Acupuncture As an Effective Part of Therapy in Treating Addiction
One of the oldest methods of health care is acupuncture. The art of acupuncture has its root in ancient China and it has been practiced in other regions in Asia for over 2000 years using the same textbook methods that are still being applied today. The technique is based on the stimulation of specific points on the body using different systems of application such as pressure, heat, or even laser. The science behind acupuncture and the way to apply it is now being taught and certified all throughout the U.S.
There are a lot of other alternative treatment methods which are founded on the same principles as that of acupuncture and they include reflexology, acupressure, shiatsu, reiki, and Qijong. Real acupuncture focuses on specific points on the body that are linked to balance and recuperative functions. These points are usually found on the hands, feet, scalp, and around the ear. Today, aside from its curative powers, acupuncture is being used in over 2000 alcohol and drug treatment facilities in the US. This new strategy is based on a three decade and a half experiment being done at the LincolnHospital in New York. The hospital conducts a hundred acupuncture treatments every day as part of its substance misuse program.
Acupuncture has been discovered to provide a very solid foundation for renewal, psychological and social convalescence. It has become a vital component of substance abuse treatment and it helps an individual become prepared for other more useful tasks such as getting a job.
Acupuncture can be used as:
- A form of non-verbal intervention. It has been discovered to loosen up patients who show resistance to treatment.
- Acupuncture decreases agitation and anxiety while simultaneously expediting calmness and approachable behaviour.
- It paves the way for a more meditative individual even when the person has been diagnosed to be very troubled.
The type of acupuncture commonly used in treating addiction is ear acupuncture. The process is usually administered in groups where patients are made to be together and sit silently for almost an hour. This strategy is drug and alcohol dependence treatment is called the National Acupuncture Detoxication Association protocol. Some medical personnel are trained to use the NADA protocol in various US state and privately run facilities. The training includes hygienic safety measures and smooth assimilation with social services.
The NADA protocol acupuncture is now being applied in more than a hundred penitentiaries in the UK, with the treatments being provided by a contractor named Smart-UK. According to the latest statistics, this ingenious program resulted in an 80% drop in the occurrence of violent events. Acupuncture has been successfully used to battle stress and reduce the suicide rate among the members of the Indian military.
