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​What Is Electroacupuncture?
Like traditional Acupuncture, electroacupuncture can use needles placed in the same spots. Then, a small electrode is attached to the needles. A small amount of electricity runs through the electrode and gives a slight vibration or soft hum during treatment. ‌

If you are sensitive to needles or scared of them (you aren’t the only one!) we have a small electrical device which can stimulate each acupuncture point without us needing to use needles, explains Jane Sutton BSc (Hons) MCSP MAACP MCSS, Lead Physiotherapist, Advanced Acupuncturist and Advanced Craniosacral Therapist at www.physioplusguisborough.co.uk  

The electrode gives off the effect of your acupuncturist activating the acupuncture point with their hands. This ensures you get the right amount of stimulation during your whole treatment. The treatments are also shorter because the electrodes can activate your acupuncture points more quickly. ‌

A benefit of using electroacupuncture is that it can cover larger areas of your body than traditional acupuncture. This ability makes this type of acupuncture more accurate than others. 

Background of Acupuncture
Qi (pronounced “chee”) is a fundamental concept in Chinese medicine. It’s believed to be a form of energy that’s universal. The belief is that your qi can be any manifestation of energy, and that acupuncture moves and activates your qi to help your body heal.‌

Electroacupuncture is meant to connect your physical and spiritual self. There are potential benefits for both parts of your body. Physically, this treatment is designed to help you feel better. Spiritually, this treatment is meant to help you understand your qi and the energy you have around you.  

How Does Electroacupuncture Work?
Electroacupuncture uses two needles in each meridian point, or acupuncture point, and then connects to a machine that passes a small electric current through the needle. ‌

Electroacupuncture helps to block your pain by activating bioactive chemicals in your body. This process may decrease your sensitivity to the pain you’re feeling. It’s also been shown to help reduce inflammation in your body. ‌

When you get electroacupuncture, it activates your sympathetic nerve fibres. By activating these fibres, your body releases endogenous opioids such as endorphins, which help to reduce inflammation. The activated nerve fibres may also help to reduce feelings of persistent pain. This makes it a good treatment for chronic pain and stress.‌

Studies have also found that electroacupuncture may help your body release mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into your bloodstream. MSCs are adult stem cells mostly found in your bone marrow. MSCs help your body create different types of tissues. They also have healing properties.

• Related: Can Acupuncture Help My Fibromyalgia?

Pros of Electroacupuncture
Electroacupuncture can be used as a part of your acupuncture treatment. It may help with conditions like: 
• Neurological diseases
• Chronic pain
• Muscle spasms
• Paralysis‌

Electroacupuncture is believed to help increase your blood flow. This may help to relieve any pain you’re feeling. In addition, this type of acupuncture warms your muscles. It may help with poor circulation and potential blockages. ‌

Another condition that electroacupuncture has been shown to reduce is chronic stress. Studies show that this type of therapy can help you reduce long-term chronic stress through stimulation. ‌

For many centuries, acupuncture has been used as a therapeutic treatment for pain, including chronic pain disorders. Electroacupuncture is a more modern form of acupuncture, and it can be a substitute for traditional acupuncture. ‌

You may like this treatment if you're ready to experience a new level of acupuncture. Because electricity and needles are involved, you should understand the potential drawbacks of electroacupuncture. 
Cons of Electroacupuncture

There are a few risks of electroacupuncture. With the electricity component used in this type of acupuncture, certain individuals aren't recommended to try this therapy. People who have a history of any of the following conditions should avoid electroacupuncture: 
• Seizures
• Heart disease
• Strokes
• Epilepsy‌
• Anti-coagulant medication (if needles are used)
• If you have a pacemaker

Talk with your doctor or acupuncturist if you’re pregnant and thinking about electroacupuncture. They’ll help you decide if it’s safe for you and your baby.‌

In rare cases, you could experience adverse effects from electroacupuncture. The electrically charged needles have the risk of causing infections or organ, tissue, and nerve damage. Other risks include low blood pressure, called hypotension, fainting, and vomiting during or after treatment. The risk of negative effects is low. But you may experience bruising, needle site pain, or a small amount of bleeding where the needles are inserted.‌‌

Electroacupuncture is a good alternative to traditional acupuncture. With the benefits of pain management and the potential to provide relief from muscle spasms, this therapeutic treatment is meant to help you feel relaxed and pain-free.

Before trying electroacupuncture, talk to your acupuncturist. They can help you determine if this is the right therapeutic treatment for you. If you’re looking for treatment, make sure that the person performing your acupuncture is certified and specializes in electroacupuncture.

See Jane at www.physioplusguisborough.co.uk who trained in this technique in 1985 (yes, that long ago!).

Is Acupuncture the Miracle Remedy for Everything?
• How does it work?
• What are the benefits?
• What to expect
• How to find an acupuncturist
• Home alternatives

Acupuncture, the practice of treating conditions through triggering certain points on the skin with needles, may help with allergies, migraines, arthritis pain, sciatica and insomnia. Acupuncture is an evidence-based medicine that has been proven by literally thousands of studies.

If you’re new to holistic healing as a type of treatment, acupuncture can seem a bit terrifying. How could pressing needles into your skin possibly make you feel better? Doesn’t that hurt?

Well, no, it’s definitely not the overtly painful procedure you may be imagining and considering that it’s been studied and practiced for over 2,500 years, it seems acupuncture enthusiasts could seriously be onto something.

Some people swear by acupuncture, citing it as a “miracle” to improving their quality of life because it’s said to be able to treat everything from depression and allergies to morning sickness and cramps.

What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine-based approach to treating a variety of conditions by triggering specific points on the skin with needles.

Paul Kempisty, a licensed acupuncturist with a MSc in traditional Oriental medicine, explains, “Acupuncture is a minimally invasive method to stimulate nerve-rich areas of the skin surface in order to influence tissues, gland, organs, and various functions of the body.”
“Each acupuncture needle produces a tiny injury at the insertion site, and although it’s slight enough to cause little to no discomfort, it’s enough of a signal to let the body know it needs to respond,” Kempisty says.
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“This response involves stimulation of the immune system, promoting circulation to the area, wound healing, and pain modulation.” Contemporary research on acupuncture relies mainly on this theory.

What’s the philosophy behind acupuncture?
The Chinese philosophy behind acupuncture is a bit more complicated, as the ancient practice isn’t traditionally based in science and medicine.

“They believed that the human body was filled with and animated by an invisible life-giving force which they called ‘qi’ (pronounced ‘chee’) and when the qi was flowing well and going to all the right places, then a person would experience good mental and physical health. When the qi was flowing incorrectly (blocked or deficient) that would result in illness,” says Kempisty.

The concept of qi isn’t too out there — think of it as your body’s natural inner workings. Sometimes you’re more prone to illness when feeling stressed or anxious.

When you’re relaxed and healthy, your body physically reflects that too. After all, your mood, mental health, and general well-being do affect your physical health. Thus, acupuncture aims to assist people in achieving balance, or qi, and, as a result, provide relief for many ailments.

What does acupuncture do?
You may be interested in acupuncture for a variety of reasons. For example, I sought treatment for my chronic headaches and sinus pressure.

There are numerous conditions and symptoms that acupuncture has been found to help with. Here are just a few:
• allergies
• anxiety and depression
• osteoarthritis
• chronic pain, often in the neck, back, knees, and head
• hypertension
• insomnia
• menstrual cramps and PMS
• migraines
• morning sickness
• multiple sclerosis
• sprains
• strokes

Studies suggest that acupuncture can help with cancer treatment as well. Most cancer centres now include acupuncture within their standard of care.

Limited evidence for
• acne
• abdominal pain
• cancer pain
• obesity
• insomnia
• infertility
• diabetes
• schizophrenia
• stiff neck
• alcohol dependence

While there’s no evidence that acupuncture is a miracle cure-all, it does seem to have some evidence as a worth-while treatment for people who may have multiple conditions and illnesses.

There’s a reason it’s been around for more than 2,500 years and as research grows, so will our knowledge of exactly what works and what does.

Incorporating acupuncture into real life
An acupuncture assessment lasts 45 minutes and will involve a short trial to be sure that you are happy with needles. If you aren’t, a small electrical current device can be used instead (see our blog on electro-acupuncture).

The actual treatment portion of acupuncture may last around 30 to 45 minutes. Many people actually request a longer amount of time. Dopamine is released during acupuncture and many patients who appreciate a relaxing experience due to the dopamine release prefer longer retention time.

In terms of results, it’s nearly impossible to say what one should expect, as everyone responds to and experiences acupuncture differently.

“There is no universal response to acupuncture. Some people feel relaxed and may be a little tired, others feel energized and ready for anything,” Kempisty explains. “Some people experience an improvement right away and for others it can take several treatments before noticing a positive change.”

The most common response to acupuncture, however?

“People feel happy and content,” Kempisty says. “It’s hard to put into words but there’s a distinct balanced and harmonious feeling that acupuncture gives most people and it just feels good!”

You may also feel tired after a treatment and see changes in your eating, sleeping, or bowel habits, or experience no changes at all.

How do I find an acupuncturist?
Both Jane and Ryan at Physioplus+ offer acupuncture as part of their treatments. Jane treats a wide range of issues as above, whilst at the moment Ryan uses trigger point acupuncture to treat pain and is pursuing further training later in 2025.

https://www.physioplusguisborough.co.uk/specialisms.html