Acupuncture: Where to Get It for Free

A thousand-year-old Chinese medical art. It treats everything from muscle pain to nausea, from infertility to depression. Contraindications and guidelines from the National Institute of Health (ISS)

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What to know about acupuncture

THEacupunctureAcupuncture, a thousand-year-old art of Chinese medical tradition, has now become, alongside traditional medicine, also a therapeutic method followed by Italians (22 percent say they appreciate it). In our country, there are 3.531 acupuncturists (57 percent of them are concentrated in the Northern regions of Italy) and over 100 public facilities that offer acupuncture within the National Health Service. But what does this practice consist of? holistic therapyHow can you avoid wasting it? Are there any contraindications?

What is that

Acupuncture reached the West around 1600 thanks to some Portuguese missionaries returning from travels in the East. The philosophy underlying the practice is that of Yin and Yang, According to which our health depends on the balance established between these two vital forces: the energy linked to matter and the mental energy. When this balance is altered, the body begins to suffer and experience pain. In recent times, evidence of its benefits has been provided by scientific research and experimental tests that have increased significantly in recent years, so much so that they have been the subject of more than 40.00 studies on PubMed.

Usually, before starting an acupuncture session, a introductory interview with the patient and an objective examination is carried out with palpation of the wrists e a tongue inspection, which can clarify the type and energetic cause of the person's ailments. After that, a series of acupuncture sessions is begun, which usually don't cause any particular discomfort.

How it works

As soon as the problem to be treated has been identified, the acupuncturist begins to to prick specific points, placed on all the energy channels, which are called “meridians", which run along the entire body. The needles used are, of course, disposable, flexible, have a diameter of approximately 0,30 millimeters and a length ranging from 1 to 7 centimeters. Once applied, the needles remain on the skin for 15 to 30 minutes, ensuring that vital forces are rebalanced and the body regains its optimal state. Each stimulated point generates a therapeutic effect thanks to the production of endorphins and also because a specific area of ​​the central nervous system is activated. The needles relax the muscles and have an anti-inflammatory effect.

What it cures

Acupuncture can treat a wide range of ailments of varying severity. Let's take a look at them together.

  • Musculoskeletal pain, as the backache, the knee pain, the elbow pain, the contractures, the sciatica.
  • Nausea, tiredness and blood changes related to chemotherapy processes.
  • Diarrhea
  • Diabetes
  • Herpes zoster
  • Neuritis
  • Headache achronic
  • Asthma and conjunctivitis
  • Constipation, irritable bowel syndrome and mild hemorrhoids
  • Amenorrhea
  • Prostatitis
  • Infertility
  • Depression
  • Anxiety

Acupuncture also helps prevent many of these ailments, as it identifies their energetic causes before they develop. This is especially true for asthma, headaches, and respiratory tract infections.

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Acupuncture and the National Institute of Health

Acupuncture is also recognized by'Higher Institute of Health, The highest public health oversight and advisory body. With some guidelines for its use.

  • You should never abandon conventional therapies and seek acupuncture alone without first consulting your doctor and obtaining his or her approval.
  • Same thing with your GP: inform him and talk about it if you intend to use acupuncture.
  • Always contact acupuncturists who are experts in this discipline, after having obtained information from the Local Health Authority, the Medical Association and accredited scientific societies.
  • Report any adverse reactions following acupuncture therapy to your doctor promptly.

Where it's free

In Italy, acupuncture is not covered by the National Health Service (SSN), except for treatments related to specific conditions. However, some regions, hospitals, associations, and research centers offer free access to acupuncture.

  • Italian Regions

In Emilia-Romagna, for example, acupuncture was included in the LEA (essential health care assistance) program as early as 2014, allowing residents to benefit from it for specific conditions such as migraines, tension headaches, and chronic low back pain. In some hospitals, such as Sant'Orsola, it is offered free of charge alongside oncology treatments for cancers in women.

The same is true in Tuscany, where the region has integrated complementary medicine into the regional healthcare system, recognizing acupuncture, along with homeopathy and phytotherapy, as part of the Regional Health Service. Currently, there are approximately one hundred public clinics in Tuscany that provide complementary medicine services, including acupuncture. These services are accessible to all residents of the region, generally upon payment of a co-payment. In Lombardy, acupuncture is recognized by the National Health Service (SSN) as a therapy for the treatment of pain, particularly for conditions such as chronic migraine and chronic nonspecific low back pain. Some Local Health Authorities (ASST) offer acupuncture clinics. For example, San Carlo Hospital in Milan has an acupuncture clinic that treats conditions such as neck pain, low back pain, headaches, migraines, osteoarthritis, tendinitis, muscle contractures, and contusions and sprains. Access to this clinic requires a prior physical therapy consultation at the San Carlo Hospital's Rehabilitation Unit.

In Lazio, acupuncture is also offered free of charge as part of pain management at specialized facilities, such as the Gemelli Polyclinic and the Buccheri La Ferla Hospital. In Campania, to access this free healthcare service, a doctor must prescribe acupuncture for specific conditions, such as chronic pain or other conditions for which acupuncture is considered a therapeutic option. In Sicily, Calabria, Basilicata, and Sardinia, acupuncture has also recently been included among the services covered by the National Health System (NHS), thanks to its recognized benefits, particularly as a pain management treatment.

  • Associations and research centers

There are some associations or research centers that, as part of experimental projects, offer free acupuncture treatments. These projects may be linked to clinical studies or training courses for professionals in the field.

  • Acupuncture Universities and Schools

Some universities or schools of traditional Chinese medicine offer low-cost or free treatments, performed by students under the supervision of experienced practitioners. These treatments are often part of practical training programs.

Who to contact

According to a census, 298 public acupuncture services were registered in Italy, distributed as follows: 177 in the North, 94 in the Center, 16 in the South, and 11 on the Islands. For up-to-date information on the availability of acupuncture through the National Health Service (NHS) in your region, it is advisable to consult the website of your Local Health Authority (ASL) or contact your GP or regional health service directly.

How does it feel after an acupuncture session?

After an acupuncture session, some people feel calm, sleepy; others feel a increased energyYou may experience tingling, a sensation of heat, or a tingling sensation where the needle was inserted. The effects are entirely subjective: you may not feel any effects at all and the sessions may prove ineffective. If this happens, it's best to discontinue them. In any case, after acupuncture, you should rest, avoid exercise, and stay away from alcohol for a few hours.

Benefits

Acupuncture has numerous benefits, as we've already mentioned, in relation to the pathologies it can treat. Acupuncture soothes problems of a musculoskeletal nature. osteoarticular, neurological and also dermatology, and it is also very effective against food and nicotine addictions. In fact, it helps a lot when you want quit smoking or should it be lose excess weightThe insertion of needles restores brain connections and stimulates areas rich in nerves and blood vessels, encouraging the production of endorphins. Muscles relax, and inflamed areas are healed. Acupuncture takes a holistic, comprehensive approach to the patient, observing the person as a whole and evaluating their connections with the external world. Acupuncture was born as a disease prevention tool, but today it is, in effect, a therapeutic tool.

Acupuncture to quit smoking

Acupuncture is often used to allow the patient to quit smokingIts action works in two directions. By applying needles to specific points on the auricle, the taste and smell of cigarettes can be altered. At that point, the smoker perceives something very undesirable, and they distance themselves from cigarettes. Furthermore, and this is the second area of ​​intervention, acupuncture reduces symptoms and discomfort due to tobacco withdrawal. In any case, an honest acupuncturist will always tell you the truth: needles alone aren't enough to quit smoking; the patient's willpower is paramount.

How much does a session cost?

Acupuncture sessions have variable costs, which also depend on the acupuncturist's professional skills. The first session is always the most expensive., from 50 to 100 euros, subsequent ones range between approximately 35 and 60 euros. Acupuncture sessions, since they can only be performed by doctors, are considered a medical expense and are therefore tax deductible at 19%.

Controindicazioni

Acupuncture is a safe practice and involves very few side effects, such as pain, bruising, and/or bleeding where the small needles enter. Whether or not side effects occur depends largely on the professionalism of the acupuncturist. The acupuncturist must be experienced to avoid damaging the organs affected by the punctures and resulting infections. Accidentally hitting a superficial nerve can cause nerve pain or even more serious consequences, such as phlebitis, inflammation of the lymphatic vessels, fistulas, and damage to arteries and veins.

Acupuncture is not recommended or should be performed under the strict and constant supervision of a doctor in the presence of the following circumstances.
  • Bleeding disorders: People with bleeding disorders or taking anticoagulant drugs should be cautious, as stings could increase the risk of bleeding;
  • PregnancySome acupuncture points are not recommended during pregnancy, as they may stimulate contractions or have negative effects on the fetus. It is important to inform your therapist of your pregnancy.
  • Skin infections: If the area to be treated is infected or has skin lesions, acupuncture should not be performed to avoid complications;
  • Heart disorders or pacemakersPeople with heart problems or pacemaker implants should be carefully evaluated, as acupuncture may interfere with the device;
  • Compromised immune system: in case of immunosuppression, such as in patients with HIV or receiving immunosuppressant treatments, it may be more difficult to heal the small injuries caused by needlesticks;
  • Psychiatric disorders: In some cases, patients with severe psychiatric disorders (such as schizophrenia) may have unpredictable reactions.

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