• Generally about Obesity
• Cellulite treatment
• Rejuvenating with acupuncture

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method of treatment, where needle pressure and puncture is applied to exact points on the skin.

The word itself, comes from  latin words  ACUS =needle, and PUNGERE= puncture.
This treatment method was named by European missionaries, who visited China at the end of the 16th century, and who with them, brought back the news of a Chinese medical treatment using needles.The “invention” of acupuncture is tied to a story of a warrior, wounded with an arrow. The arrow was removed and the wound healed. It was noticed that an unrelated ailment of another part of the body was healed as well.
The first writings on acupuncture can be found in Ancient China 2800 B.C.
Huang Di Nei Jing-The Yellow Emperor ( 2698 – 2596 ) is the author of the first written medical literature. His text is written in a form of a dialogue, between an Emperor and his physician, and it consists of two parts:

• “SIMPLE QUESTIONS”- which consists of the Principals of General Medicine
• "MAGIC DOORS”- where he describes various therapeutic methods – i.e. herbal acupuncture, surgery, and healing with energy.

As noted above, the first news of acupuncture, was brought from China toward the end of 16th century, and already, by the year1682, the first medical dissertation in the field of acupuncture was completed in London.
The most prominent name in the field of acupuncture in all Europe is Mr. George Soulie de Morant, a diplomat, who dedicated himself in his studies, to the field of acupuncture and was named by Chinese the “physician teacher”. Thanks to his work, the International Society of Acupuncture, with its headquarters in Paris was founded in 1946.
In 1979. WHO (World Health Organization) recognized acupuncture as a valid treatment method and issued a list of diseases that can be successfully treated by acupuncture, for example:

• Periarthritis of the shoulder

• Sports injuries
• Ischialgia
• Joint contractures and ankylosis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Tenosynovitis
• Neuralgias
• Peripheral nerve damage
• Headaches
• Migraines
• Stress
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Neuroses
• Hypertension and hypotension
• Rhinitis
• Allergies
• Bronchitis
• Asthma
• Sinusitis
• Ringing sensation in the ears-tinnitus
• Abnormalities of the digestive tract
• Infertility
• Menstrual irregularities
• Dysmenorrheal pain
• Variety of skin disorders
• Cosmetic treatments (wrinkles, cellulite)
• Slowing down the aging process
• Addictions- smoking, obesity

HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?

Scientific look into the mechanisms of action, started approximately 30 years ago. To understand traditional and modern theories, first we have to understand what happens during the treatment process, where there are both, subjective and objective sensations present:
Subjective – pain (which depends on the skill of  physician) and De Qi phenomenon ( deep sensation of pain, fullness, and numbness)
Objective – analgesia, sedation, homeostasis, immunologic and psychological effects.
One of more recent scientific theories claims endorphin release with treatment. Endorphins are naturally occurring neuropeptides, that bind  to pain receptors in the brain, and therefore  have strong analgesic effects. Stimulation of the acupressure points stimulates release of endorphins, and that is why acupuncture is so successful in treatment of various pain syndromes.

TYPES OF TREATMENT WITH ACUPUNCTURE

The first needles used by Chinese were made of stone, then bones, and bamboo. With the historical development of  the metal age, the needles used were made of metal as well.  Technical advances in the modern era resulted in needles made of stainless steel and various metal alloys, which are intended for one time use, to increase safety and prevent transfer of possible infections from one patient to another.
Thermopuncture or Moxabustion- Moxa is the powdered leaves of Artemisia vulgaris or mugwort which is burnt near or on an acupuncture point.

Commonly, with the traditional acupuncture treatments, one uses electroacupuncture, which consists of deep electrostimulation through the point inserted acupuncture needles.

Acupuncture according to dr. Voll- is a method that uses EAV organometer, invented by dr. Voll from Germany.

Laser acupuncture- is based on the usage of a laser light, which is monochromatic, polarized, and coherent in nature. Laser acupuncture is an antiseptic, noninvasive and painless method, which if used properly, doesn’t have any adverse side effects.
Laser light is aimed to the skin at 0 - 0.5 mm distance, and depending on the laser strength, points get stimulated every 5 – 30 seconds.  Patients are increasingly asking for this type of treatment. There are several reasons for it: it is an individual session where the therapist is completely devoted to the patient, it is completely painless, there is no risk of infections involved (AIDS, Hepatitis B or C ), and the treatment is relatively short, it takes only about fifteen minutes.

EAR ACUPUNCTURE

The ear is an independent microsystem, that affects the whole body. In ear acupuncture there is an exact distribution of points based on the concept of rotated fetus.The head is located at the ear base, feet at its top, and the body in between.
The system of diagnostics and treatment with ear acupuncture is relatively recent. It was first started when dr. Paul Nogier, studied ear scars in  patients successfully treated suffering from ischial syndrome by natural healers.
Dr. Voll mapped out the ears based on the concept of reversed fetal intrauterine position. His work was first published in France, then by the German Society of Acupuncture, and finally it was translated into chinese.
Whereas body acupuncture uses pulse and tongue diagnostic methods, auricular diagnostics is by observation of any changes in ear lobe color, sensitivity, skin peeling and/or increased skin conductivity.
Body acupuncture and ear acupuncture can both be used in treating and easing wide varieties of pain and various pathologic conditions by use of acupressure, acupressure massage, magnets, grain kernels, acupuncture needles, electroacupuncture and laser stimulation.
Ear acupuncture is used for treatment of a wide variety of clinical abnormalities, which include headaches, chronic back pain, hypertension, allergies, stress, smoking cessation, insomnia, and weight reduction.
Opposite to the body acupuncture, needle puncture to the lobes, can produce sensations of pain, warmth, heaviness and the ear itself can become red and sensitive, but, this is only temporary.
Ear acupuncture treatment can be administered in two different ways: by needle puncture to ear points, and by leaving the needle in place approximately 30 minutes. This is performed every other day,  (acute cases 5-10 treatments,  chronic 10-20 treatments). The second way is by introducing intradermal - permanent needles that the patient constantly carries and can stimulate her/himself. The needles have to be replaced every seven days.
Contraindications and eventual complications:

• not to treat certain points in pregnant women
• not to treat patients that are under the influence of alcohol
• after  treatment, some rare patients can feel dizzy and need to lie down for some time.

Ear acupuncture is more economical and easier to apply, doesn’t require undressing the patient, and ear is easily approachable for diagnostics and treatment, while the patient is sitting or lying down.