Applying an electrical current to needles may have been practiced as early as the 1800s in Italy and France, but others believe it didn't come into existence until the 1950s.
Today, it is widely practiced and offered by most practitioners of holistic and homeopathic medicine and is seen as an extension of both traditional acupuncture and hand manipulation.
Electroacupuncture provides stronger, as well as more prolonged stimulation, to the acupoints. It was found that traditional acupuncture did not provide strong enough stimulation to treat more difficult ailments and hand manipulation alone actually led to the practitioner becoming fatigued themselves before certain conditions could be properly alleviated. It came about as a way to solve these two common dilemmas of the more traditional techniques in order to provide increased relief.
Principles of Electroacupuncture
A low-level, pulsating electrical current is passed through specialized acupuncture needles in electroacupuncture. The needles are inserted into or near the normal acupoints except those points that are located near the heart. After the needles are inserted they're accompanied by some hand manipulation of the area to prepare the point. This also lets the practitioner choose the best frequency and intensity for the current based on the needs of the patient. A small electrode is then connected to the needle. A gentle, pulsing current is passed through the needle in order to provide constant stimulation to the point as the patient relaxes.
Modern electroacupuncture equipment allows for the intensity of the current to be easily adjusted and controlled by the practitioner. This allows for much stronger, but still very gentle, stimulation when necessary. Practitioners may also adjust the frequency of the pulses as well in order to optimize the results and speed the healing process. Both intensity and frequency used depends upon the exact condition being treated and assessments made during the beginning hand manipulation.
More Advantages and Benefits of Electroacupuncture
In addition to being able to prolong as well as control the stimulation of the acupoints, electroacupuncture also stimulates a much larger area. As a result, accuracy of needle placement is less important and fewer needles are needed. The use of needles is actually unnecessary in some cases. In these instances the electrodes are adhered directly to the skin. This is great for people who have a fear of needles or suffer from a condition that makes traditional acupuncture dangerous.
Because of the continuous and consistent stimulation it provides, electroacupuncture can help to speed the healing time of some conditions and patients often require fewer treatments overall. Patients also don't require constant attention from their practitioner and the practitioner may see other patients while the current is being applied. This allows the practitioner to truly maximize their time and provide relief to many more people.
What Conditions Can It Treat?
Electroacupuncture can be used in place of hand manipulation as well as traditional acupuncture, but is particularly ideal for more difficult to treat ailments such as neurological conditions. Like traditional acupuncture it is great for a wide variety of conditions from many degrees of pain and muscle spasms to acne and nausea. Chronic pain is best dealt with using electroacupuncture because both stronger and more prolonged stimulation is needed for relief. Migraines as well as sciatica and optic nerve pain are all effectively treated as well. Knee, elbow and shoulder injuries are also commonly treated using electroacupuncture because it promotes healing as well as relieves the pain associated with the injuries.
In addition, recent studies have also indicated that electroacupuncture may lower blood pressure and even reduce the risk of heart disease when used regularly. Regular treatments provide all patients with increased vitality and a greater sense of well-being, just as traditional acupuncture does. Some practitioners have also seen results using these techniques to treat various forms of paralysis. All of those makes electroacupuncture a viable and highly useful part of a health regimen as well as treatment option.
Robert Vena is a leading Acupuncturist in NJ with additional offices in New Jersey. Learn more about acupuncture treatments by visiting his website.
