Acupuncture: first treatment for pain

The term acupuncture comes from the Latin "acus" needle "punctura" puncture. The growing interest in understanding and applying the Acupuncture in the West, has led to the creation of research groups internationally with the aim of elucidating the mechanisms of action. That is why the call Acupuncture Contemporary takes a step up from the classic Chinese acupuncture, because it uses the anatomical and pathophysiological knowledge available today under the umbrella of evidence-based medicine.

The list of diseases that can be treated with acupuncture is very broad because it has four pillars of action:

• Analgesic
• Antiinflamatorio
• antidepressant
• anxiolytic

Acupuncture treatment in rheumatology

In the specialty of Rheumatology, the effectiveness of acupuncture is based on growing scientific evidence showing recent publications. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in rheumatology and musculoskeletal system, the most common applications are related to treat any type of musculoskeletal pain, both acute and chronic, for its important effect of neuromodulation device.

Acupuncture techniques

The main specialized techniques of acupuncture are as follows:

• Body Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific points chamfered body for a specific purpose. It is the technique queen par excellence.
• Auriculoterapia: it involves inserting needles or seeds titanium semi - permanent place in specific areas outside the pinna.. It is an extremely useful for controlling processes in which people try to remove a toxic habit, such as smoking, or seek to reduce states of anxiety and depression as those associated with overweight or fibromyalgia technique.
• Electroacupuncture: is the application of low intensity modulated current. Has a variable rate, thanks to tiny electrodes, which amplifies the classic effect of body acupuncture. It is a very useful technique to treat chronic pain: arthritis, back pain, tendinitis or neck pain, among others.

Several very prestigious scientific societies have published in their clinical practice guidelines recommendations for acupuncture as a therapeutic procedure. Some of these companies are the American College of Physicians, the American Pain Society and the British NICE Guidelines "NHS", considered the most restrictive concepts of efficiency.

Importantly Acupuncture is a medical procedure and as such must always be performed by a qualified professional and accredited to ensure proper praxis. Experts say that acupuncture should be the first choice in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain.

Edited by Noelia García Pino