Acupuncture

The Eastern perspective of health embraces the totality as a starting point, recognizing the universe as an energy field that manifests itself in two opposite and complementary forces: Yin and Yang. Everything that exists in nature, including humans, are expressions of this universal energy that is called Qi.

«The life of man is the result of the concentration of energy. If energy is concentrated, life appears, if energy is dispersed, death ensues. " Zhuang Zi.

Within the human body this Qi or vital energy travels through the body through channels or meridians forming a energy network that regulates the functions of the organs and blood circulation.

«When the Qi of the earth ascends clouds are formed; when the Qi of the sky descends, the rain takes place ».

For Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), health is a state of balance that is maintained by the body's ability to adapt to changes in the environment. A healthy lifestyle, an appropriate diet or physical exercise facilitate the free flow of Qi allowing the balance between Yin and Yang and therefore health.

Any blockage or stagnation of Qi is a generator of disturbances, which can be expressed both physically and mentally and spiritually. To what Yang belongs to the luminous, the sky, the clear, expansive, all activity, external expression, what rises, what shines. To what Yin belongs to the inner, the earth, what descends, the dark, what recedes, the decrease of an activity.

Acupuncture in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture is one of the therapeutic methods used by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to restore health. Although in our environment Acupuncture is considered as a complementary technique to conventional medical treatment, in reality Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complete medical model and Acupuncture would be to TCM as drugs or surgery are to our Western Medicine. A relevant aspect of TCM is its holistic approach according to which the person is seen in a holistic way and not just the diseased part or parts of it.

Acupuncture consists of the insertion of filiform needles in certain points of the skin. They are very fine needles and most of the time the puncture is painless. Depending on the process to be treated, the age of the person being treated and their starting state, the needles may remain implanted. between 10-30 minutes.

The effect can be almost immediate although to appreciate a clinical improvement several sessions are usually required. In some cases, electrical stimulation can be used on the points, connecting the needles to an electro-acupuncture device. Heat can also be applied to the points using moxas or Artemisa cigars, a technique known as Moxibustion.

Given that Acupuncture is one of the therapeutic methods of TCM and that this is a complete medical model, any pathology could in principle be treated with Acupuncture.

Taking into account, however, that Conventional Medicine is present in our environment, it is accessible to everyone through the public health system and it is very effective for many pathologies, It seems logical to reserve Acupuncture for those pathologies or disorders that respond worse to Conventional Medicine, for which Conventional Medicine does not have an answer or for those people who prefer to do without drugs or surgery for certain disorders.

Diseases treated with Acupuncture

The World Health Organization recognizes Acupuncture as a good treatment method in a long list of disorders, more frequent:

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• Back pain and joint pain (neck, shoulder, elbow, knee).
• Dysmenorrhea
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• Facial paralysis.
• Neuralgia
• , stress, depression, etc.
• Allergic rhinitis.
• Constipation.
• Ulcerative colitis
• Sexual dysfunctions
• Insomnia.
• Osteoarthritis, arthritis.
• Bronchial asthma and allergy with an asthmatic component.
• Herniated discs, vertebral crushing.
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• Restless legs and writers disease.
• Contractures and tendinitis.
• MMII and MMSS trauma.
• Sialorrhea, as a complement in rehabilitation and physiotherapy, etc.

It should be noted that Acupuncture has an important preventive effect and that, used regularly, it maintains a balance that translates into greater vitality, serenity and harmony. In general, it has shown have very good results in pathologies that have not been successfully treated by usual methods (conventional medicine, surgery, etc.).

Frequent questions

For whom is acupuncture indicated?

In all cases, the indications and possible limitations should be assessed after a personalized consultation with the specialist-acupuncturist, but in general it is indicated for people between 12 and 75 years old, of both sexes, who are not being subjected to anticoagulant treatments and are not terminal patients.

What complications can the treatment have?

Acupuncture consists, according to indications, in the insertion of filiform needles in certain points of the skin, so the complications that can occur are similar to those that may occur when performing an analysis: possibility of local hematoma, discomfort, etc.

Are there acupuncture services health insurance?

MAPFRE ESPAÑA health policies offer its insured the possibility of accessing acupuncture services at advantageous prices. If you are interested in these services, do not miss the opportunity to. Requirements:

• Be insured of one of the Assistance and / or Reimbursement modalities.
• Only in services collaborating with the Company.
• Identify yourself with the MAPFRE ESPAÑA health card.

Advantages:

• Discounts on the professional's private rate (it is not a policy coverage).

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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a comprehensive medical model for restoring health from a holistic approach.
• It consists of the insertion of needles (painless puncture) in certain points of the skin.
• The WHO recognizes that it is a good method to treat: headaches, back pain, joint pain, dysmenorrhea, fibromyalgia, stress, depression and many more.

«Informative note: the contents included in this section offer information related to existing therapies explained by specialists with experience in the field with an informative objective. MAPFRE does not intend under any circumstances to position itself on its suitability or expressly promote its use. "