Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a complementary therapy that is being used in the day-to-day management of pain. It originated in China, over 3000 years ago and is practised worldwide. The Traditional theory of action is that fine needles (32–36 gauge) are inserted into body locations known as acupoints. There are 356 mapped points located on meridians or channels of energy flow on the surface of the body. In the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) system, the body is seen as a balance of two opposing forces: yin and yang. Yin represents the cold, slow, or passive principle, while yang represents the hot, excited, or active principle.

A major assumption in Traditional Chinese Medicine is that health is achieved by maintaining the body in a ‘balanced state’ and that disease is as a result of an internal imbalance of yin and yang. This imbalance leads to blockage in the flow of Qi (vital energy) along pathways known as meridians. It is believed that there are 12 main meridians and 8 secondary meridians and that there are more than 2000 acupuncture points on the human body that connect with them.

The article, "Acupuncture in Pain Management," also gives good explanation about the traditional theory of action, techniques in acupuncture, acupoints and their locations, the mechanism of action, the evidence for efficacy, clinical applications and lastly, the contraindications and adverse effects of acupuncture.

From: Wilkinson, R., & Faleiro, R. (2007). Acupuncture in pain management.Continuing Education in Anaesthesia and Critical Care Pain, 7, 135-138. doi:10.1093/bjaceaccp/mkm021