Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
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Why is it necessary? of Acupuncture
In Western medicine, acupuncture is generally used to treat the symptoms of a condition rather than condition or disease itself. It can be helpful in relieving pain, and as a result, and is the most common used complementary therapy on the NHS. Studies show that acupuncture is effective for treating post-operative nausea and vomiting, chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting, sickness and nausea in pregnancy, and post-operative dental pain.
As yet, research into the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for chronic pain has not produced consistent results, which is due partly to the small scale of the studies that have taken place. Although research shows that acupuncture is not harmful, several studies suggest it is no more effective than a placebo. Therefore, acupuncture is generally used as a second or third treatment option on the NHS for patients with chronic pain, such as migraine, arthritis or back pain. It is not normally recommended unless conventional treatment has failed.
Symptoms such as pain or sickness can indicate that there is a more serious problem inside the body. Your doctor will try to find the cause of the symptoms before recommending acupuncture.
