Acupuncture for back pain: old and today

Acupuncture for back pain is considered by many individuals as an answer to their discomfort. If ever a system of treatment happened to be based upon primarily how lengthy it has been available, as well as the amount of people that say it is effective at relieving chronic back pain, acupuncture could end up being the foremost beneficial treatment plan recognized to mankind.

Holistic Health Care: Using Acupressure (New Age) – the older brother of Acupuncture:

The link mentioned in the video: >> Holistic Health Care - Acupuncture for back pain

The Ancient Practice Of Acupuncture For Back Pain

Many patients advocate acupuncture as a very effective treatment for many different ailments and conditions. This form of holistic treatment has been known to relieve or even cure many different types of medical health concerns. Conditions such as nausea, smoking cessation, problems with addiction, inflammatory conditions, even anxiety and depression, to name just a few. The list of ailments that can treat, especially back pain, is long and impressive.

There are many different forms of acupuncture. One form of acupuncture completed by one acupuncturist may be quite different than another, and any given practitioner may perform the methodology differently than another.

Acupuncture involves the employment of needles. Sometimes electricity is passed through the needle,which is a different method of treatment. The procedure or process is usually performed with a very thin needle that causes gentle sensations in specific areas of the body.

The points that are used for the needle insertions often are at a distance from the actual area of symptoms. For example, if someone has pain in their back, they may have the needles inserted in their feet, their ears or somewhere else distant from the actual site of the pain.

During my back pain treatment, I had a needle placed at the top of my head. The reason for this placement is that it allows your body to sense and pinpoint the exact problem area. In case you are wondering, there is no pain felt at all. Acupuncture is in fact pain free. If you are concerned about needles, there is a method of acupuncture that does not require needles at all.

Needless acupuncture is very effective and sometimes treatment is faster as more surface area of the body can be treated.

The special points that are chosen for needle insertion are along areas called "meridians".These meridians relate to what the Ancient Chinese felt were true "organ systems" and guide the placement of the acupuncture needles.

Acupuncture is an ancient, time-tested form of therapy that has no side effects and is safe for pain management. If you are following a traditional medical regime for whatever ails you, then acupuncture can augment your current treatment method. Many patients have found relief from pain through acupuncture, specifically those that need back pain treatment.

Electro acupuncture for back pain - Modern acupuncture today

Does Electroacupuncture Treatment Reduce Pain and Change Quantitative Sensory Testing Responses in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain? A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Chronic nonspecific low back pain is common and one of the most disabling conditions in the world. There is moderate evidence that chronic low back pain patients present altered functional connectivity in areas related to pain processing. Quantitative sensory testing is a way of clinical measure of these alterations. Although there is not enough evidence, there are some reports that electroacupuncture is supposedly more effective in relieving pain than acupuncture because the addition of electric current could optimize the effects of traditional technique. Thus, the objective of this randomized clinical trial was to verify if electroacupuncture treatment reduces pain and changes quantitative sensory testing responses in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. Patients were evaluated before and after 10 sessions regarding pain (11-point numerical rating pain scale) and quantitative sensory testing (pressure pain threshold, temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation). There were 1 treatment group (electroacupuncture (EA)) and three different control groups (CTR 1, CTR 2, and CTR 3). A total of 69 patients participated in the study. No significant differences were found in pain intensity or quantitative sensory testing responses when comparing electroacupuncture group to the three control groups. There was a significant reduction in both resting and movement pain intensity in groups EA, CTR 1, and CTR3. Although ten sessions of electroacupuncture have diminished pain intensity in both resting and movement, it could not change significantly quantitative sensory testing and diminish central sensitization in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. The implications of this study involve the fact that, maybe, in chronic nonspecific low back pain, electroacupuncture should be associated with other treatments that target central sensitization.

Conclusions

Although ten sessions of electroacupuncture have diminished pain intensity in both resting and movement, it could not change significantly quantitative sensory testing and diminish central sensitization in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. The implications of this study involve the fact that, maybe, in chronic nonspecific low back pain, electroacupuncture should be associated with other treatments that target central sensitization.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6196926/

Read more: Acupuncture Near Me - New Solution for Home Acupuncture

Acupuncture for Low Back Pain: An Overview of Systematic Reviews

As evidence of the effectiveness of acupuncture for low back pain (LBP) is inconsistent, we aimed to critically appraise the evidence from relevant systematic reviews. Methods. Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerning acupuncture and LBP were searched in seven databases. Internal validity and external validity of systematic reviews were assessed. Systematic reviews were categorized and high quality reviews assigned greater weightings. Conclusions were generated from a narrative synthesis of the outcomes of subgroup comparisons. Results. Sixteen systematic reviews were appraised. Overall, the methodological quality was low and external validity weak. For acute LBP, evidence that acupuncture has a more favorable effect than sham acupuncture in relieving pain was inconsistent; it had a similar effect on improving function. For chronic LBP, evidence consistently demonstrated that acupuncture provides short-term clinically relevant benefits for pain relief and functional improvement compared with no treatment or acupuncture plus another conventional intervention. Conclusion. Systematic reviews of variable quality showed that acupuncture, either used in isolation or as an adjunct to conventional therapy, provides short-term improvements in pain and function for chronic LBP. More efforts are needed to improve both internal and external validity of systematic reviews and RCTs in this area.

Outcomes

Because of the inconsistent definition of follow-up time points in individual systematic reviews, only short-term (<3 months) comparisons could be assessed. The duration of “short-term” was in the range from 6 weeks  to 3 months. Subgroup analyses were conducted as planned, except for the comparison between acupuncture and conventional therapy due to high heterogeneity: while some systematic reviews mixed various conventional treatments as one control arm, some considered different interventions as independent control groups; thus pooling the data for conventional therapy was impossible. For secondary outcomes, data were sparse and insufficient for drawing conclusions. Ultimately, comparisons of four control groups for pain and functional outcomes at short-term follow-up were made. 

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4364128/

Learn more: What is Electroacupuncture? Therapy is similar to Electroacupuncture

Comprehensive health program of Energy Medicine

The Natural Synergy system treats strong pain and a multitude of common ailments at its root cause while accelerating the body’s healing response.

Eastern medicine states that the root of all health problems (physical, mental & emotional) can be traced back to energy blockages in our meridian system.

Energy blockages are a result of many external influences such as poor diet, un-natural irritants, chemicals and pollutants.

The meridian system is best described as a network of energy lines.  Each meridian line is dotted with energy points called ‘acupoints’.

Acupoints are like ‘natural reset buttons’ for blocked energy and can be stimulated in a number of ways.

Natural Synergy

Acupuncture uses needles, Acupressure uses finger pressure, Electro-Acupuncture uses electricity, and Acu-Acoustic treatment uses Bio-frequencies.

Natural Synergy employs a combination of two Acu-therapies: Acupressure and Acu-Acoustics to extinguish strong pain while accelerating the healing process; much like Electro-Acupuncture but without the pain and discomfort of electric needles.

It's a process called Acu-Frequency​TM.​

You can expect fantastic results with either of these acu-therapies; acupressure or acu-acoustics by itself…

But it turns into a holistic experience if you have some quiet time for deep

relaxation where you can apply both practices together.

And because you can do it by yourself at home you don’t need to spend countless hours (and thousands of dollars) on an acupuncturist.

Natural Synergy applies a simple non-invasive exercise that takes only 3 minutes a day…

Restoring the natural balance within your body; eliminating the root cause of your pain or ailment and maintaining a healthy free-flow of energy.

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What is Electroacupuncture? Therapy is similar to Electroacupuncture

What is Electroacupuncture?

Electroacupuncture is a form of acupuncture where a small electric current is passed between pairs of acupuncture needles. According to some acupuncturists, this practice augments the use of regular acupuncture, can restore health and well-being, and is particularly good for treating pain. There is evidence for some efficacy (when used in addition to antiemetics) in treating moderate post-chemotherapy vomiting, but not for acute vomiting or delayed nausea severity

Who can use Electroacupuncture?

According to Acupuncture Today, a trade journal for acupuncturists:

"Electroacupuncture is quite similar to traditional acupuncture in that the same points are stimulated during treatment[citation needed]. As with traditional acupuncture, needles are inserted on specific points along the body. The needles are then attached to a device that generates continuous electric pulses using small clips. These devices are used to adjust the frequency and intensity of the impulse being delivered, depending on the condition being treated. Electroacupuncture uses two needles at time so that the impulses can pass from one needle to the other. Several pairs of needles can be stimulated simultaneously, usually for no more than 30 minutes at a time."

That article adds:

"According to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, illness is caused when chi does not flow properly throughout the body. Acupuncturists determine whether chi is weak, stagnant or otherwise out of balance, which indicates the points to be stimulated. Electroacupuncture is considered to be especially useful for conditions in which there is an accumulation of chi, such as in chronic pain syndromes, or in cases where the chi is difficult to stimulate."

Electroacupuncture is also variously termed EA, electro-acupuncture or incorporated under the generic term electrotherapy.

Electroacupuncture according to Voll (EAV) claims to measure "energy" in acupuncture points and to diagnose ailments. Some devices are registered in FDA as galvanic skin response measuring devices; they may not be used in diagnosis and treatment. Units reportedly sell for around $15,000 and are promoted for diagnosis of conditions including "parasites, food and environmental sensitivities, candida, nutritional deficiencies and much more." It is promoted for diagnosis of allergies.

These treatments are similar to Electricacupuncture

1. Acupuncture

In fact, it must be said that electric acupuncture is similar to acupuncture. Because electric acupuncture is derived from Chinese medicine's acupuncture.

Visual video of electric acupuncture:

2. Acupressure

Acupressure is an alternative medicine technique similar in principle to acupuncture. It is based on the concept of life energy which flows through "meridians" in the body. In treatment, physical pressure is applied to acupuncture points with the aim of clearing blockages in these meridians. Pressure may be applied by hand, by elbow, or with various devices.


- by video Acupressure to Heal Migraine - 6 Most Important Regions to Relieve Migraine and Headaches

3. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS or TNS)

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS or TNS) is the use of electric current produced by a device to stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes. TENS, by definition, covers the complete range of transcutaneously applied currents used for nerve excitation although the term is often used with a more restrictive intent, namely to describe the kind of pulses produced by portable stimulators used to treat pain

3.1. PEN TENS

 - photo by Pen TENS

This is a type of subcutaneous stimulation pen to replace acupuncture. In essence, its origin is TENS. Later developed by China into acupuncture pen.

The origins of TENS and acupuncture are not the same, but there has been research on this relevance:

TENS and Acupuncture: Understand the Relevance

It is not unreasonable that Chinese and American people create this type of pen.

3.2. TENS sticker - classic TENS form

This is a type of TENS using a patch applied to the skin.

This type of subcutaneous stimulation is now often associated with EMS.

Subcutaneous stimulation targets the muscle and tissue, called EMS.

See more: TENS vs. EMS: Understand the Difference

- by video TENS and Acupuncture Pen are integrated together | 2 Channels XFT 320 | 7 different types of Modes

Find out the best and cheapest TENS types here: TENS - EMS -Store

4. CES - Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation 

Cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) is a form of neurostimulation that delivers a small, pulsed, alternating current via electrodes on the head. CES is used with the intention of treating a variety of conditions such as anxiety, depression and insomnia. CES has been suggested as a possible treatment for headaches, fibromyalgia, smoking cessation, and opiate withdrawal. But all important CES documents and information have been deleted by FDA. CES users often buy at their own discretion, or are ordered by a private physician.

This is How CES treats Migraine, Insomnia, Depression, Chronic Pain:

Learn more about CES here: Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation - Science and Evidence - Cheap and best CES

TENS + EMS for the Relief of Chronic and Acute Pain

Humans love stimulants! We have always enjoyed zapping ourselves and each other, just a little bit, or even quite a lot. For many decades, by far the most popular (and tame) form of electrotherapy or neuromodulation4 has been transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Other kinds of electrical stimulation are also interesting, and more promising, like deeper stimulation — zapping the brain and spinal cord. This is an overview of all forms of neuromodulation with a strong focus on TENS for pain.

TENS has been a therapeutic staple in physical therapy and chronic pain clinics for decades. There are many consumer TENS units on the market. It has a huge following of believers, both providers and customers.

TENS and EMS: Configuration and Operation

 - by TENS + EMS Therapeutic System TENS Unit: FDA 2 channel LED Screen smart health EMS TENS Unit electronic acupuncture Massager 12 mode ElectroTherapy device pulse massager

What is TENS used for?

The relief of chronic and acute pain. Some examples include:

• Arthritis
• Back pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Foot pain
• Labor pain
• Multiple sclerosis
• Sciatica

TENS vs. EMS: Understand the difference

What does TENS stand for?

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

What does EMS stand for?

Electrical muscle stimulation

The similarity between TENS and EMS:

Both deliver low voltage electric impulses to stimulate

TENS vs EMS: the main difference between the two:

TENS stimulates the nerves – the rationale being that the simulation keeps pain signals from reaching the brain.

EMS causes the muscles to contract – by mimicking the action potential that comes from the central nervous system

What is EMS used for?

• Muscle strengthening
• Rehabilitation purposes
• Preventing disuse muscle atrophy
• Increasing local blood circulation
• Relaxation of muscles
• Cosmetic muscle toning

Program and mode

What I like about this TENS and EMS combination device is that you have both the best worlds. There's a really useful and varied program option packed into that compact controller!

Session duration can be set from 5-60 minutes. This can be adjusted in increments of 5 minutes. For EMS programs, it is recommended that a specific session for a session, between 10-30 minutes, depending on the program.

For TENS sessions, they recommend starting with 5-10 minute short sessions to get your body used to stimulation. If you are not sure how long or how often to use the device, consult a health professional.

The best two types of TENS and EMS for the Relief of Chronic and Acute Pain

• TENS + EMS Therapeutic Wearable System Wireless TENS Unit + Muscle Stimulator Combination for Pain Relief, Arthritis, Muscle... : SUNMAS SM9180 Wireless Electronic Pulse Muscle Stimulator Acupressure Tens Unit Massager for Body Neck Leg Back
• TENS + EMS Therapeutic Wearable System TENS Unit + Muscle Stimulator Combination for Pain Relief, Arthritis, Muscle...  : FDA 2 channel LED Screen smart health EMS TENS Unit electronic acupuncture Massager 12 mode ElectroTherapy device pulse massager

Support documents for TENS and EMS

Natural Synergy Cure - Step-by-step instructions for:

• Locating specific acupoints
• How to execute them
• Plus, how to match the correct bio-frequencies with the right exercises

 And this unique dual system is called:

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Electronic Acupuncture Pen for Headache

Eyewitness witness of Electro acupuncture 

Electro Acupuncture, TENS and Headaches

What exactly are headaches?

Headaches occur for a variety of reasons. More often than not, the cause is either stress, tension or anxiety. They can also be due to emotional stress, eye strain, infection, too much or too little sleep, head injury and even changes in the weather.

Migraines often start with a throbbing headache centered above the eye or begins at the back of the head and spreads to one side.

Cluster headaches come in clusters of time. These painful attacks affect the forehead, temple and behind the eye. In severe cases, the eye and pupil become smaller.

Tension Headaches result from muscle tightening in the neck and head. The muscle contraction leads to a slightly decreased blood flow to the surrounding areas and irritation of the pain fibers in the skin, muscles and blood vessel walls.

TENS Gets Approved By FDA For Migraine Relief

A TENS unit or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation unit works to prevent and relieve pain. It delivers small bursts of electrical impulses in harmless quantities to areas where pain is occurring. Recently, the FDA has approved a type of TENS which can be used specifically to treat migraine headaches. Medical News Today writes: “The US Food and Drug Administration has given its first approval for the marketing of a device for preventing migraine headaches. The federal agency says the device, which comes in the form of a headband that delivers a nerve-stimulating low electrical current, may bring relief to patients who cannot tolerate current migraine drugs.”

TENS machines have long since gained the approval of the FDA, but the 2014 approval of this migraine machine marched the first of its kind to be acknowledged as safe for public use. The FDA is very careful in the selections that they make, running a multitude of tests before deciding whether or not something should be approved. The FDA writes: “The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.”

The approval of this device has caused many more of its kind to be imagined and further research into possible migraine treatment alternative to be completed. The scientific community is still working hard within his field to someday find a way to halt migraine pain altogether. Due to its association with the brain, it has been found to be very different than most typical headaches, and therefore much more difficult to treat, particularly in chronic cases.

The cause of migraines vary from person to person, although genetics do tend to be an underlying reason. Lack of sleep, allergies, poor eating habits, dehydration, and obesity can also contribute to this condition.

What is the best headache treatment? TENS or electro acupuncture?

Electric acupuncture is better, if you have a doctor / specialist. However, you can treat yourself with PENS.
Advantages of PENS:

• Cost savings
• Easy to do

Shop about electro-acupuncture: electro-acupuncture - Shop

Manual document - Acupressure to Heal Migraine - 6 Most Important Regions to Relieve Migraine and Headaches:

Learn more:

• How Does an Acupuncture Pen Works
• Tools and Acupuncture Maps for Sciatica

Pregnancy Acupressure Warnings – What You Need To Know

Maternity or labor acupressure is a holistic method that can have a remarkably beneficial effect in preparing the mother and the baby for the birth. It helps to induce labor naturally and is very effective in giving relief from labor pains without drugs and medications. During childbirth, it can be used to strengthen contractions, help the cervix to dilate and help to relax and stay calm.

Over the years, there have been many articles and sites promoting the benefits of using acupressure to induce labor.

While these sites are helping women find ways of naturally inducing labor, they are rather irresponsibly ignoring some of the warnings they should issue about using acupressure during pregnancy.

Too often, advice is given from third parties that is not only wrong but may be dangerous.

Here are a few warnings before using acupressure during pregnancy and how to do it safely…

Pregnancy Acupressure Warnings

Pregnancy Acupressure Warning #1: Do not use acupressure during pregnancy until it is safe to give birth.

The prevailing belief on the Internet is that maternity acupressure will not work until your body is ready to give birth.

This stems from some truth, but doesn’t take into account the fact that a woman’s body starts “getting ready” for birth months before it is safe to do so. Just ask any woman going through the body’s training exercises known as Braxton Hicks, which are false labor contractions experienced throughout the second and third trimester.

Most physicians actually warn against massages and acupressure near the hands, wrists, abdomen, and feet for this reason. Many spas and massage therapists ask specifically if a woman is pregnant so they know to avoid these areas.

Obviously, there should be no fear that you might induce labor merely by touching these areas. These areas require more stimulation such as directed pressure and massage techniques for acupressure to have any effect. You should, however, be absolutely certain that it is safe to induce labor before attempting to do so. The best way to know is by speaking with your doctor, or if you are overdue.

Pregnancy Acupressure Warning #2: Be ready for maternity acupressure to work.

There are many ways to stimulate acupressure points to induce labor. Most methods involve stimulating 2 or more spots simultaneously.

For some reason, there has been an overwhelming belief that acupressure during pregnancy takes a day or two to kick in. If done correctly, however, most labor signs start within 1 to 4 days after an acupressure massage which was performed correctly.

Birth itself may take up to 48 hours, but the symptoms begin much earlier. Be prepared to go to the hospital or be set up if you are going with a home birth.

Learn more: Top 5 Best Acupressure Mats Reviewed 

Pregnancy Acupressure Warning #3: Do not perform acupressure alone.

First, the chances that you will even be able to do the necessary acupressure by yourself are slim.

By the time baby should be on his or her way, you probably haven’t even seen your toes, let alone touched them, for at least 6 weeks.

The ankles and feet are very important in maternity acupressure, so you’re probably going to need some help. Not only this, but you should have someone there just in case the treatment works too well and labor signs strike you unprepared.

You can have the father, your significant other, a friend, or a family member help during this time. Just be sure it is someone you are comfortable with and let them know the possible outcomes.

An even better option is to consult a holistic doctor or acupressure specialist near you for a professional treatment.

Pregnancy Acupressure Warning #4: Do not attempt acupressure at any point in your 3rd trimester.

A woman’s body is almost completely ready to give birth by the first week of her 3rd trimester, but that does not mean it’s a good idea!

You never want to induce labor before it is safe for your baby.

Most women turn to acupressure because they are overdue and are ready to just be done with pregnancy. Others planned this method from the beginning and know the date which they can safely perform maternity acupressure.

If you are looking into ways to induce labor, be 100% certain that it is actually safe. Again, speak with your physician (or even a midwife) before deciding on any form of induction.

Another way to use acupressure for pregnancy is if you have begun to give birth already and want to alleviate pain without chemicals, and/or you want to process to move more quickly.

While acupressure has been proven for centuries to help ease pain, stress, and induce labor, it is still a medicinal practice and should not be taken lightly. Be sure you don’t fall into any traps or hype about this method and keep you and your baby safe!

Learn more: How to Choose an Acupressure Mat

Acupressure Points to Avoid during Pregnancy

Acupressure naturally helps women to deal with the annoying health conditions during pregnancy. It stimulates and activates body's energies to fight against illness and restore harmony. However, pinpoint pressuring must be avoided as it can cause harm to baby and even provoke contractions before due date. It is important to know about the acupressure points that must be avoided during pregnancy.

Acupressure Points on Ankles

Pressure points near ankle must be avoided during pregnancy. Medial malleolus (technically termed as Sanyinjiao or Sp6) is the prohibited ankle spot. It is located at width of three fingers above the ankle bone. Many a time people confuse this pressure point with Zhubin (K9) i.e. located just above the medial malleolus. K9 point is absolutely safe to use during pregnancy, in fact it is helpful in bringing ease to anxiety, high blood pressure and in restoring body’s energy.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, if the prohibited point of ankle is manipulated it can lead to contraction of pelvic muscle and uterus. These contractions before the due date can even lead to pre-term birth.

Acupressure Points on Lower Trunk

Pressure points on lower abdomen, sacrum and lower back must be avoided during pregnancy. By avoiding the pressure points on lower trunk one can prevent injury to foetus. 

Experts are of view that deep massage in any of the lower trunk area could affect the uterus. So it is needless to go deep into tissues of these areas.

Acupressure Point on Hands

Hegu, a fleshy spot located on dorsum of hand must not be touched during the acupressure session of a pregnant woman. According to Diane Joswick, an acupuncturist- if this acupressure point is massaged or manipulated then it can lead to contractions in pregnant women. Hegu is also known as union valley (or LI4) and is located between the thumb and forefinger.

Acupressure Point on Wrist

Another point that must be avoided during acupressure session of a pregnant woman is located on the wrist.  According to the American Pregnancy Association, manipulation of the points on wrist can be dangerous in early stages of pregnancy as it can cause uterine contractions.

Expected mothers must ensure that their therapist is having fair amount of knowledge and experience in pregnancy massages.

Learn more: Natural Synergy Cure

How to Choose an Acupressure Mat

Over the past few years, acupressure mats (also known as spike mats, nail mats or Swedish mats) have become an increasingly popular device to self-treat a whole series of conditions, ranging from back pain to poor blood circulation.

What Is Acupressure?

Acupressure (not to be confused with acupuncture) is an ancient, non-invasive, healing technique based on the application of physical pressure on specific points along the body. The acupressure mat (first invented in the former Soviet Union in the late 1970s) allows its users to harness the beneficial properties of acupressure in a cheap and effective manner. Lying on it for just 25-30 minutes, in fact, boosts peripheral blood circulation and encourages the body to release endorphins and oxytocin, which in turn helps relieve pain, muscle tension, stress and fatigue.

It is for this reason that acupressure mats have become more and more popular over the past decade. Such popularity, however, has led to a huge proliferation of brands and models, which can engender confusion in the potential buyer. One only has to perform a basic search on the web to be deluged with a multitude of products (some good, some not so good) that can all look the same to the untrained eye.

How do you then select an acupressure mat? How do you separate the wheat from the chaff and make sure you only choose the best one? Well, in a nutshell, the secret is to look closer and to look inside.

Look Closer

The plastic discs covering the mat (known as flowers or florets) should not contain fewer than 30 or more than 40 tips. In the former case, acupressure may result too uncomfortable whereas in the latter, it may be too "bland" and, consequently, ineffective. The ideal number of tips in each disc should range between 32 and 36. Also, such tips should not conjure up esoteric symbols or images, but should be pyramidal.

Look Inside

Avoid at all costs any padding made of cheap foam rubber, which harms both your back and the environment. Opt, instead, for a padding made of vegetable fibres (coir, spelt chaff, etc.). Unlike foam rubber, in fact, vegetable fibres are breathable, do not allow sweat and dust to accumulate, do not attract mites, do not lose their shape over time and, more importantly, ensure perfectly uniform acupressure, improving its effectiveness. Moreover, vegetable fibres are completely natural and fully recyclable, resulting in minimal environmental impact.

Practice buying here:  Acupressure Mat Store and choose the best buy

Learn more: 

• Tools and Acupuncture Maps for Sciatica
• How To Use Acupuncture Pen

Peripheral mechanisms - Mechanisms of Acupuncture-Electroacupuncture on Persistent Pain

Soft tissue pain often starts to subside immediately after needling therapy and even completely disappears within a few days. After needling, the peripheral mechanisms of normalizing soft tissue dysfunction are operating. Without central command from the brain and spinal cord, however, peripheral organs cannot work without central coordination; therefore the role of the CNS is important. Even though this focuses on clinically observable and measurable physical parameters such as musculoskeletal balance, the basic background of the central mechanism of needling is indispensable for understanding peripheral mechanisms.

Neurochemical Mechanisms of Acupuncture Analgesia

The neurochemical mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia have been investigated extensively in many Chinese, Japanese, South Korean, and North American universities. Han's laboratory at Beijing Medical University and Pomeranz's, laboratory at the University of Toronto have contributed solid scientific data explaining the neurochemical processes of acupuncture analgesia.

The explanation of acupuncture analgesia is simplified for the purposes of this text. For example, after pain impulses reach the spinal cord, at least six neural pathways transmit those impulses from spinal cord to cerebral cortex, and numerous neurochemicals are released at different sites to modulate pain signals, including three different endorphins (enkephalin, β-endorphin, and dynorphin), acetylcholine, cholecystokinin, serotonin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), somatostatin, substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide, neurotensin, CGRP, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), epinephrine and norepinephrine, and cytokines. More substances will probably be discovered in addition to this long list. However, a detailed description of interactions among neurochemicals is beyond the scope of this book.

The purpose of needling treatment is the integration of physiologic systems. This integration is achieved by normalizing any dysfunction that is caused by local or systemic pathologic condition.

The neurochemical mechanisms of needling provide analgesia (pain relief); promote homeostasis and tissue healing; improve the immune system, digestive system, cardiovascular system, and endocrine system; and promote psychologic adjustment for systemic integration. The integrated nature of these mechanisms explains why problems as different as asthma, tinnitus, irritable bowel, and gastric ulcers are all improved in the course of needling treatment for pain management. Needling therapy restores the body's control system and promotes self-healing through a systemic integration that is suppressed during disease or injury.

The systemic integration of physiologic and even anatomic functions of the human body by ISDN therapy is understood to result from activating the reflex circuits at different levels of the nervous system: the spinal cord segments, the brainstem, the hypothalamus and thalamus, the upper part of the limbic system, and the cortex.

Learn more: Tools and Acupuncture Maps for Sciatica

Peripheral mechanisms - Acupuncture-Electroacupuncture on Persistent Pain 

Peripheral inflammatory cells-released opioids are involved in electroacupuncture inhibition of inflammatory pain. Studies in carrageenan-induced inflammatory pain rat models show that an intraplantar injection of naloxone or selective antagonists against μ (D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-ThrNH2), δ (naltrindole), or κ (nor-Binaltorphimine) opioid receptors 1 h before electroacupuncture treatment at Zusanli (ST36,) dosage-dependently blocked electroacupuncture-produced inhibition of mechanical hyperalgesia assessed through paw pressure threshold. Consistent with these results, intraplantar naloxone methiodide, a peripherally acting opioid receptor antagonist and an antibody against β-endorphin, eliminated electroacupuncture-produced inhibition of CFA-induced thermal hyperalgesia assessed with paw withdrawal latency (PWL) in response to radiant thermal stimuli.These data indicate that electroacupuncture induces release of endogenous opioids from lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages, and granulocytes into inflamed skin. The opioids in turn activate receptors on peripheral nerve terminals to suppress nociception.

Rat and human maps of acupoints used in pain studies.

Electroacupuncture activates sympathetic nerve fibers to increase endogenous opioid in inflammatory site. Sympathetic nerve fiber activation enhances the expression of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 in the blood vessels of inflamed tissue to promote migration of β-endorphin- and met-enkephalin-containing polymorphonuclear leukocytes and mononuclear cells in rats with CFA-induced hind paw inflammation. Further, sympathetic neuron-derived norepinephrine stimulates adrenergic receptors on inflammatory cells to release β-endorphin, leading to inhibition of pain. Electroacupuncture activates sympathetic nerve fibers to inhibit pain, although the exact mechanism is not clear. For instance, pretreatment with either 6-hydroxydopamine, a neurotoxin for sympathetic nerve endings, or the β-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol, significantly prevents electroacupuncture inhibition of carrageenan-induced thermal hyperalgesia.This electroacupuncture action on sympathetic nerves might enhance migration of opioid-containing cells to an inflammatory site, increasing the release of endogenous opioids.

Electroacupuncture also increases endogenous cannabinoid CB2 receptors (CB2R) to upregulate opioids in inflamed skin tissue. At Huantiao (GB30) and Yanglingquan (GB34), the modality significantly elevated proopiomelanocortin messenger RNA (mRNA) and β-endorphin levels in inflamed skin tissue as well as the percentage of β-endorphin-immunoreactive keratinocytes, macrophages, and T-lymphocytes. These effects were significantly attenuated by CB2R antagonist AM630 pretreatment. Interestingly, electroacupuncture also increased the levels of endogenous anandamide in inflamed tissue and the expression of CB2R on keratinocytes, macrophages, and T-lymphocytes in inflammation.

In a recent study in the CFA-induced inflammatory pain rat model, electroacupuncture significantly increased PWL and mechanical threshold assessed with von Frey filaments and significantly decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 expression in inflamed skin. Moreover, electroacupuncture’s inhibition of pain was significantly attenuated by the CB2R antagonist AM630, as was cytokine expression.17 Since proinflammatory cytokines facilitate nociception and morphine inhibits cytokine release from peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures, electroacupuncture mitigates pain by upregulating endogenous anandamide, which activates CB2R to promote opioid production, consequently blocking cytokine release to inhibit pain.

Electroacupuncture inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) might increase levels of endogenous anandamide. The modality activated the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis to significantly increase plasma corticosterone levels in a CFA-inflammatory pain rat model and significantly downregulated carrageenan-induced expression of COX-1, COX-2 mRNA, and their proteins. It is known that the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol are metabolized by fatty acid amide hydrolase, monoacylglycerol lipase, and COX-2. Thus electroacupuncture-induced corticosterone might inhibit COX-2 to interfere with endocannabinoid metabolism, resulting in their escalation at inflammatory sites and leading to an increase in opioids.

Corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) are also involved in electroacupuncture analgesia. For instance, an intraplantar CRF antagonist also prevented electroacupuncture inhibition of inflammatory pain. CRF is known to block pain by stimulating the release of opioids from immune cells. Thus electroacupuncture might induce skin fibroblasts to release CRF, which in turn stimulates opioid release to inhibit pain. Electroacupuncture decreased carrageenan-induced PGE2 in inflammatory paws; since PGE2 receptor activation of peripheral nociceptors contributes to pain, this ability to inhibit PGE2 might also be a factor in electroacupuncture’s effect on pain.

Manual acupuncture or a local injection of the adenosine A1 receptor agonist 2-chloro-N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine at acupoint ST36 significantly inhibits mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in wild-type but not in adenosine A1 receptor knockout mice with inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Additionally, both interventions suppress high-intensity stimulation-evoked field excitatory postsynaptic potentials in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Acupuncture also significantly increased extracellular adenosine near ST. The investigators concluded that acupuncture attenuated the pain by increasing local adenosine that acts on A1 receptors in sensory afferents of ascending nerve tracks.

Collectively, these studies demonstrate that peripheral opioids play a central role in electroacupuncture inhibition of inflammatory pain by blocking proinflammatory cytokine release from polymorphonuclear leukocytes and mononuclear cells and by acting on peripheral opioid receptors to desensitize peripheral sensory nerves

Mechanisms of electroacupuncture inhibition of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Symbols + and − respectively represent enhancement and inhibition. 5-HT1AR = 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptors; ACC = anterior cingulated cortex; ATF-2 = activating transcription factor-2;CB2R = Cannabinoid 2 receptor; CORT = corticosterone; COX-2 = cyclooxygenase-2; EAA = excitatory amino acid; GABA = γ-aminobutyric acid; ICAM-1 = intracellular adhesion molecule-1; IL-6 = interleukin-6; IL-1β = interleukin-1beta; LC = locus coeruleus; N/OFQ = nociceptin/orphanin FQ; NE = norepinephrine; NMDAR = n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor; NRM = nucleus raphe magnus; PAG = periaqueductal grey; p-Akt = phosphorylated Akt; PGE2 = prostaglandin E2; pGluN1 = phosphorylated GluN1; SP = substance P; TNF-α = tumor necrosis factor-α.

Learn more: Types of Acupuncture Treatments: TCM and ElectroAcupuncture

Electroacupuncture increases opioids at inflammatory sites via two pathways. 
1) It activates sympathetic nerve fibers to enhance migration of opioid-containing cells to the site.
2) It triggers hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal to decrease COX-2, which in turn interfere with endocannabinoid metabolism, leading to increased levels of opioids at the site.

Furthermore, electroacupuncture might decrease COX-2, thus lowering PGE2 levels and alleviating pain.

Electroacupuncture-upregulated endocannabinoid may directly inhibit pain because CB2 receptor activation inhibits sensory nerve activities in rat pain model.30 Although peripheral CRF and adenosine are involved in electroacupuncture action, how the modality modulates their synthesis warrants further investigation.

Overall, although the current studies show that opioid, cytokines, cannabinoids, CB2R, CRF, PGE2, and adenosine are involved in acupuncture/electroacupuncture analgesia, other peripheral bioactive chemicals and receptors such as serotonin, nerve growth factor, bradykinin, and transient receptor potential channels are implicated in inflammatory pain

Comprehensive health program of Energy Medicine

The Natural Synergy system treats strong pain and a multitude of common ailments at its root cause while accelerating the body’s healing response.

Eastern medicine states that the root of all health problems (physical, mental & emotional) can be traced back to energy blockages in our meridian system.

Energy blockages are a result of many external influences such as poor diet, un-natural irritants, chemicals and pollutants.

The meridian system is best described as a network of energy lines.  Each meridian line is dotted with energy points called ‘acupoints’.

Acupoints are like ‘natural reset buttons’ for blocked energy and can be stimulated in a number of ways.

Natural Synergy

Acupuncture uses needles, Acupressure uses finger pressure, Electro-Acupuncture uses electricity, and Acu-Acoustic treatment uses Bio-frequencies.

Natural Synergy employs a combination of two Acu-therapies: Acupressure and Acu-Acoustics to extinguish strong pain while accelerating the healing process; much like Electro-Acupuncture but without the pain and discomfort of electric needles.

It's a process called Acu-Frequency​TM.​

You can expect fantastic results with either of these acu-therapies; acupressure or acu-acoustics by itself…

But it turns into a holistic experience if you have some quiet time for deep

relaxation where you can apply both practices together.

And because you can do it by yourself at home you don’t need to spend countless hours (and thousands of dollars) on an acupuncturist.

Natural Synergy applies a simple non-invasive exercise that takes only 3 minutes a day…

Restoring the natural balance within your body; eliminating the root cause of your pain or ailment and maintaining a healthy free-flow of energy.

Natural Synergy