Acupuncture      

Meridians of human body

Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that channels of energy flowing throughout the body may be manipulated by pressure known as acupressure or with the insertion of fine needles, called acupuncture.

A relative of acupuncture, acupressure involves pressing specific points on the body with the fingers or hands to alter the internal flow of chi (pronounced “chee”), our vital life force or energy. It is among the treatment methods regularly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

About acupuncture

Table of contents 1. Acupuncture FAQ's 2. Acupuncture Information and Resources

Some facts about Acupuncture:

What Diseases can Acupuncture Treat?

Acupuncture can be remarkably effective in many conditions. The effectiveness is strongly dependent upon a thorough and accurate TCM diagnosis. The needling skills and techniques of the practitioner will also influence the effectiveness of the outcome.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

The patient should feel a slight sensation as the needle contacts the Qi. This feeling is known as 'deqi', or getting Qi. Deqi is not unpleasant and the sensation can either be a dull ache, a numbness, a tingling or a sensation of heat. In some instances the sensation travels along the line of the meridian and can affect whole areas of the body or limbs.

What are the Needles Like?

Acupuncture needles have a coiled handle and an extremely fine shaft with a sharp point. The needles are solid and no substances are injected into the body. Needles come in different lengths and thicknesses according to the area of the body which is to be treated. The majority of practitioners use pre-packed and sterilized disposable needles that are used only once. Some will still prefer to use re-usable needs that require to be sterilized. Patients should inquire about the types of needles used prior to treatment.

What Happens During Treatment and How Many Treatments do I need?

Treatment protocols, frequency and duration are a matter of professional judgment for the practitioner, in consultation with the patient. During a treatment, the practitioner selects appropriate points for their specific actions in relationship to the identified disharmony. The points are then needled and the needles may or may not be subsequently manipulated, either manually, or with a small electrical device, to achieve certain effects. The needles are usually retained in the body for approximately 15 to 30 minutes. A common course of treatment may initially involve 10-15 treatments, once every second or third day, but may be more or less frequent depending on the condition of the disorder. Multiple courses of treatment may sometimes be required.

What Is Medical Acupuncture?

This generally refers to acupuncture performed by MDs, physiotherapists and chiropractors who do not use TCM theories and approaches in their diagnosis and treatment. Many Medical Acupuncturists obtained only short-term training in Acupuncture and use it as a tool to complement their regular practices, dealing mainly with pain related disorders.

Acupuncture Information

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world. Originating in China more than 2,000 years ago, acupuncture became widely known in the United States in 1971 when New York Times reporter James Reston wrote about how doctors in Beijing, China, used needles to ease his abdominal pain after surgery. Research shows that acupuncture is beneficial in treating a variety of health conditions.

In the past two decades, acupuncture has grown in popularity in the United States. In 1993, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimated that Americans made nine to 12 million visits per year to acupuncture practitioners and spent as much as $500 million on acupuncture treatments. In 1995, an estimated 10,000 nationally certified acupuncturists were practicing in the United States. By the year 2000, that number is expected to double. Currently, an estimated one-third of certified acupuncturists in the United States are medical doctors.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has funded a variety of research projects on acupuncture that have been awarded by its National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Dental Research, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and National Institute on Drug Abuse.

This information package provides general information about acupuncture, summaries of NIH research findings on acupuncture, information for the health consumer, a list of additional information resources, and a glossary that defines terms underscored in the text. It also lists books, journals, organizations, and Internet resources to help you learn more about acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.

Acupuncture Theories

Traditional Chinese medicine theorizes that the more than 2,000 acupuncture points on the human body connect with 12 main and eight secondary pathways, called meridians. Chinese medicine practitioners believe these meridians conduct energy, or qi, between the surface of the body and internal organs.

Qi regulates spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance. Qi is influenced by the opposing forces of yin and yang. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, when yin and yang are balanced, they work together with the natural flow of qi to help the body achieve and maintain health. Acupuncture is believed to balance yin and yang, keep the normal flow of energy unblocked, and restore health to the body and mind.

Traditional Chinese Medicine practices (including acupuncture, herbs, diet, massage, and meditative physical exercises) all are intended to improve the flow of qi.

Western scientists have found meridians hard to identify because meridians do not directly correspond to nerve or blood circulation pathways. Some researchers believe that meridians are located throughout the body's connective tissue; others do not believe that qi exists at all. Such differences of opinion have made acupuncture a source of scientific controversy.

Preclinical Studies

Preclinical studies have documented acupuncture's effects, but they have not been able to fully explain how acupuncture works within the framework of the Western system of medicine.

Mechanisms of Action

Several processes have been proposed to explain acupuncture's effects, primarily those on pain. Acupuncture points are believed to stimulate the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) to release chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals either change the experience of pain or release other chemicals, such as hormones, that influence the body's self-regulating systems. The biochemical changes may stimulate the body's natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well being. There are three main mechanisms:

1. Conduction of electromagnetic signals: Western scientists have found evidence that acupuncture points are strategic conductors of electromagnetic signals. Stimulating points along these pathways through acupuncture enables electromagnetic signals to be relayed at a greater rate than under normal conditions. These signals may start the flow of pain-killing biochemicals, such as endorphins, and of immune system cells to specific sites in the body that are injured or vulnerable to disease.
2. Activation of opioid systems: Research has found that several types of opioids may be released into the central nervous system during acupuncture treatment, thereby reducing pain.
3. Changes in brain chemistry, sensation, and involuntary body functions: Studies have shown that acupuncture may alter brain chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones in a good way. Acupuncture also has been documented to affect the parts of the central nervous system related to sensation and involuntary body functions, such as immune reactions and processes whereby a person's blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature are regulated.

Clinical Studies

According to an NIH consensus panel of scientists, researchers, and practitioners who convened in November 1997, clinical studies have shown that acupuncture is an effective treatment for nausea caused by surgical anesthesia and Cancer chemotherapy as well as for dental pain experienced after surgery. The panel also found that acupuncture is useful by itself or combined with conventional therapies to treat addiction, headaches, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, lower back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma; and to assist in stroke rehabilitation.

Source: World Health Organization, United Nations. "Viewpoint on Acupuncture." 1979 (revised).