Electroacupuncture (EA) is a modern variation of acupuncture. It uses electricity to enhance the benefits of this traditional therapeutic treatment.
EA uses two needles in each meridian point, or acupuncture point, and then connects to a machine that passes a small electric current through the needle.
EA helps to block pain by activating sympathetic nerve fibers which trigger the endogenous opioid system to release endogenous opioids like endorphins in the body which help to reduce inflammation, and persistent pain – this makes EA the suitable treatment method for chronic pain and stress.
The endogenous opioid system consists of widely scattered neurons that produce three opioids: beta-endorphin, met- and leu-enkephalins, and dynorphins. These opioids act as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators at three major classes of receptors, termed mu, delta, and kappa, and produce analgesia.
EA has proved successful in the treatment of arthritis, kidney pains, ulcers, back, and joint pains.
