An ancient healing technique practised for more than 2,500 years, acupuncture has withstood the test of time.

Can a bunch of needles cure your most chronic aches and pains? The answer, according to Dr Mohamed Jahromi, acupuncture and pain management specialist at Ibn Al Rushd Clinics 2, is a confident “yes.”

Acupuncture, he explains, is a simple technique of correcting the chemical imbalance in the body, which, according to Chinese medicine, is the cause of most illnesses and pains.

Treatment involves inserting thin needles into designated points to stimulate energy flow and restore the delicate balance of chemicals and hormones in the body. The needles are as fine as a single strand of hair, and will not hurt as long as the patient remains relaxed. At best, a tingling sensation is experienced once the needles are all in place.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has formally recognised acupuncture as an effective medical treatment following compelling evidence provided by controlled clinical trials.

According to Dr Jahromi, acupuncture is especially effective in the treatment of chronic aches including migraine, back pain and arthritis, acute pains such as dental and post surgical pain, allergies, high blood pressure, weight control, stroke, kidney stones and hormonal irregularities. It has also been found successful in treating conditions like chronic depression, substance abuse, nervousness and addiction to smoking.

Dr Jahromi’s interest in acupuncture developed while he was working as a general physician at Salmaniya Medical Complex in the 1980s. He got his degree in acupuncture and oriental medicine from Yuin University in California in 1990 and practised in San Diego for nine years before returning to Bahrain.

“It is very easy to prescribe pills and attain short-term results,” he observes. “But, to cure a patient completely without making him drowsy with medication is the real challenge for any physician.”