No, acupuncture is not just for those who believe in it. The therapeutic method of Oriental medicine is becoming increasingly popular in Slovakia as well.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a therapeutic method in which we apply special acupuncture needles to points located mostly on energy pathways. These represent a separate human system that
stands apart from the commonly known systems such as the nervous, immune, cardiovascular... etc. Although we have known about the existence of energy pathways, the so-called meridians, in the territory of Europe probably since Neolithic times, knowledge of them has been preserved mainly in Asia. This is why acupuncture, as well as other techniques of influencing energy points, are mainly known from Chinese or Oriental medicine. V much attention is now being paid to clarifying the principles of its operation, and acupuncture is an important part of so-called integrated medicine in many hospitals in Europe, Canada, Australia, USA
What health problems do you encounter most often with your patients?
The spectrum of difficulties that patients present with is wide. If we imagine that the energy system runs through-and-through the whole person, we can logically deduce that it can be beneficial to the treatment for a great many ailments. However, it is not the method of first choice for everyone, and it is important to know how the possibilities of its use and the limits of when influencing energy points will not bring anymore fundamental change. People with psychosomatic illnesses most often seek an acupuncturist, various functional disorders of the digestive tract, insomnia, long-term respiratory diseases, musculoskeletal pain, headaches, neurological diseases, e.g. conditions after vascular strokes, chronic fatigue syndrome, skin diseases, especially in the sense of eczema, also disorders of potency and libido, gynaecological problems in general, for example disorders of the menstrual cycle, difficulties in getting pregnant... etc.
What fascinates you most about your field?
The interconnectedness with all structures, the wholeness and through it the multiplicity. And then it's also fascination with an old concept, a broad field in which there is still a lot to discover and explore. What health problems can you help patients with? Overall, I can help a person willing to cooperate. And no, it is not true that acupuncture will only help those who believe it :-). Since the energy system is close to the emotional and closely linked to the nervous system, endocrine system, immune system...basically any system, it is extremely important that during treatment one begins to reassess and try to understand his emotionality or mental habits and through that begin to change his lifestyle. These are the so-called long runs with patients undergoing treatment for at least a year. Then there is the spectrum of patients we help in the short term, for example with musculoskeletal problems in rehabilitation or with conditions after strokes.
What age group of patients are you treating? Is the patient's age limited?
I mainly deal with adult patients but also partially with adolescents and children. For children I choose rather tuina (read tchuejna), which is the influence of energy points and pathways by pressure with the fingers or the hand, in it is basically a therapeutic massage. Also, for children, laser acupuncture is used, which is preferred especially in Germany, but we do not offer this therapeutic method, at least not yet.
How is this field in Slovakia? Is it possible to study in our country?
Acupuncture is one of the options for postgraduate medical education, for obtaining specialization in However, in order to obtain a degree in acupuncture, it is necessary to have a specialisation in another medical field first. Currently high public interest, as well as interest in healthy lifestyles and preventive medicine, leads many people to Chinese medicine doctors or acupuncturists. The variety of difficulties with which a patient and the need to create a safe space for them in longer-term therapy creates physician to make higher personal and professional demands. It is also a challenge nowadays to both study classical old medical works as well as following the research activities in Evidence Based Medicine, which is taking place, especially abroad. Acupuncture or traditional Chinese medicine requires for its complexity, a highly integrated practitioner who does not transfer his emotional attunement to patients, is professional and human at the same time.
Is the patient limited by anything after visiting your practice? (E.g. cannot exercise, has to rest, can't donate blood, etc...)
On the day of the treatment it is important to have a more restful regime, the patient should not have a heavy load, whether after physical or psychological, eat inappropriate fatty food that will put a strain on his digestion. Ideal are the so-called. Relaxing physical activities such as walking, yoga, stretching exercises. It is important to let the body and soul space :-) I know that various questionnaires have suggested that acupuncture can transmit diseases through blood, but nowadays needles are no longer used repeatedly. They are sterilely packed and in our practice we use that are sterilely packed individually.
