Acupuncture, a new medical alternative in Nigeria

With the constant ineptitude of many health practitioners and failure of the system to provide quality medical services to Nigerians, many believe that acupuncture is a new alternative that could bring succor to those in need of medical services.
But despite its existence in the country for many years, many Nigerians are not aware of its effectiveness. This lack of awareness has made so many to suffer in their quest for medical solutions at the hands of conventional medical practitioners.
Currently in Nigeria, most medical facilities are ill-equip, poor medical services, unqualified practitioners and their nonchalant attitude towards patients’ has already hastened so many to their early graves.
In the midst of all these, top government officials and those with the financial muscle prefer to relocate abroad to seek medical solutions, while the poor are placed at the mercy of God.
However, few people who tried acupuncture believe that it is a way out of the current challenges in the country.
“I didn’t know my situation could be treated with acupuncture. I have been having waist pain for over 6 years. I exercised frequently, but due to the waist pain, I reduced amount of kilogramme. I also sought various medical solutions but to no avail”, Tony Bosie, an Abuja resident said.
He continued: “After some time, the pain became serious, I felt as if I was going to break. I decided to try an acupuncture expert, Dr. NanchakNimzing about the waist pain and he invited me to his medical facility. When I explained to him, he inserted the acupuncture needles on my back and two small glass cups, after 15 minutes, I started feeling heat on my waist -the cups were there for 30 minutes. When he removed it, I stood up feeling relieved. I laughed thinking it was a trick or something. But the pain was really gone. It has been five months now since the pain left me. Am still surprised at what happened. It felt like magic. ”
Also sharing her experience, Veronica Eseni said acupuncture helped her feel relieve froma serious medical condition.
“I have been going to the hospital for some time but no relieve. The doctor said I have post stroke fatigue. I feel heavy on the affected parts. He said the brain nerves controlling those parts have suffered some damage. Those parts are not feeling a part of me. They are different from other parts of my body”, she said.
But when administer acupuncture, Eseni said she felt relieved.
“I felt very calm after 30 minutes of acupuncture. I felt as if I had long hours of rest, much better from the way I was feeling before I came to the facility.”
Speaking on the treatment, an acupuncture expert, Dr. NanchakNimzing who holds a Phd in acupuncture said acupuncture is a Chinese ancient traditional method of treatment and healing created and developed by the Chinese people more than 300 years ago in their struggle with diseases and pestilences.
“This ancient Chinese art of healing, has become popular the world over. Apart from being free from the side effects commonly encountered in drug therapy. Therefore, slowly but surely, it has been integrated in to the main stream of modern medicine. Many prestigious hospitals, universities and medical schools around the world have now established departments of acupuncture research, therapy and analgesia.
“Acupuncture could serve as a valuable alternative treatment for many diseases or conditions for which modern conventional treatments are unsuccessful. It is also valuables in situations where the patient is frightened of the potential risks or adverse effect of modern conventional treatments”.
He said it is a form of alternative medicine in which thin needles are inserted in to the body.
“It is a key component of traditional Chinese medicine use to treat musculo- skeletal condition, neurological conditions, psychological conditions, and respiratory system conditions.
“Others are; gastrointestinal conditions, gynecological conditions, cardiovascular conditions, including conditions of the eye, ear, nose and mouth”.
On its effectiveness in other parts of the world, the expert said, “in some developed countries, the diseases for which patients’ seek help for acupuncturists tend to be beyond the scope of orthodox medicine.
“But in Nigeria, acupuncture is fairly new because of scarcity of qualified practitioners despite its effectiveness and accepted worldwide. In the USA for instance, there is approximately 10,000 acupuncture specialists.
“In Nigeria, the first attempt at introducing and encouraging this art of healing by the World Health Organisation(WHO)was in 1977 when it sponsored a Nigerian medical doctor, Dr. F.I. Fasheun while he was working at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) to Peoples Republic of China to study acupuncture.
Speaking on the way forward for acupuncture in the country, Nimzing said “We have tried one system for long and it is time to wake up and try other forms of medicine. The system we have been trying have certain serious disadvantages. And because life is expensive, we don’t have to overlook those disadvantages. We need to take drastic measures so as to save lives.
“The government must wake up to urgently reestablish the Collage of alternative and complementarymedicine that will train Nigerians who will solve most of the challenges we are current facing.
“These trained experts will also embark on research to produce various acupuncture medicines that will bring succor to many Nigerians.
“Your health is not in the hands of any doctor or health personnel, try other alternative and get healing. Knowledge is not the preserve of any group of people. Always try to find out the best way to get healing. This system has been improved by WHO, lets get the best out of it and help many Nigerians who are in need”.