{"id":29029,"date":"2020-05-27T08:00:04","date_gmt":"2020-05-27T08:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.edrugstore.com\/blog\/?p=29029"},"modified":"2020-05-27T13:00:19","modified_gmt":"2020-05-27T13:00:19","slug":"can-acupuncture-work-for-ed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edrugstore.com\/blog\/erectile-dysfunction\/can-acupuncture-work-for-ed\/","title":{"rendered":"Can acupuncture work for ED?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Acupuncture has been a treatment option for centuries.<\/em><\/p>\n

Acupuncture has long been considered a medical treatment for many ailments, including erectile dysfunction (ED), for centuries. Here’s what you should know about acupuncture and what science says about its effectiveness in treating ED.<\/p>\n

What is Acupuncture?<\/h3>\n

Acupuncture is the insertion of thin needles into certain points on the skin, sometimes called pressure points, located along channels in the body called meridians, through which a \u201cvital energy\u201d called qi flows. The belief is that blocked meridians result in a host of negative health outcomes, including ED. It is thought that, by stimulating certain points, blockages can be removed and health restored. The procedure may also be paired with a low-level electrical current that runs through the needle.<\/p>\n

Acupuncture is a fundamental piece of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and has been practiced for thousands of years. TCM is a broad set of knowledge that incorporates several lifestyle practices, from exercise and diet to herbal medicine and practices such as cupping. Other types of TCM you may be familiar with include tai chi practice and the use of medicinal herbs like ginseng.<\/p>\n

Is Acupuncture Dangerous?<\/h3>\n

Done properly, acupuncture is safe. The skin is sterilized and the needles are single-use. Generally, only ten to twenty needles are used in a given session, and the needles are not placed deep into the body. Anyone seeking acupuncture should check that the practitioner holds a license to practice in their state and is certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)<\/a>. If you’re considering acupuncture as a treatment, you should first speak with your doctor to see if you need a referral.<\/p>\n

Acupuncture does have some contraindications<\/a>, or situations it should not be used in. Acupuncture is sometimes paired with Chinese herbal medicine, although the contraindications between herbal medicine and modern pharmaceuticals<\/a> are still being researched. You should speak with both your doctor and your acupuncturist before using any herbal treatment, and be ready to discontinue that treatment if there are adverse effects.<\/p>\n

\"Acupuncture
Acupuncture points are located all over the body.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How Does Acupuncture Allegedly Treat Erectile Dysfunction?
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In TCM, the genitals are affected by qi flow in the liver and kidneys<\/a>. To simplify somewhat, the liver governs the tendons, and the genitals are seen as the ancestral tendon in TCM. If, due to \u201cemotional conditions\u201d such as anxiety or depression, qi becomes blocked in the liver, the reproductive organs are affected. Similarly, a lack of qi flowing into the kidney, can block qi from flowing to sexual organs.<\/p>\n

In practical terms, this means needles will be places at points along the hip, torso, and outer and inner leg to promote the flow of qi.<\/p>\n

Does Acupuncture Work?<\/h3>\n

Whether or not acupuncture works as a treatment in general, or a treatment for ED, is something of an open question. It is tangled in the question of whether acupuncture works at all.<\/p>\n

Meta-studies of the theory behind acupuncture have been inconclusive, with studies reporting inconsistent evidence of its benefits. This means that any benefits:<\/p>\n