Did you know that Acupuncture Point Injection (AIT) therapy emerged in China during the 1950s and is a modified acupuncture technique? It was derived from intramuscular injection in Western medicine and gradually integrated into traditional Chinese medicine. Today, it is also called Trigger Point Therapy or TPT.
Acupoint injection is an acupoint-stimulating technique in which a liquid agent is injected to prevent and/or treat diseases, pain and trauma of soft tissue, joints, bone and fascia. These agents administered in acupoints are thought to play a synergistic effect with acupoint stimulation through the meridians. This method is believed to have a more sustained impact than traditional acupuncture needling or simple intramuscular injection.
A Combination of Ingredients
Used is a combination of homeopathic injectables, Procaine and Vitamin B 12. The homeopathics are formulated to heal damage, pain and/or inflammation in joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, nerves and connective tissues. These homeopathic remedies are designed to stimulate the regulation of cellular function from damaged to healthy, improving cellular oxygenation and detoxification. Procaine is not only an analgesic (pain reliever); it promotes tissue healing. Vitamin B12 speeds the healing of injuries, reduces pain and nourishes and detoxifies the body’s cells.
How Does AIT/TPT Work?
The injected substance enhances the area’s blood and energy flow (Qi). It allows the body to regain balance and health by relaxing fascial and muscle tension and stimulating the bone, joint, connective tissue and nervous system regeneration.
What Conditions Benefits from AIT/TPT
Acupoint injection is effective in many types of diseases. According to reports, acupoint injection can be applied to 148 types of ailments.
In recent years, acupoint injection has been administered mainly to relieve pain in many instances such as:
trigeminal neuralgia
pelvic pain
knee osteoarthritis
migraine
shoulder pain
back pain
chronic headache
cervicogenic headache
chronic abdominal pain
sexual pain
primary dysmenorrheal
labour analgesia
myofascial pain syndrome
groin pain
central post-stroke pain
neck and shoulder pain syndrome
lumbosacral radiculopathy
rotator cuff disease
muscle spasticity
nocturnal calf cramps
Both trigger points and acupuncture points are chosen for injection.
Have Adverse Effects Been Reported?
Acupoint injection is a relatively safe procedure. However, a few adverse events have been reported. For example, in 2015, a retrospective study was conducted in China involving 33 extrapulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis cases. The findings showed that this outbreak most likely resulted from contamination during the acupuncture point injection process. This occurrence has warranted the urgent establishment of standard guidelines for acupoint injection, which should include routine medical supervision and assessment.
How Many Treatments are Recommended?
Recommended are a minimum of three treatments with a 2-week break in between.
Are the Injections Painful?
AIT can cause a stinging sensation as injected, and muscles may feel achy for one to three days.
What is the Aftercare?
After an AIT/TPT treatment, patients will get the best results by keeping the injected areas warm with a heating pad or warm clothing and Epsom salt baths for three days post-treatment.
AIT/TPT Take-Away
AIT is an effective therapy for pain, inflammation, muscle tension, knots and trauma caused by injuries. This treatment is worth investigating if you are suffering from muscle or fascial (myofascial) pain, referred pain from trigger points, or joint or nerve pain. Tissues and joints often resume normal function, strength and range of motion after several treatments. In addition, some patients have reported 100% improvement in chronic long-term pain from decades-old injuries after one treatment.
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