Biopuncture is a therapy whereby specific locations on the body are injected with biological products(plant extracts). Most of these injections are given under the skin or into the muscles.
What kind of products are being injected?
Most products are plant extracts. Some commonly used products in biopuncture are arnica for muscle pain and echinacea which is used to increase the natural defense system of the body. Biopuncturists always inject combinations of natural products. Traumeel for example is used for inflammations and sports injuries. Spascupreel is used for muscular cramps.
Are these products safe for me?
As only low doses are injected, toxic side effects are very unlikely. Clinical studies on thousands of patients have confirmed the safety of these products. Additionally, the products used in biopuncture are manufactured by companies that guarantee the production quality of their products.
How does biopuncture work to help me with my pain and inflammations?
In conventional medicine, the actual drug you take suppresses your symptoms immediately. That is why you need to take high doses of chemical substances in order to suppress for example, pain. As soon as the medication stops working, you have to take another pill to kill the pain again. The same goes for anti-inflammatories, medication to control your blood pressure or pills for high cholesterol. That's how these drugs are designed. However, in biopuncture, small doses of products are injected in order to stimulate the natural healing processes. So, the healing effect comes from "inside" your body-not from the products themselves. It's the reaction of your immune system which will produce the proper reactions to regain natural healing.
Will biopuncture help me as quickly as conventional therapies?
Biopuncture doses are less powerful than for example cortisone injections. The dose used is too small to immediately suppress the inflammation. But that's not the goal of biopuncture. We consider inflammation as an important element of true and lasting healing. The goal of biopuncture is to stimulate the natural inflammatory processes in order to get complete and natural healing of the injured tissues-not to suppress them. As a result, the symptomatic relief may take longer, especially for chronic cases. But when dealing with acute injuries, the effects of the injections are apparent almost immediatley.
Where are these injections given?
Most people are suprised at how easily and quickly these injections are given. They are not as painful as an injection in for example a hospital because the needle used is very fine and the quantity injected is very small. Most are given into or just under the skin, others are given into specific muscle points or around ligaments. Injection location is influenced by location of pain and therefore may be different for each patient.
How many injections will I receive each session?
Alot of these injections are given at more than one spot during each session. Im most cases you may receive several injections given in a specific zone(or in several areas) of the body at each session.
How many sessions of biopuncture will be necessary?
You may need three or even more sessions to feel better. When you realize that these products are natural products that do not show any major side effects, you may be more patient than usual. In the long run, however, the results of your biopuncture are longer lasting because the healing comes from within and does not depend on the pills you take every day to take away the symptoms.
Is there an element of risk with such injections?
It is clear that the physician who decides to use biopuncture, will always do so according to the latest technical standards. That is his or her duty as a medical professional. This includes correct injection technique, and of course the use of sterile disposable material. This means that the needle has never been in contact with any other patient and that the transmission of disease is impossible. You may end up with a blue spot at the site of injection the next day. Even with the most gentle technique, some patients will demonstrate easy bruising. This will resolve without complication.
What is detox treatment?
An important issue in biopuncture is the detoxification of the body. It literally means "cleaning the body". All the toxins that have accumulated in your body, for example from the environment(air pollutiion), from bad nutrition, or from medication(e.g. antibiotics and steroids you've taken) can block your immune defense system. They can also disturb the reflexes of your nervous system. All the toxins in you body are the reason why your body may not be functioning optimally as it did when you were younger. Eliminating all these toxins is an important strategy in biopuncture.
When should my Physician suggest biopuncture?
Biopuncture cannot heal all of your medical problems. The majority of patients choose to be treated with biopuncture because they are in pain and do no support the use of conventional painkillers. Biopuncture is not just designed to take away the pain but more importantly, to look for the deeper cause. This means that if pain can be alleviated with biopuncture-without prescribing painkillers-there is good reason to conclude that the deeper cause of that particular pain has been eliminated.
I've heard that things can get worse immediately after my first treatment. Is that correct?
It all depends, for every case is different. In the beginning, you may experience a shift of pain from one area to another as the body starts to react to the treatment. This is not a bad sign. It is the first step to natural healing. It even has a name, and is called the "adaptation phase". You may even notice that especially the day after the injection you feel a little worse. This temporary worsening of complaints usually means that the healing processes are being activated. The body is working on the problem and that is exactly what we want. This is the "reaction phase".
When should I consider biopuncture?
Neck pain, back pain, sciatica, ankle sprain, shoulder pain, achilles tendonitis, sports injuries, tennis elbow, and golf elbow are all good examples and indications for biopuncture. However, biopuncture is not just used for pain problems. It can also be used for the treament of allergies and inflammations. For example, one can treat asthma, bronchitis, migraines, and various neuralgias.
Who may benefit from biopuncture?
The use of biotherapeutic injections can benefit those patients who have tried conventional medicine but have had no success, or for those who have had to stop taking conventional medication because of the side effects. It is anadjunctive healing technique for those patients who want to avoid an operation and in some patients it may be advantageous to combine the conventional approach together with biopuncture.
When is biopuncture not appropriate?
Biopuncture cannot heal you from cancer, diabetes, a heart attack or aids. Nor is it appropriate treatment for hypertension, fibromyalgia, parkinson's disease, depression, or epilepsy. When serious damage has already occurred, biopuncture will simply be too late to reverse the damage and bring the body back into balance again. It is recommended and important to first have a conventional diagnosis before starting with biopuncture.
Conclusion
Biopuncture is a safe and efficient technique in complementary medicine. It uses biotherapeutic injections to stimulate the natural self-healing capacities of your body. It is worth considering if it can help you with your personal health problems.