Electroacupuncture, introduced properly in the mid-20th century, is used in the treatment of different kind of pains with the use of needles and electric current. The basic concept of electroacupuncture dates back to physicians in France and Italy in the 1800s.
According to the FDA,electroacupuncture used for short-term is safe. Although there are some side effects with both short-term as well as long-term usage, they are quite mild. This article speaks about everything you must know and understand regarding electroacupuncture – its functions, it’s process, and its benefits – so that you can also take advantage of it in the long run.
What is electroacupuncture?
Electroacupuncture is a kind of treatment in which a mild electric current is passed through or between acupuncture needles. The voltage of this current ranges from 40 to 80 volts. Through this, the current is not passed in a patient’s body, it just gives a pulsing sensation. The time taken for this therapy is usually 15-20 minutes, and the results are, more often than not, better than plain acupuncture.
The maximum time that an electroacupuncture devicemay take is 30 minutes. It is believed that by inserting needles at certain meridian points, the current can help in clearing blockages mostly known as ‘qi’ or ‘chi’. It helps in treating many illnesses, disorders, and provides relief from pain. It is actually an extension of traditional acupuncture.
How is it different from general acupuncture?
Electroacupuncture, in layman terms, is nothing but a process of plainacupuncture with electrical stimulation. According to some studies, electroacupuncture has the ability to produce more PPDT than general acupuncture, whereas general acupuncture has no relevant analgesic effect. General acupuncture actually refers to the insertion of needles in the body.
It is found that plain acupuncturehas certain limits when it comes to curing a lot of disorders. In fact, after having a session of acupuncture, there are no traces of long-term benefits. Compared to electroacupuncture, it is less effective for pain relief. There is the possibility of accidents or some kind of infections if the practitioner does not concentrate on his work.
What are the benefits of electroacupuncture?
- Reduces inflammation: According to a recent study, electroacupuncture helps in lowering the vascular endothelial growth as well as tumor It has the capacity to control many inflammatory factors which would further lead to reducing inflammation in joints.
- Reduces pain: It has been found out that this therapy of acupuncture with electrical stimulationimproves the correct functioning ofthe brain. This, in turn, causes endorphins and neuropeptide to be released. This helps in reducing the pain. In fact, it is proved that this therapy works better than diclofenac and placebo.
- Muscle stiffness: Stiffness mostly occurs when there is no blood circulation in that part of the body.Electroacupuncture helps in increasing the blood pressure in that area, in short, it increases local microcirculation which in turns leads to a reduction in swelling and enhancement in movement.
Recent studies regarding electroacupuncture:
A recent study was conducted in which 174 people volunteered. They were suffering from mild as well as severe carpal tunnel syndrome. They were treated for some 17 weeks with a recommended electroacupuncture machine. The results were then made on that basis. It was seen that the ones who underwent this therapy experienced less disability and there was an enhancement in their health.
Compared to some surgery undertaken for carpal tunnel, electroacupuncture would be a better option as it is less expensive and more safe. Another study was conducted, in which it was proved that electroacupuncture leads to release of MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells), which help in multiplying of tissues or tissue generation.
What is the future scope of electroacupuncture?
The future scope is to modernize electroacupuncture in such a way that the practitioners would be able to measure the quality of treatment. In this case, both the practitioner and the patient receive feedback. This acupuncture would be a bit cheaper.
An electroacupuncture machine is most likely to become a common sight in the near future. It is expected to possess some extraordinary featureslike being water-resistant or having a removable battery. It will also allow a patient to reuse it. This theory will soon be adopted by many people as it is capable of treating many conditionssuch as depression as well.
Summing it up:
Electroacupuncture helps in providing relief from nausea, sciatica, migraine, ligament injury, chronic pain, knee pain, and much more. It is a very convenient technique for stimulation. It also helps in treating other disorders such as stress or spinal injury. In some cases, it was also seen that the patient’s recovered completely with this therapy.
An electroacupuncture device is soon expected to blow off the fitness world when it comes to creating more and better aspects of treating and preventing disorders. It will soon become a common sight in households given its multiple benefits that are only going to increase in the future a few years down the line.
