Electro-acupuncture (EA) is the stimulation of acupuncture needles with alternating electrical currents for therapeutic purposes. EA greatly enhances acupuncture therapy’s effectiveness for releasing muscle tension and promoting acupucture's analgesic effect. Often used in Orthopedic style acupuncture, needles are inserted into what Chinese Medicine calls "Ahshi" points or pain points. These points often correspond to what Western Medicine considers trigger points, muscle knots, and motor points. The needles are then attached to a device that generates continuous electrical pulses between them.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an important component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Practitioners insert (painless) thin needles into your skin at strategic points on your body to manipulate the nervous system and change your physiology. It is becoming widely accepted as a complementary therapy with western medicine and is used for pain, stress, women's health, digestive ailments, and hundreds of more health conditions. Acupuncture can treat almost anything non-emergent with little to no side-effects. Our Regisitered Acupuncturists use Acupuncture, Orthopedic Acupuncture (trigger point needling) as well as other therapies such as moxibustion, cupping, tui na (Chinese Medical Massage) and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine to address individual patient needs. Book Acupuncture in Kamloops or book Acupuncture in Sun Peaks
How Acupuncture Works
It has many benefits for the body and mind
- Promotes Healing: Offering a small electrical prompt to the body to restore homeostasis & balance.
- Releases Blockages: Releasing areas of blocked Qi, which stimulates organ function & promotes health
- Improves Circulation: Promoting circulation in the body improves function where needed
- Decreases Pain: Acting as a natural analgesic, acupuncture interrupts pain signaling and releases tense, tight trigger points.
- Balances Body Chemistry: Influencing the body’s biochemical responses via the nervous system.
- Reduces Inflammation: Reducing pro-inflammatory markers, or proteins, in the body.
Learn more about what acupuncture treats on our FAQ page
What is Qi?
The most basic concept of Chinese Medicine is that of Qi. There are many interpretations of this term, but in its most basic sense, it is the relationship between structure and function. It is Qi that moves within our bodies: it is what is alive in us.
In health, Qi is harmonious on all levels. In disease, Qi is adversely affected by being blocked, insufficient, or misguided. When Qi is out of balance, other mechanisms of the body are in turn affected. For example, we can use the analogy of a river, which can’t flow smoothly along its course due to braches or rocks or insufficient water. This metaphor applies also applied to Qi. If the course is blocked, it can lead to buildup, obstruction and stagnation. This can lead to unhealthy fluids and other pathogenic states. Similarly, if qi is depleted, the flow is also affected and body organs don’t get the nourishment they need to be vibrant and healthy.
How Does Acupuncture Treat Disease?
The Chinese Medical model uses several types of diagnosis to assess the flow and function of Qi in the body, and determine the nature of the imbalance. This is a lot like a Western doctor monitoring the flow of blood through the vessels or messages traveling along the nerves. We go through an intake form together, look at your tongue, feel your pulse, and do orthopeadic examinations to determine the best treatment strategy for you. Once a Chinese medical pattern of imbalance is identified, it is treated by inserting needles into specific acupoints along the affected meridians.
Meridians are distinct channels that traverse the surface and interior of the human body, carrying Qi. We now know that these meridian lines are fascial trains that conduct pizoelectricity to facilitate therapeutic change. Acupuncture channels often follow the pathways of nerves and blood vessels, and along these pathways there are distinct points where the Qi can be influenced. Acupuncture modulates the flow of Qi by guiding it to where it is needed and dispersing it from where it is obstructed. There is a saying in Chinese medicine that states where there is no free flow of Qi, there is pain or disease. Acupuncture seeks to restore the free flow of qi.
You can read more about how acupuncture works on our blog.
What is Electro-Acupuncture
This application augments the use of regular acupuncture, and is particularly good for treating pain. See our Sports Acupuncture Page under the services tab to learn more.