Treat Substance Abuse With Acupuncture
Acupuncture for substance abuse originated in the early 1970s in China. It was discovered that electrical acupuncture used as a pre-operative analgesic also could relieve withdrawal symptoms. Acupuncture is now widely used to relieve the physical symptoms of withdrawal, including body aches, headaches, muscle cramping, nausea and sweating.
Instructions
1. Combine acupuncture detoxification with counseling. Acupuncture provides a new comfort level so that participation in treatment programs such as the Twelve Step program can be more effective.
2. Insert five acupuncture needles in each ear and allow the patient to rest quietly for 45 minutes. In acupuncture, points in the ear correspond with different organs that are associated with specific effects such as relaxation.
3. Use the relaxation point to trigger the release of endorphins that help reduce the craving for drugs, ease the withdrawal symptoms and help the patient relax. Some patients report that their ears tingle or feel warm and others fall asleep after the needles are inserted.
4. Add additional acupuncture points to the treatment as suggested by the patient symptoms during the detoxification process. These most often include difficulty in sleeping, body aches, irritability and drug dreams.
5. Get daily acupuncture treatments at first and gradually decrease the frequency to once a week. You should not drink coffee or smoke within a half hour of a treatment. Inform your acupuncturist of any other health problems, especially a relapse or other stressful event.
Tags: Abuse With, Abuse With Acupuncture, acupuncture points, body aches, Substance Abuse