Acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

摘要: The study of folk medicine by anthropologists and medical historians has revealed an astonishing array ingenious methods to relieve pain (Brockbank, 1954). Every culture, it appears, learned fight with pain: in general, brief, moderate tends abolish severe, prolonged pain. One the oldest is cupping, which a glass cup heated up (by coals or flaming alcohol) then inverted over painful area held against it. As air cools contracts, creates partial vacuum so that skin sucked into cup. procedure produces bruising concomitant tenderness. Cupping was practised ancient Greece Rome as early 4th century B.C., also India China. Over centuries, method spread virtually all parts world, cups various sizes, shapes materials have evolved. been used-and still widely practised-for large variety ailments, including headaches, backaches, arthritic pains. Cauterization yet another method. Generally, end iron rod until red-hot, placed on area, such foot case gout, buttock, back leg patients low Often, however, cautery applied specifically prescribed sites distant from area. procedure, course, produced subsequent blistering touched cautery, but reportedly led relief chronic (Elliott, 1962). same effect achieved two other procedures: rubbing fluids skin, applying cone ofmoxa (made leaves mugwort plant) site body, setting tip aflame, allowing burn slowly approached reached skin. Again, and, while used for kinds diseases, often conditions 1954; Elliott, There are countless resemble ones just described, usually labelled 'counter-irritation'. It evident one factor common ofthem they produce brief its much more These methods, did not always work, obviously worked well enough survived procedures throughout world thousands years. Do these work better than placebo? no experimental studies, evidence studies acupuncture suggests do.