Epilepsy and seizure: When you have a neurological condition, there is a distinct possibility that you may have epilepsy. This is due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain that makes you vulnerable to unprovoked seizures. However, experiencing a seizure at some point in your life doesn’t automatically mean that you are epileptic. However, if you experience it twice or more times, the odds are that you are epileptic
  • Alzheimer’s disease: As people reach the twilight of their lives, they tend to forget things a lot, meaning that memory loss naturally occurs among old people. However, when you have serious signs like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, they are red flags. In this case, you tend to get lost easily, struggle to manage your finances, forget that you have your meal on fire, forget the names of close family members, etc. There are examples where it could be a dementia
  • Stroke: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stroke affects about 800,000 Americans every year. You have a stroke when there is a clot or blockage in the artery, causing blood flow to the brain to cease. Sometimes, people who have neurological conditions also grapple with stroke
  • Parkinson’s disease: When the nerve cells in the brain are damaged, this leads to the drop in dopamine levels. This disorder is called Parkinson’s disease. Stats by the Parkinson’s Foundation indicate that nearly one million Americans have this disorder. Interestingly, it is associated with neurological disorders too. The Foundation also states that over 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease each year. With each passing day, its symptoms often get worse, resulting in changes in posture, walking, and facial expressions.

Using Acupuncture to Treat Neurological Diseases (Neuro-acupuncture)

Both East Asian medicine and Western medicine agree that acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system (CNS). This concept is known as neuro-acupuncture. When the needles are inserted, they produce a sensation of pressure or ache. Sometimes, the specialist heats the needles during the treatment or passes mild electric current through it. Once the warm needles are inserted into the acupoints, people have different sensations. While some patients say they feel relaxed, others feel energized. It is advisable to get an expert to carry out neuro-acupuncture so they can properly place the sterilized needles. Failure to correctly place the needles can cause you serious pain.

In place of disposable needles, an acupuncturist may opt for other forms of simulation, such as heat (moxibustion), pressure (acupressure), friction, suction (cupping), and impulses of electromagnetic energy. The moment this is done, acupuncture stimulates the CNS. In turn, the process releases chemicals into the muscle, spinal cord, brain, and other parts of the body. As the biochemical process continues, the outcome is that it stimulates the body’s natural healing abilities and emotional wellbeing. Studies have shown that neuro-acupuncture can treat disorders in the brain. This is particularly fascinating as the practice can treat both acute and chronic nervous system disorders with no side-effects.

How Neuro-Acupuncture Works

Neuro-acupuncture is divided into 3 forms:

  1. Scalp acupuncture: Here, the target is the head and other points that directly impact the central nervous system. This is considered the most effective as the patient experiences improvements in a matter of seconds
  2. Auricular acupuncture: The emphasis in this form is the ear and other points that affect the CNS
  3. Biomedical acupuncture: Well, this is sometimes referred to as an integrated neuromuscular acupoint system as it targets all parts of the body, including the peripheral and central nervous systems

The moment the therapeutic session starts, the specialist leaves the needles in your body for about 30 minutes. In the end, neuro-acupuncture treats all the symptoms discussed above, including Bell’s palsy, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and neuropathy.

Conclusion

Winding up this article, it is noteworthy that acupuncture helps in treating neurological diseases. In short, in a 2014 research study, researchers identified specific alterations in the neuronal activity and neurotransmitters due to the application of acupuncture. The researchers collaborated with various academic fields, including neurophysiology, molecular genetics and traditional Korean medicine. The team further stated that the positive effects were largely felt when the traditional therapy was used to treat neurological diseases.

Likewise, a 2019 study showed that neuro-acupuncture can be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. This is chiefly because the traditional remedy was used to slow down the accumulation of toxic proteins in neurological diseases, regulate energy supply based on glucose metabolism, and exert various neuroprotective effects. Most studies have also shown that the right acupoints for neuro-acupuncture are Zu-San-Li (ST36), He-Gu (L14), and Nei-Guan (PC6). Other acupoints identified include Yang-Ling-Quan (GB34), Tai-Chong (LV3), Wai-Guan (TE5), etc.

This informative article has walked you through the facts you need to know about neuro-acupuncture. Are you experiencing one or more of the aforementioned symptoms discussed in this article? If so, you can get help by contacting our acupuncture clinic near me now: 754 755 8088.

References

  1. Zhang Z, Wang X, McAlonan GM. Neural acupuncture unit: a new concept for interpreting effects and mechanism of acupuncture. Evid Based Complement and Alternat Med. 2012 Mar; 2012: 429412.
  2. Overview of nervous system disorders. John Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/overview-of-nervous-system-disorders. Accessed June 13, 2022.
  3. Pal S. Incidence and prevalence of major neurological disorders. US Pharm. Jan 2018; 43(1):24.
  4. Who has Parkinson’s? Parkinson’s Foundation. https://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Statistics#:~:text=Who%20Has%20Parkinson’s%3F,to%201.2%20million%20by%202030. Accessed June 12, 2022.
  5. Lee B, Kim S, Park H, et al. Research advances in treatment of neurological and psychological diseases by acupuncture at the Acupuncture Meridian Research Center. Integr Med Res. 2014 Jun; 3(2): 41 -48.
  6. Olsson R. 6 neurological conditions you should look out for. https://www.bannerhealth.com/healthcareblog/teach-me/6-neurological-conditions-and-symptoms-you-should-look-out-for. Revised April 05, 2021. Accessed June 15, 2022.
  7. Guo X, Ma T. Effects of acupuncture on neurological disease in clinical- and animal-based research. Front Integr Neurosci. 2019 Aug; 13:47.
  8. What is acupuncture? John Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/acupuncture#:~:text=What%20is%20acupuncture%3F,practice%20of%20Traditional%20Chinese%20medicine. Accessed June 15, 2022.
  9. Hao JJ. Review of clinical applications of scalp acupuncture for paralysis: an excerpt from Chinese scalp acupuncture. Glob Adv Health Med. 2012 Mar; 1(1): 102 – 121.
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