surgery, but according to another study completed
on neonatal infants, acupuncture significantly
reduced crying duration and pain scores in
preterm newborns (Ecevit et al 309). Preterm
infants were used in this study because of the
frequent amount of times these infants are
subjected to invasive procedures. In Western
medicine, sucrose and analgesics are used t o
reduce the pain associated with the numerous skin
breaking procedures infants must undergo that are
necessary for their survival (Ecevit et al 308). Too
much sucrose or repeated concentrated use can
result in hyperglycemia and fluid overload in
newborn infants (Ecevit et al 309). As with any
medication, there can be adverse side effects,
which augment with increased frequency of use.
In order to assess the infants’ pain, the duration of
their crying was used as criteria to evaluate their
pain levels, as well as recording their oxygen
saturation, systolic and diastolic blood pressure,
respiratory rate and heart rate (Ecevit et al 308). A
heel prick (cutting the skin of the heel and
squeezing to express a blood sample) was the
chosen method for this study. Upon completion,
it was determined that none of the infants cried
when the acupuncture needle was placed, and that
the mean crying time was significantly lower in
those infants that had been needled, with thirty
percent of the infants not crying at all when their
heel was pricked. Unlike traditional Western
medicine, acupuncture has little to no side effects
and can be repeatedly used without adverse effects
to the patients.
Not only is acupuncture a safer alternative
to general and local anesthesia, but is also helpful
in postoperative recovery and pain management.
According to Lee and Chan, in their study, 32% of
the acupuncture group when compared to the
control group, required less analgesia during the
first 36 hours after surgery (307). Pain relieving
acupuncture points are used during surgery.
Points that are directly associated with the affected
organ undergoing surgery are needled to help
relieve post operative pain, with points found on
the back (called Shu points) being used for deep
visceral pain (Lee and Chin 310). In all of the
studies used for reference, none of the patients in
the study reported any side effects from the
acupuncture. There are many advantages to using
acupuncture as a safer alternative to medication.
Quicker recoveries are reported, and it is seen as a
way to condition the whole body by reinforcing
the reaction to anesthetic medication, anti-stress
and immunity (Streitberger 39). In the Journal of
Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ecevit notes that
acupuncture is a safe, effective and cheap method
for pain relief during minor procedures for pain in
newborns (310). We live in a time where we
continuously question the efficacy of our health
care system and seek cost effective and viable
alternatives to expensive medications loaded with
side effects. Acupuncture is a reasonable solution.
It has been proven to be successful in clinical
applications and would not only be of benefit to
the patient, but to the overall costs of healthcare.
Work Cited
Cheng, Tsung O.
"Acupuncture Anesthesia for Open Heart Surgery:
Past, Present and Future." International Journal of
Cardiology 150 (2005): 1-3. Print.
Ecevit, Ayse, Deniz Anuk Ince, Mehmet Tugrul
Cabioglu, and Abdullah Kurt.
"Acupuncture in Preterm Babies during Minor
Painful Procedures." Journal of Traditional Chinese
Medicine 31 (2011): 308-10. Print.
Lee, A., and S. Chan
"Acupuncture and Anaesthesia." Best Practice &
Research Clinical Anaesthesiology 20.2 (2006): 303-14.
Print.
Lee, Hyangsook, and Edzard Ernst.
"Acupuncture Analgesia during Surgery: A
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