Acupuncture Therapy For Neurological Conditions
An increasing number of people seem to believe in the viability of acupuncture therapy for neurological conditions. In fact, organizations such as WHO or the World Health Organization and the NIH or National Institutes of Health have both gone on record in support of acupuncture therapy for neurological conditions as well as for a variety of medical conditions. That being said, the claims of the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy for neurological conditions have been subjected to some criticism from certain sectors of the medical community. Among the most significant issues raised by the detractors of the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy for neurological conditions were the supposed bias of these organizations, and their dependence on studies using unaccepted methodologies.
Definition of acupuncture
Acupuncture therapy for neurological conditions of course relies on acupuncture. A treatment procedure that originated in the Orient, acupuncture involves inserting extremely fine needles into the skin at specific spots on the body. These areas are called acu-points, and they are thought to function as sort of valves, controlling the flow of Qi or body energy throughout the body. According to proponents of acupuncture therapy for neurological conditions, this would result in:
- Restoration of proper circulation
- Easing of pain
- Enhancement of the carrying out of the functions of the body, in a process known as homeostasis
Dispute
As mentioned previously, organizations such as WHO and the NIH have both released statements attesting to the potential effectiveness of acupuncture therapy for neurological conditions, as well as pain management. However, a number of other organizations have questioned these conclusions, stating their apparent pro-acupuncture stance, and their use of studies not based on scientific methodologies.
Among the organizations that have assessed the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy for neurological conditions and other health issues are the NCCAM or National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and AMA or American Medical Association. These and other government organizations in the United States mostly agree that acupuncture is generally safe in the hands of a qualified practitioner. That being said, few other organizations other than WHO and the NIH have voiced their support to acupuncture therapy for neurological conditions.
Acupuncture has also been proposed as an effective treatment and rehabilitative procedure for stroke patients. However, this too has been subject to some disagreement. Detractors of acupuncture therapy have voiced doubts as to the effectiveness of the treatment, citing the natural post-stroke recovery process that most victims undergo as a matter of course.
Common symptoms addressed by acupuncture
Among the most common symptoms addressed by acupuncture therapy for neurological conditions are:
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Neuralgia
- Hemiplegia
Other non-neurological conditions commonly treated with acupuncture include strokes and their subsequent physiological results. In fact, acupuncture has been proven particularly effective in the treatment of post-stroke paresis.
One other condition in which acupuncture has shown some promise is hemiplegia. In studies conducted on patients that had cerebral infarction, it was shown that acupuncture was even more effective than conventional medication and physiotherapy. Furthermore, acupuncture is also apparently more effective when performed in conjunction with rehabilitation.