Compared with the ancient Chinese healing methods of acupuncture, which have been used for thousands of years, electroacupuncture is a relatively new form of alternative treatment. Combining traditional acupuncture with the more modern electrotherapy, electroacupuncture has been studied as a possible alternative treatment for a variety of issues. To ensure safe care, always consult your doctor before beginning alternative therapies like acupuncture or electroacupuncture.
Traditional Acupuncture
Within the framework of traditional Chinese medicine, illness is thought to be the result of imbalances in the body’s vital energy, which is known as qi. Acupuncture is one of the many modalities TCM practitioners use to restore that balance and return the body to a state of health. This is done by inserting slender metal needles into the skin to stimulate traditional acupuncture points, which lie along meridians thought to carry qi throughout the body.
Electroacupuncture
Practitioners of electroacupuncture stimulate the same acupuncture points designated by TCM, using similar fine, hairlike metal needles. In electroacupuncture, however, the needles are connected with clips and wires to a device that generates a small electrical current. Two needles are inserted into the acupuncture points to allow the current to flow from one needle to the other, affecting the acupuncture point and the surrounding tissues. Patients may feel a slight tingling sensation from the current during electroacupuncture treatment, but usually, the current is so low that it cannot be felt.
Indications
Electroacupuncture has been the focus of scientific research both inside and outside of the U.S. as a treatment for many medical conditions. It is thought to be particularly useful for patients who suffer from chronic pain, a condition which is thought in TCM to result from an accumulation of qi. Other ailments that may benefit from the use of electroacupuncture include skin disorders, high blood pressure, and postchemotherapy nausea. In a 2011 study conducted in Hong Kong, electroacupuncture was found to be useful in treating insomnia related to major depressive disorder. A Beijing study from the same year found beneficial effects from electroacupuncture on blood glucose levels in patients with impaired glucose tolerance.
Considerations
Acupuncture is generally accepted as a safe treatment when practiced by a well-trained acupuncturist. Due to the electrical current used in electroacupuncture, it should not be used on patients who have pacemakers, a history of heart disease or strokes, seizures or epilepsy. Some acupuncture points, such as those near the throat or heart, should not be used in electroacupuncture. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine recommends checking your acupuncturist’s credentials and discussing the treatment with your primary care provider before undergoing acupuncture.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Acupuncture — An Introduction
- Acupuncture Today: Electroacupuncture
- “Zhen Ci Yan Jiu”; Effects of Different Frequencies of Electroacupuncture on Blood Glucose Level in Impaired Glucose Tolerance Patients; Meng H., et al., June 2011
- “Sleep”; Electroacupuncture for Residual Insomnia Associated With Major Depressive Disorder; Yeung W.F., et al., June 2011
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