Acupuncture as a Treatment for Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids, also referred to as hemroids, are a common medical condition that can cause sufferers discomfort and even embarrassment. The condition is estimated to affect millions of people worldwide, with the elderly being especially vulnerable to developing hemorrhoids.
Because of the prevalence of hemroids, there are many hemorrhoids treatment methods available, from medications to surgery, depending upon the severity of the hemroids. One less conventional alternative treatment that has gained popularity in recent years as a method of curing hemroids symptoms is acupuncture.
Acupuncture to Treat Hemorrhoids
Acupuncture has actually been around for thousands of years, and has been utilized by the Chinese to treat many different conditions, including hemorrhoids. It is only in more recent years that Western countries have started to look at this form of hemorrhoids treatment. Acupuncture takes a holistic approach to a patient’s health. It works by affecting the central nervous system and considers the patient’s overall health and immune system, not just the specific condition or its symptoms alone.
As a treatment for hemorrhoids, acupuncture first seeks out patterns in the hemroids sufferer’s body. The body points that relate to the patient’s hemroids are identified and treated by inserting needles into these key points.
In hemorrhoids treatment, acupuncture is used to open the nerve pathways to the anus. It can also eliminate the blood stasis that contributes to the hemorrhoids. Since hemroids are caused by swelling of the veins of the anus and rectum, eradicating the stagnation of blood in those tissues can help relieve inflammation and the pain and discomfort that accompany it.
Another method of acupuncture that is used to treat hemorrhoids concentrates treatment in the loin and sacrum bone areas. This method of hemorrhoids treatment seeks out swelling or inflammation in these areas and then uses 7-star acupunctures needles in the area at least once a day over seven days. The result is a reduction in inflammation. Since inflammation is what causes the itching, burning and pain of hemroids, acupuncture’s reducing inflammation helps relieve those symptoms.
Yet another acupuncture approach uses needles in the ear to alleviate hemorrhoids symptoms. This may seem counterintuitive, since hemroids occur in the anal region, but the Chinese have discovered that the nerves in the ear do affect organs in the lower extremities, in this case the large intestine. The ear nerves can also affect the brain and the spleen.
As illustrated above, hemroids treatment methods can vary when using acupuncture. That is true of the duration of treatments also. In some cases, needles may need to be inserted and left in the skin for as long as 20 to 30 minutes to be effective. Some treatment methods may also require that needles be applied every day.
Whatever the exact approach and the duration of treatment, acupuncture has undeniably gained popularity as a treatment for the uncomfortable symptoms of hemroids. It is important to note, however, that if you are considering acupuncture as a treatment for your hemroids, you should make sure you consult a reputable acupuncturist who has experience treating the condition.