What is Biopuncture?
Biopuncture is a new therapy of injecting natural homeopathic products into muscle trigger points and acupuncture points. Biopuncture originated from combining the use of biotherapeutics [bio-] with acupuncture [-puncture]. That is how the name bio-puncture was created. It is becoming more popular among the top athletes in America, Europe and Africa. Biopuncture is primarily used to treat acute and chronic musculoskeletal problems and sports injuries. Biopuncturists commonly treat problems such as neck pain, back pain, ankle sprains, muscle tears, tennis elbow, whiplash, and Achilles tendinopathy. Acupuncture can also be used to treat non-musculoskeletal disorders such as allergies, asthma, headaches, eczema, bronchitis, gastritis, sinusitis, and numerous other kinds of inflammatory conditions. Biopuncture is different to conventional treatment, as it provides an anti-inflammatory effect thereby relieving pain, whilst stimulating healing of the surrounding injured tissue
Are these products safe for me?
Yes, because the ampoules do not contain high concentrations of active substances. They usually contain diluted products. As a result, toxic side effects are very unlikely. Additionally, the ampoules used in Biopuncture are manufactured by companies that guarantee the production quality of their products. Most of the ampoules used for injection are made in Germany and are held to very strict quality control regulations. Clinical studies on thousands of patients have confirmed the safety of ampoules such as Traumeel.
Has it been proven that Biopuncture works by stimulating the immune system?
Biopuncturists have observed the effects of these injections for decades. But the problem was to convince other doctors how it really worked. Recent research on Biopuncture has given new insight on how these products seem to do the job. For example, scientific investigation has illustrated that Traumeel indeed works via the immune system. In June 2004, an article was published in an important medical journal, Clinical & Developmental Immunology, which is a highly respected journal in conventional medicine. The mechanisms of action of Traumeel include both inhibition of IL-1ß and inhibition of TNF-alpha secretion.
Where are these injections given?
Most people — especially those who are apprehensive about injections because they may have had bad experiences with injections in their childhood — are surprised at how easily and quickly these injections are given. In fact, these injections cannot be compared to the ‘usual’ injections given in conventional medicine. 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 of them are given into or just under the skin (subcutaneous), others are given into specific muscle points or into your ligaments (= bands that hold bones together). Your doctor doesn’t give the injections arbitrarily, but they are administered in carefully chosen spots. The place where your doctor injects the product is as important as the product itself. It’s different for each patient.
Usually you will receive several injections each session. For example, if your doctor wants to work on your liver, he or she will give about seven little injections under the skin on your belly.
When you have pain in your elbow, your physician will look for several painful spots in your arm muscles or elbow ligaments, and inject each of them in one session. In such a case, you may receive anything from three to ten small injections in your elbow, neck or arm. So in most cases, several little injections are given in a specific zone (or in several areas) of the body at each session.
How many sessions of Biopuncture will be necessary?
The fact that your doctor uses small doses of natural products instead of cortisone injections means that you have to be more patient. If you have had problems for several months or even years, your doctor must work on different layers.
If it is a complicated case, your doctor must also look for deeper causes of your complaints and work on these. This may be the case when treating, for example, headaches or migraine with Biopuncture. Sometimes your hormonal system has to be regulated.
Or you need a detoxification (“cleaning” of the body) first. As a result, you may need several sessions to feel the results of the treatment.
Because these products do not cause any major side effects, you may be motivated to be more patient than usual. In the long run, however, the results of 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.
Dr Dean Naidoo is a trained and licensed Biopuncturist.
