Acupuncture: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Pain and Stress Management - Essay Sample

Introduction

Acupuncture is a different and controversial type of treatment which entails inserting thin needles on a patient's body at particular sections in varying depths (Lai et al., 2019). Acupuncture is a traditional form of Chinese medication and is mainly used in the treatment of specific pains and health conditions such as stress management. The healthcare strategy behind acupuncture is to balance energy flow through the body commonly known in Chinese as "chee." ArevaloRodriguez et al. (2015) argued that by balancing a patient's energy, the technique heals and enables a patient to regain good health. Western health practitioners believe that the method aims at stimulating and balancing connective tissues, muscles, and nerves. Acupuncture relieves distress in a patient with menstrual cramps, labor pain, dental pain, headache, and chemotherapy.

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Drug therapy involves the use of drugs to treat diseases. Ye et al. (2017) maintained that medicine encounters receptors to enhance robust functionality and minimize pain and, in the process, cures a disease. Patients take drugs in the form of a liquid, capsule, or orally as a pill, or through injection into a patient's muscles or tissues. Many drugs have adverse side effects, which may be trivial or severe. However, most of the side effects are temporary (Lindley et al., 2019). Drugs have the benefit of improving one's health and minimizing pain. Acupuncture differs significantly from drug therapy and has numerous benefits that enhance health over a long duration.

Dementia (Background Information)

According to Ye et al. (2017), dementia is a condition characterized by a decline in thinking skills, language, and memory skills. The term describes reduced abilities in an individual to undertake daily functions, for instance, memory loss. One of the most common causes of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. As a term, dementia is not a disease but is a terminology that describes a variety of conditions due to abnormal brain damage or changes. The changes in the brain lead to reduced thinking ability, such as cognitive actions that can impair an individual's life (Lindley et al., 2019). Such changes in the brain affect relationships, feelings, and behavior of patients.

Besides Alzheimer's, vascular brain damage is another leading cause of dementia as a result of blood vessel blockage. Other causes of dementia include vitamin deficiencies and thyroid complications. The condition is often referred to as senility, an incorrect assumption of mental decline (ArevaloRodriguez et al., 2015). The primary symptoms of the disease include memory problems, increased confusion, and inability to undertake daily tasks, reduced concentration, depression, apathy, and withdrawal (ArevaloRodriguez et al., 2015). Others include sleep disorder, paranoia, personality changes, and restlessness.

Current Status in the US

Globally, there are over 50 million people with the condition, according to the World Health Organization (Lee et al., 2014). Most affected are middle and low-income countries. In the United States, there are approximately 6 million people affected and living with the condition. Alzheimer accounts for about 65 - 70 percent of the cases (Lee et al., 2014). As life expectancy rises, the number is expected to increase. According to Lee et al., (2014) those with Alzheimer's approximate 14 million and are mainly above the age of 65 years.

Forms of Examination - Diagnosis Methods/Cognitive Tests

There is no single diagnosis for the dementia (Lindley et al., 2019). Physicians diagnose Alzheimer's together with other related factors, such as day to day functioning, physical examination, medical history, and laboratory tests. Physicians also diagnose cognitive-communication challenges such as language comprehension, disorientation to person, place, and time. Screening instruments can be used to assess a patient's orientation place, time, and person (Lindley et al., 2019). Other tests, such as episodic recalling and retelling, are also applied in diagnosing dementia conditions. Assessment strategies such as audiology assessment are also used to diagnose the condition.

Western Medicine Method Treatment

Western medicine is a convention treatment in which medical practitioners and healthcare experts, including therapists and nurses, treat diseases by the use of drugs. Most patients rely on modern methods of treatment from medical providers who have expertise in medical diagnosis and treatment. Lindley et al., (2019) maintained that when an individual hears of the term "healthcare," this is what comes in mind. Western medicine is also referred to as conventional or allopathic or Western Medicine and is the most prevalent type of treatment in the Western world (Lee et al., 2014). Advancement in conventional medicine has led to considerable improvement in life quality and longevity of life to many persons all through the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Innovations including health information technology, imaging techniques, invasive surgeries, biopharmaceuticals, and antiretroviral therapies, Other innovations include stem cell transplants, and cancer therapies that have all led to an improvement in life quality and given many life, hope, and second chances in life (Ye et al., 2017). All through the health care journey, the most effective and latest medical therapies from western medicine have improved healthcare service delivery and improved lifespan in many ways. Western medications have, over the years, excelled in diagnostics and testing. According to ArevaloRodriguez et al. (2015), many persons all over the world living with challenging health conditions rely on western medications. Western medicine has various goals and objectives in the treatment of diseases and conditions. First, Western medicine seeks to achieve a substantial improvement in the quality of life. Secondly, the approach aims to cure chronic diseases and prevent the spread of infections. Lastly, Western medicine target to relieve pain and signs linked to a given disease alongside the diagnosis of related conditions.

Drug Therapy - Common Drugs (Central Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor, Donepezil)

Drug therapy is a broad terminology in the treatment of diseases. Medicines bind in enzymes and receptors in the cells to enhance their functionality and, in the process, minimize pain or cure a disease (Ye et al., 2017). Medications undergo intensive testing and research before their usage in hospital facilities or before prescription to a patient. However, drugs at times do have negative impacts on the patient if used together with some medicines, herbal remedies, or certain kinds of consumables.

Central Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor

Acetylcholinesterase falls under the cholinesterase enzyme category. Inhibiting drugs such as the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor stops the breakdown of acetylcholine into acetate and choline (Lee et al., 2014). The action increases the duration and level of their activity within the autonomic ganglia neuromuscular junctions and the central nervous system. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors fall under three main classifications; quasi-irreversible, irreversible, and reversible. Cleaving in the acetylcholine reduces a choline acetylated cholinesterase and moiety, which needs the hydrolysis to rejuvenate. Through these actions of binding, regeneration, and mediation, inhibitors treat health complications such as glaucoma, myasthenia gravis, and postural tachycardia syndrome (Ye et al., 2017). The drug is also useful in treating Alzheimer's disease and non-depolarizing relaxants of the muscle.

Donepezil

Donepezil is useful not only in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease but also dementia (ArevaloRodriguez et al., 2015). Although it does not treat Alzheimer's, it helps in the improvement of brain functionality, awareness, and memory. The drug is an enzyme blocker that restores the brain's natural substances balance. It works similarly to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (Lai et al., 2019). Often, patients diagnosed with dementia have low chemical levels in the brain, leading to mental malfunction. Donepezil prevents the continued breakdown of acetylcholine. The drug is taken by mouth as prescribed by the physician. Often, patients are advised to take it just before going to sleep. However, in case of difficulty in sleeping after taking, patients are advised to seek medical advice to change to morning intake. Regular usage of the drug is essential to increase the cure and minimize side effects (ArevaloRodriguez et al., 2015). In the case of the condition getting worse, patients are advised to seek medical advice and way forward.

Pros and Cons

Cons

Prolonged use of cholinesterase inhibitors leads to GI tract hypermotility, bronchoconstriction, hyper-secretion, hypotension, and bradycardia. It may also lead to a cholinergic crisis (Lai et al., 2019). Impacts on the neostigmine, especially on vomiting and postoperative nausea, remain controversial. At the same time, an overdose of cholinesterase may lead to hyperstimulation of the muscarinic receptors and nicotinic receptors. Other common side effects of the drug include hallucinations, diarrhea, vomiting, insomnia, weight loss, muscle cramps, and headache. The primary side effects of Donepezil include weight loss, bruising, vomiting, not sleeping well, nausea, and muscle cramps. Severe side effects include stomach ulcers, heartburn, lung complications, trouble urinating, vomiting blood, and slow heartbeats (ArevaloRodriguez et al., 2015). Other serious side effects may include seizures and tensed bowel movements.

Pros

Despite the mild and severe side effects, the uses of the above-discussed drugs have instant gratification improving a patient's hope of healing (Lindley et al., 2019). They thus provide a patient with short term remedy in addition to long term healing with constant usage. Drug therapies boost one's confidence in long term recovery, thus improving the quality of life they lead. Taking each pill per day, such as the Donepezil pill, gives a patient the independence they need in their attempts to improve their life and health (Lai et al., 2019). Despite standing out as a cure for dementia, Donepezil may also cure certain diseases and symptoms or a wide range of health complications often hidden.

Acupuncture Medicine Method of Treatment

Acupuncture is a Chinese traditional medication and entails the insertion of needles on the skin on a specific location and points of the body. Assumptions point to a disturbance in the energy flow of the body that may result in health complications. The insertion of needles on specific points of the body brings back equilibrium of the energy flow or state in the body. Lee, Kim, Park & Lee (2014) argued that the strategy is mainly used to treat ache but has spread to other treatment applications such as stress management and overall well-being. The Chinese describe the technique as an overall strategy of balancing energy flow in the body, commonly known as the chee. It is believed to result in a balanced and coordinated flow of pathways in the body.The needle insertions influence energy flow by re-balancing it through the body (Ye et al., 2017). Western researchers argue that the strategy stimulates the balancing of connective tissues, muscles, and nerves (Lee et al., 2017). Other schools of thought say that acupuncture enhances the body's immunity by boosting the body's painkillers.Although how the strategy works are still unclear, Western medical researchers and scientists remain skeptical about its role and place in modern treatment. Its mechanism entails balancing the body's energy,...