Acupuncture

The Progression of Chronic Pain and «Central Sensitization»

Acute pain is an essential protective symptom that warns the body of impending or existing injury. When pain persists for a long time without appropriate treatment, however, nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain undergo structural and functional changes, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity.

This process leads to Central Sensitization: the brain effectively "learns" to feel pain, causing the patient to experience intense, debilitating pain even long after the original tissue injury has healed. Acupuncture acts at precisely this level, "resetting" pain-perception thresholds in the central nervous system and interrupting this vicious cycle.

The Role of Chronic Stress, Neuroinflammation, and Vasoconstriction

Chronic psychological and physical stress leads to persistent, uncontrolled oversecretion of cortisol and adrenaline by the adrenal glands. This sustained neuroendocrine overload causes significant harm across multiple systems:

• Systemic Vasoconstriction and Reduced Perfusion: Constriction of small blood vessels reduces blood flow to the brain, inner ear, and muscles of the neck and back. This is a critical predisposing factor for vertigo, tinnitus, tension-type headache, and cervical pain syndromes.
• Immune Dysregulation & Allergies: Stress disrupts the body's immune response, making it hypersensitive to external stimuli and promoting allergic rhinitis, chronic inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (rhinosinusitis), and respiratory hyperresponsiveness such as bronchial asthma.
• Psychosomatic Exhaustion: Chronic oversecretion of stress hormones leads to insomnia, panic attacks, chronic fatigue syndrome, gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, and generalized physical and mental exhaustion.

Medical Acupuncture acts as a potent regulatory catalyst, restoring the disrupted balance among the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems and re-establishing homeostasis throughout the body.

ENT & Neurotologic Conditions (EViasis's Area of Expertise)

Combining conventional otorhinolaryngology and neurotology with Medical Acupuncture offers substantial, evidence-based benefits for conditions that frequently trouble patients over the long term and do not respond fully to conventional pharmacotherapy:

• Vertigo, Dizziness & Balance Disorders: In close collaboration with the specialist Neurotology Department at «EViasis,» targeted acupuncture protocols are applied. Treatment rapidly improves perfusion of the labyrinth, inner ear, and brainstem, supports vestibular compensation, promptly reduces nausea, and relieves cervicogenic vertigo caused by neck-muscle spasm.
• Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears): Tinnitus is a particularly complex and distressing symptom, often associated with microcirculatory disturbances, severe muscle spasm in the neck and temporomandibular-joint region, and high levels of psychological stress. Acupuncture produces marked local vasodilation and neuromuscular relaxation, increasing oxygen delivery to the auditory nerve and reducing both the perception and intensity of the sound.
• Allergic Rhinitis, Chronic Rhinorrhea & Rhinosinusitis (Sinusitis): Acupuncture has strong anti-inflammatory, antihistaminic, and decongestant effects on the nasal and paranasal mucosa. It significantly reduces nasal congestion, excessive discharge, itching, and sneezing, markedly decreasing the need for continuous corticosteroid nasal sprays and oral antihistamines.
• Olfactory Disorders (Anosmia-Parosmia) & Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction: It supports neural regeneration in postviral olfactory disorders and relieves painful spasm of the muscles of mastication in patients with bruxism (grinding or clenching the teeth during sleep) and temporomandibular-joint pain.

Acute and Chronic Pain Management

Medical Acupuncture is used worldwide to reduce pain, relieve muscle spasm, and restore mobility in acute and chronic musculoskeletal and neurological conditions:

• Cervical Pain Syndrome & Cervical Radiculopathy: Relief of painful muscle spasm and pressure on the cervical nerves, improved neck mobility and flexibility, and resolution of referred pain radiating to the upper limbs, shoulder blades, and back of the head.
• Low Back Pain & Sciatica: Treatment of acute lumbago, chronic pain caused by degenerative disc disease, herniated intervertebral disc, and spondyloarthropathy, together with effective relief of the acute, penetrating pain associated with irritation of a sciatic nerve root.
• Migraine, Tension-Type Headache & Cluster Headache: International medical guidelines support acupuncture for migraine prevention. It substantially reduces the frequency, intensity, and duration of attacks while decreasing the use of potent analgesics and triptans, which can cause medication-overuse headache.
• Osteoarthritis, Epicondylitis & Musculoskeletal Conditions: Meaningful improvement in pain and inflammation affecting the shoulder (periarthritis, subacromial impingement syndrome), elbow (tennis elbow and golfer's elbow), knee, and hip, as well as accelerated rehabilitation after orthopedic surgery or sports injuries.

Psychosomatic Disorders, Anxiety, Insomnia & Fatigue

Modern life places a considerable burden on mental health, and physical manifestations of anxiety are a daily reality for a substantial proportion of the population:

• Anxiety, Stress & Panic Attacks: Targeted activation of the parasympathetic system produces an immediate sense of calm, slows a rapid heart rate, regulates breathing, and stabilizes emotional control without causing dependence or sedation.
• Insomnia & Sleep Disorders: Regulation of the brain's natural production of melatonin and serotonin helps patients regain deep, uninterrupted, restorative sleep without dependence on hypnotic or sedative medication.
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia: Increased overall vitality and energy, improved muscular endurance, and a significant reduction in diffuse, debilitating body pain and morning stiffness.

Auricular Acupuncture (Auriculotherapy / Ear Acupuncture)

Auricular Acupuncture is a specialized, self-contained microsystem treatment applied exclusively to the external ear. The ear has an exceptionally rich and distinctive nerve supply from branches of the vagus, trigeminal, and facial nerves and the cervical plexus. It effectively functions as a "microcomputer" that reflects and communicates directly with the entire central nervous system and body.

It is used with excellent results in Smoking Cessation, where it suppresses nicotine-withdrawal symptoms and reduces the intense nervousness, cigarette cravings, and irritability of the first few weeks. It is also applied to Weight Loss and Appetite Regulation, effectively controlling stress-related overeating and bulimia, and is used for prompt relief of acute pain and panic attacks.

Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture

Cosmetic Acupuncture is a wholly natural, painless medical method for rejuvenation and anti-aging that continues to gain ground in modern aesthetic medicine. The precise placement of microscopic, specialized needles at facial expression points and within the facial muscles locally stimulates natural collagen and elastin production by fibroblasts, rapidly improves skin microcirculation, and deeply oxygenates the tissues.

The result is smoother fine lines, reduced expression lines, firmer facial contours, and a naturally rested, youthful glow, without introducing chemicals, toxins, or foreign materials into the body.

Application Techniques

• Conventional Body Medical Acupuncture: Special, sterile, single-use stainless-steel needles are used. They are exceptionally fine, ranging from 0.16 to 0.25 millimeters in diameter, and are much thinner than blood-draw needles. Placement uses a specialized, rapid technique and is completely painless. The patient feels a momentary, mild prick, followed by a characteristic gentle sensation of heaviness, warmth, local pressure, or slight numbness at the point.

  In medical terminology, this is known as the De Qi sensation and is the clinical sign that the underlying neural receptors have been activated correctly.

• Electroacupuncture: Small specialized clips from a certified medical device are connected to the needles already in place and deliver controlled microcurrents of low frequency and intensity. This technique is especially powerful in treating acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain, sciatica, neuralgia, and severe muscle spasm. The electrical stimulus enhances nerve-fiber activation, producing maximal, sustained endorphin release and rapid neuromuscular relaxation.
• Auricular Acupuncture & Semipermanent Needles: Microscopic needles are placed at specific, mapped neuroreflex points on the ear. To enhance the effect, semipermanent microneedles (such as ASP-type needles) or discreet specialized patches containing magnets or seeds are often used and remain on the patient's ear for several days. This provides continuous, 24-hour neuromodulatory stimulation even while the patient is at home or work, which is especially valuable for smoking cessation, weight loss, and chronic-stress management.

Integration with Western Medicine

Medical Acupuncture neither competes with nor rejects conventional Western medicine; it is an ideal complementary and synergistic ally. At the «EViasis» clinic, patients can safely combine acupuncture with their medication, targeted ENT treatments, vestibular-rehabilitation programs for vertigo, or physiotherapy. This combination provides faster relief, shortens the course of illness, and very often permits a gradual reduction in the required doses of analgesic and anti-inflammatory medication.

Treatment Protocol Duration and Frequency

Needle placement and the period during which the patient remains relaxed usually last 20 to 30 minutes. The entire clinic visit lasts approximately 45 minutes. A complete initial treatment course generally comprises 8 to 12 sessions, depending on how long the condition has been present, its severity, and the body's individual response.

During the initial phase, sessions are held 1 to 3 times per week. As symptoms gradually subside, sessions are reduced to once per week, followed by maintenance sessions that may be held once or twice per month. The effect of acupuncture is cumulative: each session builds on the result of the previous one.

Instructions Before and After the Session

For the best possible experience and maximum therapeutic benefit from each Medical Acupuncture session, patients should follow several simple but important instructions:

• Before the Session: Do not arrive at the clinic on a completely empty stomach. A light meal approximately 1 to 2 hours before the session is recommended to prevent dizziness or hypoglycemia while relaxing. Also avoid alcohol and excessive caffeine (coffee and energy drinks) for several hours before your visit, as their stimulating effects may interfere with relaxation of the nervous system.

• After the Session: It is very important to drink plenty of water, as hydration helps clear metabolic waste from the tissues and supports microcirculation. Allow yourself to remain calm and relaxed for the next 2 to 3 hours, avoiding strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, or demanding manual work.

  Mild fatigue, a pleasant feeling of drowsiness, or profound physical relaxation immediately after the session is entirely normal and often desirable. This indicates that acupuncture has successfully activated the parasympathetic nervous system and initiated the body's self-healing process.

Holistic Lifestyle Improvement

To sustain the benefits of Medical Acupuncture over time and help prevent symptoms from recurring, treatment should be supported by positive lifestyle changes:

• Incorporate regular mild- to moderate-intensity physical activity into your daily routine, such as brisk walking, swimming, Pilates, or yoga, to support healthy blood circulation and strengthen the muscular system.
• Pay attention to ergonomics at work and at home by adjusting the height of your chair and computer screen and avoiding prolonged poor head posture while using mobile phones (text-neck syndrome), which places considerable strain on the cervical spine.
• Adopt effective stress-management practices, maintain a consistent nighttime sleep schedule (at least 7 to 8 hours), and follow a balanced anti-inflammatory diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruit, omega-3 fatty acids, and lean protein while limiting processed foods, sugar, and saturated fat.

Medical Director: Dr. Christina Efthymiou

Dr. Christina Efthymiou, an ENT surgeon, specialist neurotologist, and certified Medical Acupuncture physician, has extensive clinical, hospital, and surgical experience in managing the full spectrum of ENT conditions and vestibular disorders (vertigo, dizziness, and balance disorders). She has received formal training and certification in Medical and Auricular Acupuncture and incorporates this important therapeutic method into her daily clinical practice.

This distinctive dual medical specialization enables Dr. Christina Efthymiou to approach complex and challenging problems—such as persistent vertigo, distressing tinnitus, chronic headache, cervical pain syndromes, and severe allergies—from a comprehensive perspective. She does not focus solely on suppressing a local symptom, but seeks the true source of the disorder and applies innovative, individualized treatment protocols that combine the diagnostic precision of Western medicine with the regulatory and regenerative potential of acupuncture.