Acupuncture: The Better Alternative in Treating UTI

Health authorities and experts have expressed concern about the emerging threat of antibiotic resistance among UTI patients. In fact, they are considering this to be one of the reasons why urinary tract infection, particularly among women, has becoming acute or persistent as a disease.

In America alone, an estimated 11 million people are suffering from acute UTI, despite the fact that over-the-counter antibiotics have increased its sales by 800%, ever since the FDA approved its sale even without medical prescription.

According to the medical community, overuse of antibiotics in treating urinary tract infection is the main reason why a great number of UTI patients no longer respond to antibiotic medications.

Doctors nowadays allow some UTI patients to try alternative forms of medication if antibiotic resistance has become apparent. However, this recommendation comes with the condition that proper consultations should first be made before actually treating urinary tract infection with an alternative form of therapy. One of the safest and most recommended form of alternative treatment is the Chinese acupuncture.

Medical studies and clinical tests have already been conducted to provide medical support for acupuncture as effective natural treatment for UTI. The results of the clinical studies undertaken by the medical researchers of the University of Bergen in Norway revealed that acupuncture was highly efficient in treating urinary tract infection of 75% of the women who participated in the clinical studies.

According to their reports, the acupuncture treatments were randomly applied on the women patients. This involved receiving needling on the lower abdomen or back or the lower extremities, which was in accordance with the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnosis. Acupuncture treatments were given twice a week for four weeks and recurrence of any incidence of UTI following the acupuncture treatment was duly monitored for about six months.

Astounding results showed that 73% of the women who received acupuncture treatment became free from UTI compared to 52% rate of success among the women who received other UTI treatment methods.

The scientists surmised that the success of acupuncture in treating urinary tract infection is attributable to the reduction of residue level in the urine. The TCM analysis for the results attributed the success to the Chinese "qi" (chee) as having a better circulation in the anatomy particularly the lower abdomen.

What is "qi" in traditional Chinese medicine? One aspect of the concept of "qi" is its reference to the vital elements that make up the human body, including the life giving substances. Hence, "qi" may refer to the vital or very important elements in any part of the body as well as in any life sustaining substances like food and water.

The medical findings about the reduction of urine residues among those who received acupuncture treatment, is considered as encouraging. There is now a better chance for success in treating urinary tract infection using alternative form of medication. However, despite these findings anyone who wishes to resort to acupuncture as their form of medication, should first consult their doctors.