The desire to scratch and the tingling skin are sensations known as itching and they serve as a protective bodily response that’s triggered in the brain. Itching is usually a harmless but uncomfortable sensation; however, constant scratching can eventually damage the skin. To resolve chronic itching sensations, a lot of people are turning to acupuncture for safe and long-lasting relief.
Itching – Its Causes
There may be several reasons why itching occurs. This can be due to damaged nerves or dry skin among many other possible causes. There are four types of itching according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. They include pruriceptive, psychogenic, neuropathic, and neurogenic itching. Inflammation, hives, eczema, drug reactions are some factors that can cause skin damage resulting in pruriceptive itching. Chemical imbalances in the body including serotonin and noradrenaline imbalance can lead to psychogenic itching. This type of itching is treated with antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs. Neuropathic itching is usually the result of damage in the nervous system. Neurogenic itching, on the other hand, occurs when the liver and kidney is suffering from a chronic disease.
To provide a customized form of treatment for their patients, acupuncturists need to assess their symptoms first. Since acupuncture is customized based on the patient’s body and symptoms, each patient may receive a one-of-a- kind treatment even if they may all be suffering from the same condition. Acupuncturists may decide on what particular acupuncture points to treat to resolve their patient’s itching problem. For itchy and red skin, the Gall Bladder 31 point can be selected, for eczema and other skin disorders, the Urinary Bladder 31 point located on the back of the spine is treated. The Urinary Bladder 13 point can be treated for generalized itching, such as those caused by acne or hives.
Effectiveness
A study done in 2010 and reviewed by the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology showed that acupuncture treatments significantly lessened the severity, duration and distribution of itching. The people reviewing the study concluded that acupuncture indeed can be used to treat itching although more studies and tests need to be done to validate the treatment’s efficacy.
Considerations
Every year millions of Americans avail themselves of acupuncture. However, not all practicing acupuncturists are licensed by their state to perform this profession. This poses a problem because someone who has no proper training may not perform an acupuncture procedure properly and this may result in a misdiagnosed and wrongly treated condition, injuries such as a punctured organ, or infections because of the use of unsterilized needles. So, in order to avoid these adverse effects it is highly recommended that you always seek treatment from an accredited and licensed practitioner.
DeJongh Acupuncture Clinic
2929 SW 3rd Ave #610
Miami, FL 33129
(305) 677-3214
https://www.miamiacupunctureclinic.com