Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years. While it’s still commonly performed in its traditional form, individuals have altered it throughout the years to accommodate and treat different medical conditions. Acupuncture has been shown to work thru various means that western science has proven. These are up regulating endogenous opioids (pain relievers: enkephalin, beta-endorphin, endomorphin and dynorphin) and down regulating substance P (a pain chemical), reducing local inflammation by inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, increase nitric oxide and local blood flow.
As such, there are now many different types of acupuncture treatment available. Wondering what these different types of acupuncture are? Read on. This article is going to cover the most common types of acupuncture in existence in the world today.
Traditional Chinese Acupuncture
When acupuncture was first performed around 5,000 years ago, Traditional Chinese Acupuncture was the type of acupuncture that was used. Still the most widely used type of macro acupuncture in existence, it has proven highly effective in the treatment of headache, chronic pain, depression, fatigue, insomnia, and a variety of other conditions.
When undergoing this type of acupuncture, you will have needles placed in specific points all over your body. While your acupuncturist might target one body part more than the others, he or she will likely take a whole-body approach to the procedure.
Five Element Acupuncture
Is a macro system of acupuncture, using the standard Chinese body acupuncture points in a particular order and combination, that results in removing blockages to health and restoring psychological-emotional balance. It is used to help many patients with energy problems as opposed to purely pain problems which TCM, French Energetics, Auricular and scalp acupuncture is very good at.
Japanese Acupuncture
Japanese Acupuncture shares a lot of similarities with Traditional Chinese Acupuncture. In fact, during a Japanese Acupuncture procedure, the acupuncturist will target the same points as he or she would during a Traditional Chinese Acupuncture treatment.
Where the two types of acupuncture differ is in the amount of stimulation provided. Generally, Japanese Acupuncture involves fewer and thinner needles than Traditional Chinese Acupuncture does.
It should also be noted that Japanese Acupuncture typically involves massaging the body. This is generally done to stimulate and soothe the area of the body before a needle is inserted.
An apt description might be to say that Japanese Acupuncture is more relaxing than Traditional Chinese Acupuncture. It involves less extreme stimulation and is generally regarded as a more subtle procedure overall.
Korean Hand Acupuncture
Aptly named this micro system of acupuncture, Korean Hand Acupuncture, is a form of acupuncture in which the hand is stimulated exclusively. Making use of “micro-meridians”, where the whole body is represented in the hands, Korean Hand acupuncturists will insert small needles in an attempt to eliminate stress and dysfunction throughout the body.
Body parts that can be targeted during Korean Hand Acupuncture include the lungs, the kidneys, the stomach, and the intestines, to name just a few. While this form of acupuncture isn’t as commonly used as the ones discussed above, it has been reported to provide positive results.
Auricular Acupuncture
Auricular Acupuncture works under the same principle as Korean Hand Acupuncture, a micro system that involves the ears as opposed to the hands. While it’s often used in the treatment of alcoholism and other forms of drug addiction, it can be used to treat ailments in all parts of the body.
As with Korean Hand Acupuncture, Auricular Acupuncture isn’t used as commonly as Japanese and Traditional Chinese Acupuncture. However, we at the Feely Center provide auricular acupuncture with or without needles.
Scalp Acupuncture
The last form of acupuncture that we’re going to discuss is scalp acupuncture. Aptly named, this form of acupuncture involves placing needles into the scalp. An extremely safe treatment, it works by stimulating the neurons in the brain.
Scalp acupuncture has shown effective results in treating depression, acute and chronic pain along with a number of different conditions, including but not limited to Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, paralysis, and Phantom Limb Syndrome/pain.
A single scalp acupuncture session generally takes around a half-hour to complete. For best results, it’s recommended that you engage in sessions two to three times a week.
Osteopathic Physician and Acupuncture in Chicago
Now that you’ve learned about the different types of acupuncture, perhaps you’re interested in undergoing acupuncture yourself? If so, and if you’re looking for macro or micro system acupuncture treatment in Chicago, the Feely Center for Optimal Health has you covered. Drs. Feely and Sharma Chicago Osteopathic Physicians, have vast experience with acupuncture procedures.
Contact us today to set up an appointment!
