[Acupuncture therapy today. Background, clinical use, mechanisms]

Acupuncture, an over 2000 years old therapeutic method stemming from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is nowadays used mainly as a sensory stimulation method, the main indication being long-term nociceptive pain. Symptoms of nausea, mouth dryness, climacteric flushes, vascular disturbances and bladder dysfunction may also be relieved by acupuncture. In addition, the method is used in alcohol and drug detoxification programs. Analgesia by acupuncture seems to work through stress induced analgesia (strong, painful) while therapeutic acupuncture (gentle, painless) probably works through a local tissue healing effect and central anti-stress mechanisms.