Use of Acupuncture as Alternative Treatment (Essay Sample)

Acupuncture
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Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a form of alternative treatment that involves inserting and piercing of needles that are used to relieve pain and treat some forms of emotional, physical and mental conditions (Joyce et al., 2016). It is a system that entails piercing the trigger points by needles that work on the nervous system through local antidromic axon reflexes, and other modes on the central nervous system (Joyce et al., 2016). Acupuncture, a common treatment in the Ancient Chinese traditional treatment, is increasingly being incorporated in the Western medicine. Although it has proven positive effects on pain, little or no research has been conducted to determine its effectiveness in relieving diabetic-related pain.
In their study, Joyce et al. (2016) employed a prospective, case-series and descriptive design using 12 participants diagnosed with diabetes and a history of pain to evaluate whether Acupuncture was effective as an alternative therapy for patients with diabetic related pain. All the participants indicated perceived reductions in pain levels following before and after the acupuncture treatment, with men responding better than women (Joyce et al., 2016). Moreover, there was a perceived improvement in the quality of life of the participants, especially in the functions of lower extremities, reduced cases of depression and sleep disturbances.
This study was limited due to the small sample size, which may have introduced type II error and given the limitation of the study design, it was not possible for the authors to follow up with the participants to determine long-term effects of the intervention (Joyce et al., 2016). Despite these limitations, the findings of this article suggest possible effectiveness of acupuncture in providing safe a