ACUPUNCTURE

Khan Mudasir Qamar

M.Sc Nursing 1st year
AIIMS Jodhpur
 ACUPUNCTURE
 Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through your skin at strategic points on
your body. A key component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is most commonly
used to treat pain. Increasingly, it is being used for overall wellness, including stress
management.
 More than 3 million Americans use acupuncture, but it is even more popular in other countries.
In France, for example, one in five people has tried acupuncture.
 Traditional acupuncture is based on the belief that an energy, or "life force", flows through the
body in channels called meridians. This life force is known as Qi.
 Theory: Practitioners who adhere to traditional beliefs about acupuncture believe that when Qi
does not flow freely through the body, this can cause illness. They also believe acupuncture can
restore the flow of Qi, and so restore health.
 HOW ACUPUNCTURE WORKS
 Prior to getting acupuncture, acupuncturist asks about health history and may do a physical
examination.
During the acupuncture session, thin needles are placed in specific areas to address concern or
condition. The acupuncturist may gently twist the needles for added effect. The needles are often
left in for 15 to 20 minutes, with the total session lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

 Acupuncture seeks to release the flow of the body's vital energy or "chi" by stimulating points
along 14 energy pathways. Some scientists believe that the needles cause the body to release
endorphins -- natural painkillers -- and may boost blood flow and change brain activity.
Skeptics say acupuncture works only because people believe it will, an effect called the placebo
effect.
 HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE FEEL LIKE?
 Acupuncture is done using hair-thin needles. Most people report feeling minimal pain as the
needle is inserted. The needle is inserted to a point that produces a sensation of pressure or ache.
 Needles may be heated during the treatment or mild electric current may be applied to
them. Some people report acupuncture makes them feel energized. Others say they feel relaxed.
 Improper placement of the needle can cause pain during treatment. Needles must be sterilized to
prevent infection. 
 The FDA regulates acupuncture needles just as it does other medical devices under good
manufacturing practices and single-use standards of sterility.
 People have tried acupuncture for neck pain, muscle pain, tennis elbow, and menstrual cramps,
hoping to avoid medications and their side effects. The World Health Organization lists 28
different conditions that are sometimes treated with acupuncture.
 Instead of needles, other forms of stimulation are sometimes used over the acupuncture points,
including:
 Moxibustion: This involves the use of heated sticks, made from dried herbs, held near the
acupuncture needles to warm and stimulate the acupuncture points.
 Electroacupuncture: An electrical device is connected to several needles, providing a weak
electrical current that stimulates the acupuncture needles during the treatment.
 Cupping: Glass or silicone cups are applied to the skin so that there is a suction effect, which
aims to help stimulate blood flow and balance your energy.
 Pressure (acupressure)
 HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE AFFECT THE
BODY
 Acupuncture points are believed to stimulate the central nervous system. This, in turn, releases
chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These biochemical changes may stimulate
the body's natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.
 Main Mechanisms of Action
 There are three main mechanisms of action:
 Conduction of electromagnetic signals
 Activation of opioid systems
 Changes in brain chemistry sensation, and Involuntary body functions
 National Institutes of Health (NIH) studies have shown that acupuncture is an
effective treatment alone or in combination with conventional therapies to treat
the following:

 Nausea caused by surgical anaesthesia and  Fibromyalgia

cancer chemotherapy  Myofascial pain
 Dental pain after surgery  Osteoarthritis
 Addiction  Low back pain
 Headaches  Carpal tunnel syndrome
 Menstrual cramps  Asthma
 Tennis elbow  It may also help with stroke rehabilitation.
 W H AT C O N D I T I O N S M AY B E N E F I T F R O M
ACUPUNCTURE?
 Gastritis  Eye-Ear-Throat
Irritable bowel syndrome
 Rhinitis
Hepatitis
Sinusitis
Hemorrhoids
Sore throat
 Anxiety
 Gynecological
Depression
 Menstrual pain
Insomnia
Infertility
Nervousness
Neurosis
 Musculoskeletal  Neurological
 Arthritis  Headaches
Back pain Migraines
Muscle cramping Neurogenic bladder dysfunction
Muscle pain and weakness Parkinson's disease
Neck pain Postoperative pain
Sciatica Stroke
 Respiratory
 Miscellaneous
Allergic rhinitis  Irritable bladder
 Sinusitis Prostatitis
Bronchitis Male infertility
Some forms of impotence
Addiction
SIDE EFFECTS

 Pain and bleeding from the needle  Skin rash

insertion
 Allergic reaction
 Nausea
 Bruising around the area the
 Infections needles were placed

 Dizziness
 ACUPUNCTURE BENEFITS FOR STRESS
AND ANXIETY
Individuals experiencing symptoms of anxiety or stress disorders of various kinds can benefit from
acupuncture. Some of these conditions include:

 Generalized Anxiety Disorder

 Social Anxiety Disorder
 Panic Disorder
 PTSD
 Acute Stress Disorder
 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and more
 Acupuncture Benefits for Depression
PA R K I N S O N ’ S D I S E A S E

A study found that patients who suffer from Parkinson's can benefit from
receiving acupuncture treatments on a regular basis.
Improvements were seen in:
 Balance
 Gait
 Length stride
 A C U P U N C T U R E I N P S Y C H I AT R I C I L L N E S S

 Scientific research has found that acupuncture increases a number of central nervous system hormones (ACTH,
beta-endorphins, serotonin, and noradrenaline) and urinary levels of MHPG-sulfate, an adrenergic metabolite
inversely related to the severity of illness in schizophrenics.
 Acupuncture can have positive effects on depression and anxiety, although evidence is still lacking as to its true
efficacy for these conditions. To the authors' knowledge, no trials have been conducted for schizophrenia, and
researchers evaluating acupuncture in cases of substance abuse have found conflicting results. Further research is
warranted.
 R E S E A R C H A RT I C L E

 Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of

randomised controlled trials
 Xiang-Yun Yang , Ning-Bo Yang , Fang-Fang Huang , Shuai Ren , Zhan-Jiang Li 

 Abstract

 Background: A number of studies have shown the positive effects of acupuncture on state
anxiety. However, the efficacy of acupuncture in treating anxiety disorder remains unclear. This
review and meta-analysis aimed to explore whether acupuncture has a positive effect on anxiety
disorder.
 Methods: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published in English and Chinese were found
through various electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Central
Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and the Chinese databases WanFang data, VIP Chinese
Sci tech periodical database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. The primary
outcome variable was extent of anxiety symptoms. The secondary outcomes included side
effects and dropout rate. Effect sizes were pooled by random-effects modelling using Rev
Man 5.3.
 Results: Twenty RCTs were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. All included
studies were designed for patients with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), and 18 studies were
published in Chinese. Egger's test showed that the asymmetry of the funnel plot in all studies
was not significant (t = - 0.34, p = 0.74). The meta-analysis of anxiety symptoms showed that
acupuncture was more effective than the control condition, with a standard mean effect size of -
0.41 (95% CI - 0.50 to - 0.31; p < 0.001), and that acupuncture intervention showed good
tolerance and safety in the treatment of anxiety disorder.
 Conclusion: Our findings suggest that acupuncture therapy aimed at reducing anxiety in
patients with GAD has certain beneficial effects compared to controls. More RCTs with high
quality should be conducted to fully understand the role of acupuncture in the treatment of
various types of anxiety disorder.
S U M M A RY

 Today we discussed about Acupuncture treatment, how it works and in what

all conditions it can be used and what are its side effects.
CONCLUSION

 Acupuncture may be helpful for a variety of concerns, including some mental

health disorders, pain, inflammatory conditions, stress, and skin appearance.
However, keep in mind that acupuncture can lead to mild or serious side
effects in some individuals.
 An acupuncture session can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and
usually involves about 20 minutes with the needles in.
REFERNCES

 K P Neeraja “Essentials of mental health and Psychiatric Nursing” Published by Jaypee. 

 R Sreevani “A guide to mental health & Psychiatric Nursing” Published by Jaypee.  

 Stuart Gail W, Laraia Michele T.Principles and practice of Psychiatric nursing.8th edition

Elsevi Elizabeth M .Varcarolis; Foundations Of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing; Saunders
Publications ;6th Edition. 

 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
 https://www.frontiersin.org 

 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3200/BMED.34.2.55-64
THANK YOU