Acupuncture: Ancient Medicine for a New Millennium
by Rebecca Wilkowski
Meridians - the Chinese have identified a system through which energy flows in the body. Energy or qi flows through meridians in much the same way that blood flows through vessels.
Acupuncture point - a point on the meridian that has a specific effect on the energy of the meridian or organ system.
Organs - You will often hear acupuncturists refer to a Liver, Kidney, Spleen or other "organ imbalance." These terms refer to the energetic as well as physical organ systems. For example, when acupuncturists say there is an imbalance in the Liver, they may be referring to a liver disease, an emotional imbalance, or even an eye problem. Ask your acupuncturist to clarify these terms as they relate to your condition.
Five Elements or Phases - a theory describing the interaction of energetic systems in nature and in the body.
Moxibustion - The use of dried herbs to warm acupuncture points. The herbs are placed on top of acupuncture needles and burned. This method is believed to be more effective in treating some health conditions than using acupuncture needles alone.
Cupping - the use of suction to increase circulation in an affected area.
Electro-stimulation - the use of low voltage electricity to stimulate acupuncture needles.
ACUPUNCTURE QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS
What
is acupuncture? Does it hurt?
Acupuncture consists of the gentle insertion and stimulation of thin,
disposable sterile needles at strategic points near the surface of the
body. While many acupuncture patients are initially wary of the claim
that acupuncture doesn't hurt, they soon discover that the experience
is quite pleasurable.
What
can I expect from a treatment?
Typically, an acupuncturist will begin by taking a complete health history,
including numerous questions about your primary health complaint as well
as more general health issues. An acupuncturist's physical exam can include
taking vital signs as well as detailed examination of the pulse and tongue,
abdominal palpation and facial diagnosis. When the acupuncturist arrives
at a working diagnosis, they will place you in a comfortable position
to insert the needles. After the needles are inserted, you will relax
in the treatment room for 15 to 20 minutes. The acupuncturist will then
return and take out the needles. After the treatment is over, the acupuncturist
may prescribe Chinese herbal medicines if they would be helpful to you.
How
many needles are inserted?
Ten to 20 needles may be inserted, although more or less is not uncommon.
How
long will it take to get better?
Most health problems take more than one treatment to resolve. Expect to
have four treatments before reassessment. Many problems may require ten
or more treatments before significant benefits accrue. Along the way,
though, you should see an overall improvement in your health as your main
complaint improves as well.
How
much does it cost?
Fees vary widely. On the average, you will pay $60-$90 for the first visit
with follow-ups ranging from $45 - $60.
Where
can I get more information?
American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM)
(610) 266-1433
The AAOM is the oldest national organization representing licensed acupuncturists,
students, and Oriental medical schools.
Founded in 1986,
Pacific College of Oriental Medicine is one of the largest and most prominent
accredited schools of Oriental Medicine in the nation, with campuses in
Chicago, San Diego and New York. For information about their courses,
call them at
(800) 729-0941.
One of the
oldest medical techniques in the world has finally gained not just a
foothold in the U.S., but prestige.
The fact that Oriental medicine has been practiced for thousands of years not only shows it has survived the test of time, but also supports its effectiveness in treating illness.
Unknown
to many in the West, traditional Oriental medicine is a major health
care system for over one quarter of the world's population. Cited as
an effective system of health care by the National Institutes of Health
and the World Health Organization, acupuncture and Oriental medicine
are becoming a serious alternative or complement to conventional pain
management and medical treatment.
Oriental medicine is an effective, low-cost medical treatment that works
in harmony with the body. Its aim is to improve the patient's health
both physically and spiritually by rebalancing the body's own healing
mechanisms. Treatment focuses on the well being of the entire person,
not simply on physical complaints and symptoms. Acupuncture, herbs,
diet, massage and meditative physical exercises such as Tai Chi and
Qi Gong all fall under the umbrella of Oriental medicine. Diagnosis
involves the classical procedures of observation, listening, questioning
and palpation.
Oriental medicine's effects are gentle, free of the side effects of many pharmaceutical drugs used for the same conditions. As a form of primary healthcare, Oriental medicine addresses a broad range of conditions that Western medicine finds difficult to treat such as stress, depression, addiction, chronic pain, allergies, migraines and low back pain. In addition to treating primary health complaints, the benefits of Oriental medicine include pain relief, immune enhancement and increased energy and well being.
One of the treatments, acupuncture, is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical techniques in the world, originating in China more than 3,000 years ago. Over 2,000 acupuncture points on the human body connect with 14 major pathways, called meridians. Chinese medicine practitioners believe these meridians conduct qi, or energy, between the surface of the body and internal organs. It is qi that regulates spiritual, emotional, mental and physical balance. When the flow of qi is disrupted, through poor health habits or other circumstances, pain and/or disease can result. Acupuncture acts to keep the normal flow of this energy unblocked.
The intent of acupuncture is to stimulate the body, release energy blocks, and reestablish normal equilibrium, thereby facilitating the body's natural ability to heal itself. In the last 40 years, Chinese and Western studies have suggested that the insertion of needles at acupuncture points helps release some chemical neurotransmitters in the body, including endorphins. Endorphins are the body's own extremely powerful, natural painkillers which relieve pain and bring about a sense of well being. A study from the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center using a scanning technique called SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography), found that acupuncture increases blood flow to the thalamus of the brain, an area that relays pain and other sensory messages.1
Acupuncture involves the insertion of hair-thin, disposable metal needles through the skin in points on the body's meridians. Acupuncture needles are solid, usually made of stainless steel, and are extremely flexible. The small diameter and contoured shape of the acupuncture needle allows it to be inserted easily and painlessly a few millimeters into the skin. Acupuncture affects people differently, leaving some energized while others feel relaxed. Acupuncture needles can also be stimulated with pressure, heat, friction or electromagnetic impulses to further activate a person's qi.
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.2 Since then there has been an increasing public awareness and demand for complementary medicine, including acupuncture and Oriental medicine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration estimated in 1993 that Americans made 9 to 12 million visits per year to acupuncture practitioners and spent as much as $500 million on acupuncture treatments.
With the Baby Boomer generation currently being the largest population group in the U.S., the need for complementary health care and practitioners is on the rise. Currently, over 4,000 students are enrolled in over 40 acupuncture and Oriental medical colleges in the United States. The majority of U.S. medical schools now offer courses on complementary medicine, with medical schools such as the University of California Los Angeles and veterinary schools such as the University of Pennsylvania offering courses in acupuncture.3
The Journal of the American Medical Association has reported that more than 42% of adults in the U.S. have used complementary medicine, spending a total of $21.2 billion. While in 1997 there were 385.9 million visits to mainstream primary care physicians, there were a whopping 628.8 million visits to complementary medicine practitioners. Reflecting this public demand, an estimated 70 to 80 percent of the nation's insurers covered acupuncture treatments in 1996. 4
Complementary medicine use and expenditures increased dramatically from 1990 to 1997. As of 1997, more than 1 million Americans were being treated with acupuncture each year.5 As a result, the budget of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, created in 1992 by Congressional mandate as part of the National Institutes of Health, has exploded from $2 million in 1993 to $50 million in 1999.6
In 1997, a National Institutes of Health panel deemed acupuncture "an acceptable alternative, or part of a comprehensive treatment program" for certain conditions. Often acupuncture treatments can result in avoidance of surgery, fewer hospital visits and quicker return to employment. The American Osteopathic Association, the American Chiropractic Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association all endorse acupuncture.7 Former Surgeon General E. Koop, M.D. has also recognized acupuncture as a useful method of overcoming nicotine addiction.8 Over 300 drug treatment programs now use acupuncture in the U.S., including: community health clinics, court affiliated programs, halfway houses, prisons, Native American clinics, and municipal hospitals. The treatment of substance abuse by acupuncture has a record of excellent results and costs far less for a year of treatment than only a month's stay in an inpatient program.9
Since the 1997 endorsement by the NIH, interest in Oriental medicine has never been higher. Although still relatively new to the United States, the fact that Oriental medicine has been practiced for thousands of years not only shows it has survived the test of time, but also supports its effectiveness in treating illness.
1 R. Sandroff,
"Does Acupuncture Really Work?", Vegetarian Times (August
1999): 44-45.
2 NIH Acupuncture Information and Resources Package 1999.
3, 7, 8, 9 American Association of Oriental Medicine
4 National Institutes of Health
5 NIH Consensus Statement 1997
6 National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Clearinghouse
