What is Electroacupuncture?

Electroacupuncture is an alternative medical practice that involves stimulation of key points on the body with electrified needles. The current is extremely low and the patient experiences a mild tingling sensation during a session. This practice is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), an approach to medicine that developed in China and continues to be practiced there today. People certified to practice Traditional Chinese Medicine can offer acupuncture along with other treatment modalities to their patients, and these practices may be complementary in nature in some cases, supplementing care from a Western practitioner.

According to practitioners of TCM, illnesses can be explained by imbalances of a life force or energy known as qi. Qi flows throughout the body and follows specific lines and pathways. If the flow is interrupted or blocked, it can result in an imbalance, causing a person to be sick. Blockages can be traced to specific points, and stimulation of these points can restore the balance. Practitioners of TCM use a variety of techniques to address perceived imbalances of qi, including manual manipulation of patients and herbal medicines.

Electroacupuncture is based on an older practice, acupuncture. With acupuncture, very fine needles are inserted into points where the flow of qi is believed to be disrupted. They may be left in place for a set period of time or manipulated by the practitioner, depending on the patient. With electroacupuncture, which was developed in the 1930s, the physical manipulation, such as twirling, is replaced with a mild electrical current. Practitioners of electroacupuncture claim that it offers greater control and reduces the problems caused by practitioner fatigue.

This procedure is also known as percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS). Numerous studies have been conducted to determine how effective electroacupuncture is and have offered varying conclusions. Controlling such studies can be challenging, as patients will know whether or not the electrical current is being delivered and patients familiar with TCM will know if the needles are placed correctly. There is also a long history of bias on both sides of the debate that makes it difficult to conduct controlled studies that will generate meaningful results.

While there is discussion among Western medical practitioners about the value of electroacupuncture in medical treatment, electrical stimulation is not alien to practitioners of allopathic medicine. PENS and the related transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are both used to treat neurological disorders, including chronic pain conditions. One option for management of chronic pain even involves the insertion of electrodes and a battery to deliver a steady stimulation to a nerve that is misfiring. The dispute lies not in the use of electricity in medical treatment, but in where that electricity is delivered, and what conditions it is used to treat.