Acupuncture, the therapy with the needles, was developed in China about 3000 years ago. Its oldest written record can be found as early as the second century BC. In the second half of the twentieth century, this method of treatment spread throughout Europe. Today it is often used in addition to conventional medicine.
However, acupuncture should only be carried out in consultation with the treating doctor and should not be the only treatment method for some diseases.
Acupuncture is supposed to steer Qi in the right direction
The word acupuncture has its origin in Latin and comes from acus, the needle, and punctio, the sting. The basis of acupuncture is a traditional Asian concept of the body, which differs from western knowledge of anatomy and body functions: According to Asian understanding, the life energy Qi flows through. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it should flow through the body in the channels, the so-called meridians, and be easily accessible at more than 700 points just below the skin surface. About 400 of them are used as acupuncture points.
According to this old teaching, people are healthy when the energy flows harmoniously. However, if the Qi flow is disturbed, which is supposed to happen through cold, warmth, poor nutrition or psychological factors, then illness and pain can occur. Acupuncture is said to remove these blockages of the Qi flow.
The Chinese descriptions of the organs correspond less to fixed anatomical units, but are rather concepts of functional groups that describe inter-organ functional relationships - such as the immune system , which conventional medicine doctors would not attribute to a specific organ.
Do happiness hormones work in acupuncture?
What exactly happens with acupuncture in the body has not yet been fully clarified in conventional medicine. New studies indicate that the needlestick in the brain can trigger an increased release of pain-relieving and mood-enhancing substances. These substances, colloquially often referred to as "happiness hormones", include serotonin and endorphins.
Small needle prick treatment
With acupuncture treatment, which usually takes place when the patient is lying down, needles are inserted into the patient's skin at selected points depending on the illness. The sterile disposable needles are specially ground, so the patient feels little, occasionally minimal, initial puncture pain. After a while, a dull feeling of heaviness or warmth can develop in the treated areas. The needles remain in the skin for about 20 to 30 minutes. Special stimulation techniques are used to achieve certain effects. The needles can also be warmed (moxibustion), stimulated with subliminal stimulation current or moved up and down.
There are also other methods to influence acupuncture points. During acupressure, the therapist massages acupuncture points with the fingers. In laser acupuncture, the point is reached with a weak, imperceptible laser light pulse.
When can acupuncture help?
In recent years, several studies have shown that acupuncture can be helpful for the treatment of certain types of pain, but also for relieving nausea and vomiting, and for facilitating childbirth . In a large Germany-wide study, the therapy with the needles for knee osteoarthritis, headache and back pain could help to alleviate the pain significantly and, for example, reduce the number of days with headache to half with tension headache.
In addition, there are also indications that acupuncture could help with a number of widespread diseases such as hay fever , tennis elbow, menstrual cramps, allergic asthma or functional stomach and intestinal complaints.
Modifications can also trigger effects
However, studies have also shown that an effect can also be achieved if certain points are not stuck correctly. A sham treatment with "accidental stinging" at neighboring points had similar positive effects. Therefore, some therapists use so-called non-specific or minimal acupuncture, in which, in comparison to the traditional Chinese form, the needles are not inserted directly into the skin at the traditional therapy points. A study by the Techniker Krankenkasse found no measurable differences in the effectiveness of the two forms.
For which complaints is acupuncture suitable?
According to the World Health Organization's list of indications, acupuncture is used, for example, for chronic pain, respiratory diseases, allergies , gastrointestinal problems and gynecological diseases. Acupuncture during the last few weeks of pregnancy can help shorten the birth process. But also here applies: The treatment should be discussed with the doctor.
Acupuncture is not recommended, for example, in the case of severe coagulation disorders, severe psychiatric disorders and unclear findings that require immediate clarification.
Does the health insurance company pay?
Since 2007, German statutory health insurance companies have been paying for acupuncture treatment as part of pain therapy for the lumbar spine or knee joint arthrosis if the treating doctor has demonstrated high-quality acupuncture training. All other acupuncture treatments are usually not provided by the statutory health insurance and must be paid for yourself. Treatment costs are roughly between 30 and 70 euros per session.
Where can I find a certified therapist?
For example on the homepages of the acupuncture companies: At the German Medical Association for Acupuncture (www.daegfa.de *) or at the Societas Medicinae Sinensis (www.tcm.edu *) you can find certified acupuncture doctors nearby by entering the postcode.
* www.apotheken-umschau.de assumes no liability and is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
Advisory expert: Dr. med. Stefan Englert, general practitioner and therapist for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) from Ravensburg
