Acupuncture — Pain, Weight and Smoking Cessation

Medical acupuncture administered by a neurologist for the treatment of painful conditions (headaches, musculoskeletal pain), obesity management and smoking cessation. MUDr. Brychtová's primary clinical specialism is neurology, and she lists acupuncture alongside neurological examination and movement-apparatus care as part of her clinical offering. This combination — neurological medicine plus acupuncture — is a recognised integrative approach in Czech private practice, giving the practitioner deep anatomical knowledge of nerve pathways that is directly applicable to precise needle placement. Sessions run approximately 45 minutes.

Acupuncture is one of the oldest recorded medical traditions, originating in classical Chinese medicine and integrated into Western clinical practice over the past several decades through accumulated research and growing evidence for its neurobiological mechanisms. In contemporary medical acupuncture, the therapeutic effects are understood primarily through neuromodulation: fine needles inserted at specific anatomical points trigger local tissue responses, activate Aδ and C afferent nerve fibres, and transmit signals through the spinal cord and higher centres that modulate pain perception, autonomic tone and neurotransmitter release. At MUDr. Brychtová's practice acupuncture is offered in three main clinical contexts. For pain management, the technique targets trigger points and classical acupuncture points relevant to the presenting complaint — headache (including migraines and tension-type headaches, which are also the neurological bread-and-butter of MUDr. Brychtová's medical specialism), back pain, neck pain, and movement-apparatus conditions affecting joints, tendons and muscles. A series of five to ten sessions is typically recommended for established chronic conditions, with reassessment after the initial course. For obesity management, acupuncture is used as an adjunct to dietary and lifestyle modification — not as a standalone weight-loss tool. The approach uses points associated with digestive function, appetite regulation and metabolic balance. The evidence base for acupuncture in obesity is modest but growing, and for motivated patients the combination of acupuncture with a supervised programme can support adherence and reduce cravings. For smoking cessation, ear (auricular) acupuncture is the most widely used protocol — specifically the NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) five-point protocol targeting points associated with craving reduction, anxiety, and withdrawal symptoms. MUDr. Brychtová's neurological understanding of addiction neuroscience informs her approach: acupuncture-induced endorphin and enkephalin release may partially substitute for the dopaminergic reward from nicotine, easing withdrawal. A course of five to ten sessions over several weeks is recommended for smoking cessation, ideally combined with motivational support. Needles used in medical acupuncture are single-use, sterile and extremely fine (0.18–0.30 mm diameter) — substantially thinner than hypodermic injection needles. Insertion at most points causes only a brief, mild sensation of pressure or a dull ache as the needle reaches depth. Patients typically lie on a treatment table with needles in place for twenty to thirty minutes while the local and systemic effects develop. The session format at this clinic includes an initial consultation, needle insertion and a rest period, and removal. Most patients describe the post-session experience as relaxed and sometimes mildly fatigued; the therapeutic response builds over a series of sessions.