Acupuncture with electrical stimulation
What is Electro Acupuncture?
Don’t confuse Electro Acupuncture with TENS. Which is a technique where current carrying conductive sticky pads are stuck near to pain areas. Electro Acupuncture or EA uses needles the same as ‘normal’ Acupuncture, wires are attached to the needles and a current flows from the EA machine to the needles and through the points. To produce an Anaesthetic effect in China Practitioners use EA. They also carry out Open Heart Surgery while the Patient is conscious! I use this technique on myself when I go to the Dentist as I don’t like the injections that Dentists use and I like to avoid having a ‘rubber mouth’!
Electro stimulation can smooth the flow of Qi and clear Stagnation with nerve problems such as Sciatica. I don’t like to use this technique on the face and am nervous when Cosmetic Acupuncturists use it. To me one of the best uses of Electro Acupuncture (EA) is when a Patient has had a Stroke. Electro Acupuncture can be very effective for bringing back movement into limbs that have been paralyzed by Stroke. I have done this a numerous times including getting one lady walking after 5 weeks and I got my own Father’s arm and legs working after a Stroke so that he could then drive his car!
I like to think that EA is another tool in my tool box and I use it when I think it will produce the most benefit, I am no stranger to the effects of electricity because I am also an HND qualified Electronics Engineer.
How is Electro Acupuncture used?
Needles are inserted in the usual way and then leads are connected to the ‘Magic box’. I then turn up the current very slowly until it can be felt by the Patient. Then it is then turned up a little more so it can be fully felt but is comfortable. It should never be painful. The current can actually be increased until it causes the muscles to move, for a Stroke Patient this is a brilliant way of showing them that their limbs do work. It is just a case of getting the signal from the brain to the limb so it will operate. this gives them hope and can make them determined to overcome the problem.
