Electroacupuncture in Barcelona

Compared to standard acupuncture, whose origins date back thousands of years, electroacupuncture therapy is a young technique. Although it is based on classical Chinese acupuncture, it was born in France in the 19th century and from the beginning was used to treat ailments involving pain such as sciatica.

What is electroacupuncture? 

Electroacupuncture is a technique that consists of applying an electrical stimulus of low voltage and variable intensity and frequency between two acupuncture needles. The needles are connected to an electro acupuncture device. Unlike standard acupuncture, the manipulation of the needle is not done manually by the acupuncturist but is done by varying the frequency, intensity, and type of wave of the applied electrical stimulus. 

How does electroacupuncture work? 

In traditional Chinese medicine, one of the most widely used concepts is Qi (energy). This Qi flows throughout the body through the energy meridians, when one of these channels is blocked at a point such as a sports injury, this flow of Qi slows down producing pain and inflammation. Electroacupuncture treatment would stimulate the correct circulation of the energy flow and help to resolve this blockage. 

In Western terms, we can explain this phenomenon based on different physiological mechanisms, including: 

• Acupuncture increases blood flow in the treated area, which leads to more oxygenation and circulation of anti-inflammatory substances. 
• After a treatment with electroacupuncture, endorphin levels increase in the cerebrospinal fluid. Endorphins are analgesic substances produced by our brain; therefore the physiological mechanisms of pain mitigation are stimulated. 
• The analgesia induced by electroacupuncture could be associated with a regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. 

What is an electroacupuncture session like? 

An electroacupuncture session does not differ too much from a classic acupuncture session. First, the specialized therapist makes a diagnosis based on the theories of Chinese medicine, chooses the points to be treated, inserts conventional acupuncture needles, and then proceeds to connect several pairs of needles with the electro acupuncture machine through electrical electrodes. 

The acupuncturist will select the frequency and intensity based on the desired therapeutic effect. 

The main difference is that the stimulation of the needles is not manual but through the electrical device, thus achieving a more intense and stable stimulation. The needles usually remain connected between 10 and 20 minutes. The combination of both techniques in the same session is usually common. 

Electroacupuncture, is not a painful therapy. Patients usually perceive a tingling or vibration in the treated area but as the intensity of the current is variable, it can always be adapted to the patient’s sensation. 

What health problems does it treat? 

At the Acupuntura Energética Barcelona center we use electroacupuncture mainly in the treatment of pain, whether in the chronic or acute phase. Other applications in which we often benefit from this technique are: 

•      Muscle contractures 

•      Facial paralysis 

•      Recovery from a stroke (cerebrovascular accident) 

•      Sports injuries 

•      Facilitate labor 

If your problem is not among those mentioned before and you want more information don’t hesitate to contact us