You are suffering from acute bronchitis when your respiratory tract is inflamed.  The inflammation develops shortly after you acquire a respiratory infection.  Bronchitis affects your sinuses, nose and throat initially then affects your lungs causing symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, fever, fatigue, productive cough, and chest pain later on. People who are suffering from heart or lung disease, smokers, infants, young children and the elderly are those who are most susceptible in contracting the pathogen that causes bronchitis. Conventional medical modalities for bronchitis can include prescription medications for wheezing or coughing, steam therapy, fluids and rest. The ancient Chinese medicine called acupuncture can provide an effective, natural and safe stand-along or complementary treatment for one’s bronchitis.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been practiced in China for over 4,000 years. It uses very fine needles that are inserted into the body at certain acupuncture points scattered all over the body to prevent disease, balance the body, treat sicknesses and improve health.  Acupuncturists insert the needles to stimulate the acupuncture points and activate the qi or vital force inside the body as well as stimulate the brain to produce and release chemicals and hormones that relieve pain and enhance health.  Even if acupuncture has been used for thousands of years, it just became popular when it was introduced in the early 70s in the United States.

Research

The treatment of acupuncture is powerful enough to relieve the symptoms of bronchitis.  A Chinese medical journal called Zhongguo Zhen Jiu in 2007 published a study that monitored the long and short term effects of acupuncture therapy among 200 subjects affected with bronchitis.  Some of the subjects were given acupuncture treatment for their bronchitis during the three hottest times of the year. These are the times when cases of bronchitis are at their highest.  A hundred of the subjects merely made some lifestyle modifications. At the end of the study, the subjects treated with acupuncture showed long and short term betterment of their bronchitis symptoms.

Treatment

Your initial visit to your acupuncturist will have him/her questioning you about your lifestyle, family and medical history, current symptoms and complaint.  The acupuncturist will feel your pulse and observe your tongue in order to accurately diagnose your condition based on traditional Chinese medicine protocols.  Your acupuncturist will let you lie down and make you feel as comfortable as possible. He/she then starts to insert the acupuncture needles at certain points on your body that may include your chest area, feet, hands, legs and arms. Then your acupuncturist may avail of other traditional Chinese medicine modalities such as cupping therapy, gua sha, and Tui Na (Chinese massage). The needles are left inserted in the body for 20 minutes to a full hour during which time you will feel so relaxed that you may doze off.

Safety

Talk to your doctor first before deciding getting acupuncture in Overland Park for your acute bronchitis.  Even if acupuncture is considered a very safe treatment and very seldom causes side effects, it can still cause infection, bleeding, discomfort at the needled point and bruising, especially if the acupuncturist you go for treatment is not licensed or poorly trained.