Acupuncture for seniors- when it should be considered?

Just the thought of needles is enough to cause an endless stream of perspiration down the foreheads of humans let alone actually letting hundreds of tiny needles pierce your skin to manage pain. For most of us, it is very difficult to wrap our heads around acupuncture which has evolved from an ancient chinese tradition. Just like massage therapy, acupuncture is also gaining popularity as an alternative to heavy medications. If you are a senior suffering from aches and pains, acupuncture may be the answer to your woes. What is acupuncture and how does it work? According to Mayo Clinic, Acupuncture is a form of treatment that involves inserting very thin needles through a person’s skin at strategic points to various depths. The aim of an acupuncture therapist also known as an acupuncturist is to balance the energy of a person. This when done accurately with appropriate combinations is said to help boost well-being and cure some pains. Some research has been done to suggest that acupuncture can help relieve pain. The working of acupuncture is scientifically cloudy. While some say it balances vital energy of an individual, some others claim it has a deep neurological effect. Is acupuncture safe? We will grant you that acupuncture looks dangerous and painful to say the least. However, according to Harvard Health acupuncture is generally safe when performed by an experienced acupuncturist. If you are a resident of Florida and looking for the services of an acupuncturist, many Primary Medical Care Center for Seniors in West Palm Beach offer qualified and experienced professionals at your service. However there are certain risks to be understood before booking an appointment. For example: only sterile, non-toxic needles meant for single use only should be used. Ensure that the therapist uses a fresh package of acupuncture needles to treat you. People using blood thinners should avoid undergoing acupuncture treatment as should people with electronic devices such as a pacemaker or infusion pump. Some side effects include bleeding and soreness at the site of treatment, hepatitis B, dermatitis, nerve damage, increased pain and an occasional injury to an internal organ. When to consider acupuncture for yourself? Acupuncture is found to be effective for various conditions. When it comes to senior healthcare, certain ailments have largely benefitted from the intervention of acupuncture. They are: Body pain and migraines According to National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, acupuncture has proven to help in cases of:rna. Lower back painrnb. Neck painrnc. Osteoarthritisrnd. Knee Pain rne. Headaches and Migraines Miscellaneous conditions According toa publication,the World Health Organization in 2003, through controlled clinical trials have identified four categories of disease and disorders for which acupuncture may be considered to be effective. These are divided on the basis of available evidence. Some of the ailments for which acupuncture is considered to be an effective treatment and which affect senior citizens the most are: a. adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapyrnb. knee painrnc. Strokernd. pain in dentistry (inc. dental pain and temporomandibular dysfunction)rne. rheumatoid arthritisrnf. postoperative pain rng. acute epigastralgia (in peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, and gastrospasm) Apart from physical ailments acupuncture has also aided in alleviating a lot of emotional and mental problems. Acupuncture is said to mitigate the effects of Anxiety, insomnia and depression which are very common in a lot of senior citizens with about 15% of adults aged above 60 suffering from a mental health disorder, according to the World Health Organization. All in all, acupuncture is a reliable adjunct therapy helping mitigate a lot of ailments of senior citizens. Only rule of thumb here is to look for a competent acupuncturist from a Primary Dedicated Medical Care Center for Seniors in West Palm Beach to ensure a worry-free session and give acupuncture a try.