Acupuncture, Oil Application, and Infrared Therapy

摘要

Chronic pain conditions of the musculoskeletal system are common and of high socioeconomic relevance.1 Continuous treatment of chronic conditions for a long duration can be expensive and affect the quality of life of patients. The clinic of the National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN), in Pune, Maharashtra, India, treated 56,112 patients during 2010-2011.2 Disease-specific treatment protocols, consisting of natural modalities, such as hydrotherapy, diet charting, therapeutic massage, peloid therapy, acupuncture, and yoga are administered at the NIN. A separate outpatient department (OPD) for acupuncture is also included in the NIN's clinic, which mainly sees patients for chronic pain management. In the 6-month period from May 2012 through October 2012,54 patients sought treatment in the acupuncture OPD. Of these patients, 57% came to the acupuncture OPD for treatment for alleviation of their chronic musculoskeletal pain. On average these 54 patients received treatment for 9 days (mean 8.72; standard deviation +- 8.91).