Is Acupuncture for Me?

Contents

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine:
Promoting the Body's Natural Ability to Heal Itself

by Megan Long, DiplAc

Traditional Chinese Medicine has been practiced for thousands of years to restore, promote and maintain good health. Chinese medicine is "holistic" in that it takes into consideration all aspects of a person's physical, mental and emotional well-being, both in diagnosis and in treatment. Acupuncture originated in China over 3000 years ago and has evolved into a well-defined therapeutic health care system capable of treating a wide variety of disorders. It is an extremely effective and safe choice for initial and on-going health care. Acupuncture can remedy acute or chronic ailments, relieve pain, enhance recuperative powers and strengthen the immune system.

What Is Acupuncture?

It is a method of balancing and building the body's life force energy known as "qi" (pronounced "chee"). Acupuncturists recognize particular pathways called "meridians" through which this energy circulates. Traditional Chinese medicine views disease as the result of an imbalance or blockage in the body's natural energy flow. This imbalance or blockage can result from trauma, poor diet, medications, stress, hereditary conditions, environmental factors or excessive emotional issues. Such imbalances manifest in physical pain or illness, and/or emotional and psychosomatic stress-related disorders. In acupuncture, very thin, sterile, stainless steel needles are inserted into specific points along the meridians in order to disperse the blockage and mobilize the body's natural immune response, thereby restoring balance. These points have been studied and mapped by Chinese practitioners over thousands of years. Recently, electromagnetic research has confirmed point locations.

How Does It Work?

Modern Western medicine cannot fully explain how acupuncture works. There have been studies that show a release of endorphins occurs in the body during acupuncture (endorphins are a naturally produced chemical that alters sensory perception and control pain perception, mood and alertness reaction). This could account for a reduction of pain and relaxed state experienced by the patient. With the use of fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), it has been shown that an acupuncture point on the foot used for eye disorders does in fact stimulate the visual cortex of the brain. This would suggest that there is more to acupuncture than just a release of endorphins. Exactly how or why this happens has yet to be fully understood in Western terms. One possible explanation is based on new research by Dr. Helene Langevin from the University of Vermont asserting that acupuncture points tend to lie over areas where connective tissue is the thickest (connective tissue forms a web that runs continuously through the body and has many nerves). This potentially explains why a needle in one extremity would affect a seemingly unrelated area. Despite the lack of a cohesive Western explanation of acupuncture, the system has been found to work for a wide variety of conditions.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

The needles are extremely thin therefore the patient feels only a slight sensation at insertion if anything at all. When the needle reaches the acupuncture point beneath the skin, a characteristic feeling of heaviness or tingling, dull ache or traveling warmth may be experienced. If any sensation is felt, it is generally very mild. People are surprised to find that treatments are quite relaxing, many even fall asleep on the table.

Are the Needles Safe?

Yes. Only sterile, single-use disposable needles are used. The needles are sterilized during their manufacture, are packaged in a sealed container and are discarded in a biohazard unit after use. While the patient may notice a drop of blood or a small bruise may develop at an acupuncture point site, the risk of this is much less than with using hypodermic needles.

What Is a Treatment Like?

In an Oriental Medicine assessment, your condition will be differentiated through a thorough examination which will include an in-depth medical history, pulse and tongue diagnosis. Once the Chinese differentiated diagnosis is established, treatment can begin. The patient is comfortably positioned and the needles inserted. The number of needles varies according to the problem being treated. After insertion, the needles may be stimulated to produce a stronger effect. The needles are usually left in place for approximately twenty to thirty minutes, after which they are easily removed and discarded.

What Response Can Be Expected From an Acupuncture Treatment?

The immediate response to acupuncture varies depending on the general health of the patient and the condition being treated. Some patients experience an immediate total or partial relief of their pain or other symptoms. This relief may last, or some pain may return. In a few cases, there may be no immediate relief only to notice the pain diminish over the next couple of days. The treatment does not end once the needles are removed. Acupuncture has initiated a change within the body and it is important that the patient encourages these new positive patterns. It is strongly suggested that some time is taken to relax directly after treatment. Generally, the patient should expect to feel better. Occasionally, symptoms of an illness may temporarily increase after a treatment. While this is not pleasant, it can be viewed as a good sign that the body is rallying its strength to move old blocks and patterns of disease so that a balanced flow of energy may be re-established.

How Many Treatments Are Needed?

The number of treatments needed to alleviate a disorder varies upon the duration, nature and severity of the complaint and the overall health of the individual. Generally, acute diseases can be treated successfully within a few treatments. It is commonly recommended to have a series of 4 or 5 treatments set no more than a week apart and then reassess the progress from there. Chronic problems, which have taken years to develop, will not be "cured" overnight. In chronic conditions, gradual change over time will reflect the gradual restoration of the body's strength and vitality. Acupuncture is an accumulative treatment modality, meaning the treatments build upon each other. Some degenerative conditions may require many treatments over time. As you improve, fewer visits are required.

Is Acupuncture For You?

Oriental Medicine is used not only for pain management, but also as a comprehensive system of health care and health maintenance. Athletes use Oriental Medicine to achieve optimum performance levels. Oncology patients are treated for the side effects of chemotherapy to enhance their quality of life. Acupuncture can be used pre and post operatively to speed up recovery time from surgeries. There are even indications for cosmetic acupuncture to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Commonly Treated Conditions:

This is just a sample list of commonly treated conditions. Of course, there are many more.

© 2003 Megan Long; used by permission.

Scientific Basis Of Acupuncture

by David Krofcheck LAc,OMD

There has been more scientific research done on acupuncture than any other "complementary" medical therapy. Years ago, Dr. William Osier, the father of modern medicine in America, recommended acupuncture as the treatment of choice for lumbago (back pain). But not until President Nixon's 1972 visit to China did intense acupuncture research get sparked.

In a 1992 study, Cole tabulated the conditions of study in 365 Western and 344 Chinese research studies.1 These investigated treatments of conditions range from 22-pain, 62-neurlogic, to 54-addiction therapies. Double blind procedures have proven the validity of acupuncture.2

Clinical research has demonstrated the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating many disorders. For example: arthritis,3 dysmenorrheal,4 and headache.5

A 1986 single-blind trial, studied the effects of acupuncture on patients with angina pectoris (chest pain) unresponsive to standard medical treatment.6 Research found that in addition to relieving chest pain, "compared to patients receiving sham acupuncture, the patients receiving acupuncture increased cardiac work capacity significantly."

In April 1996, the FDA lifted the "investigational use" status of acupuncture needles based upon a review of research.7 A 12 member consensus panel for the National Institute of Health (NIH) met in November of 1997. They concluded that the existing research already shows the effectiveness of acupuncture in certain conditions, while more research is needed.8 Currently 41 states have passed standards for the practice of acupuncture. Forty of the 41 states require NCCAOM certification standards or higher. (Michigan has not yet set such standards).

John Reed MD, wrote "The documentation of positive results in diverse conditions, including the medically difficult areas of chronic pain management and management of drug addiction, suggests that acupuncture is a real and potentially cost effective intervention."9

The advent of sophisticated research equipment has made possible the discovery of the mechanisms of acupuncture. We have found the acupuncture points have distinct anatomical10,11 and electrical characteristics.12 The body produces natural responses to being pierced by a foreign object.13,14 Because of theses characteristics, acupuncture can enhance and regulate the body's natural responses which include pain relief, stimulation of the immune system, and healing.15,16

The effects of acupuncture are delivered by: 1) Neurological, 2) Biochemical, and 3) Bioelectrical mechanisms. In 1989 Deke Kendal organized tremendous amounts of research to describe in detail the neurological and biochemical mechanisms of acupuncture.14

  1. Neurological - The A-delta and C fibers carry signals into the spinal cord and upward to the brain. The importance of the fibers in addition to mediating acupuncture is the connections to the internal organs through the dorsal horns of the spinal cord.14,17,18
  2. Biochemical - Many bioactive substances including bradykinin, histamine and leukotrine are important for initiating responses at the acupuncture points. The seratonin, enkephalin, endorphins and substance P are important for mediating the central nervous system effects of acupuncture.14,19.20
  3. Bioelectrical - Electric energy, naturally occurring in the body, has been found to stimulate regeneration and healing.21,22 The limbs of frogs and rats were regenerated and resistant bone fractures were healed in humans by electric treatment.21,22,23 Ions of radioactive isotopes, injected into acupuncture points, migrate along meridians.24,25

    The bioelectrical mechanisms of acupuncture include:

    1. Stimulation of electric currents at the site of the needled acupuncture point.26
    2. Electric conduction along meridians and other biologically closed electric circuits.27,28
    3. Electric conduction along the perineurium (the covering around the nerve) which also influences the firing of the nerve.28,29

The complexity of the action of acupuncture is deceiving. It has been used effectively for centuries in the East. Acupuncture is a safe therapy which utilizes the body's natural healing systems. In this era of high tech medicine, acupuncture would be considered one of the greatest discoveries—if it hadn't already been developed centuries ago.

References

1. Cole, J.: Clinical Research in Medical Acupuncture: A Literature Review. Biomedical Research in Acupuncture- Symposium Proceedings 5/92. J. Caulkins, ed. American Foundation of Medical Acupuncture 1993.

2. Lee M., Ernst.: Clinical Research Observations in Acupuncture Analgesia and Thermography. Scientific Basis of Acupuncture . Eds. Pomerantz, Stutz. Springer-Verlog, Berlin, 1989, pp. 157-175.

3. Junnilia, S.Y.: Acupuncture Superior to Piroxican in the Treatment of Osteoarthrosis. American J. Acupuncture. Vol. 10, No. 4, Oct-Dec. 1982, pp. 341-346.

4. Helms, J.M.: Acupuncture for the Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea. Obstet. Gynecol., Vol. 69, No. 1, January 1987, pp.51-56.

5. Hanson, P.E., Hansen, J.H.: Acupuncture Treatment of Chronic Tension Headache- A controlled Cross-Over Trial. Cephalgia, Vol. 5, No. 3, Sept. 1985, pp. 137-142.

6. Ballegaard, S., et al: Acupuncture in Severe Stable Angina Pectoris- A randomized trial. Medical Dept. P. Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Acta. Med Scand. Vol. 220, No. 4, pp. 307-313.

7. FDA Acupuncture Needle Status Changed. 77.2K http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/ANS00722.html

8. NIH Consensus Statements: 107.Acupuncture 77.2K http://odp.od.nih.gov/consensus/cons/107/107_statement.htm

9. Reed, J.C.: Acupuncture Overview, AAMA Symposium. Baltimore, MD, 5/93.

10. Gunn, C.C.; Ditchburn, F.G.; King, M.H.; Renwick, G.J. Acupuncture loci: A proposal for their classification according to their relationship to known neural structures. Am. J. Acupuncture , 1976, 4(2): 183.

11. Gunn, C.C. Type IV acupuncture points. Am. J. Acupuncture, 1977, 5(1): 51.

12. Bergsmann, O. and Woolley- Hart, A. Differences in electrical skin conductivity between acupuncture points and adjacent areas. Am. J. Acupuncture, 1973, 1(1): 27.

13. Ross, R., Vogel, A. The platelet-derived growth factor. Cell 14:203-210.

14. Kendall, D.E. A Scientific Model for Acupuncture. Am. J. Acupuncture, 1989 17(3) 251.(4)343.

15. Huang. H.C., The effects of acupuncture on the peripheral leukocyte count and the production of anti-cobrotoxin. Acupuncture Res. Quarterly 4(1980) 137-146.

16. Sliwinski, J., Kuley, M. Acupuncture induced immunoregulatory influence on the clinical state of patients suffering from chronic spastic bronchitis and undergoing long-term treatment with corticosteroids. Acupuncture and Electro-therapeutics Research. 9:203-215.

17. Wang, K.M., Yao, S.M., Xian, Y.L., Hou, Z. A study on the receptive field of acupoints and the relationship between characteristics of needle sensation and groups of afferent fibers. Scientia Sinica 1985, 963-971.

18. Chiang, C.Y. Chang, C.T., Chu, H.L. Yang, L.F. Peripheral afferent pathway for acupuncture analgesia. Scientia Sinica. 1973, 16:210-217.

19. Filshie, J. White, A. Medical Acupuncture: A Western Scientific Approach. 1998, Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone.

20. Cheng, R.S. and Pomeranz, B. Electroacupuncture analgesia could be mediated by at least two pain-relieving mechanisms; endorphins and non-endorphin systems. Life Sciences, 1979, 25:1957.

21. Becker, R.O. and Selden, G. The Body Electric: electromagnetism and the foundation of life. 1985, New York: William Morrow and Co. Inc.

22. Becker, R.O. Electrical control systems and regenerative growth. J. Bioelec., 1982, 1(2): 239.

23. Bassett, C.A.L., Pilla, A.A., and Pawluk, R.J. Inoperative salvage of surgically resistant pseudoarthritis and non-unions by pulsing electromagnetic fields. Clin. Orthop., 1977, 124:128.

24. De Vernejoul, P.; Darras, J.C.; Beguin, C.; Cazalaa, J.B.; Daury, G. and De Vernejoul, J. Approche isotopique de la visualisation des meridiens d' acupuncture. Agressologic, 1984, 25 (10):1107.

25. Tiberiu, R.; Gheorghe, G.; Popescu, I. Do meridians of acupuncture exist? A radioactive tracer study of the bladder meridian. Am. J. Acupuncture, 1981, 9(3):251.

26. Nordenstrom, B.E.W. Biologically closed electric circuits: clinical, experimental, and theoretical evidence for an additional circulatory system . 1983, Stockholm, Nordic Medical Publications.

27. Reichmanis, M.; Marino, A.A. and Becker, R.O. Laplace plane analysis of transient impedance between acupuncture points LI-4 and LI-12. IEEE Trans. Biomed. End., 1977, BME 24(4):402.

28. Becker, R.O. Search for evidence of axial current flow in peripheral nerves of the salamander. Science, 1961, 134:101.

29. Terzuolo, C.S. and Bullock, T.H. Measurement of imposed voltage gradient adequate to modulate neuronal firing. J.Physiol, 1956, 42:687.

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