An Overview of Acupuncture

Summary
Acupuncture is one of three main branches of traditional Chinese medicine, the others being herbal medicine and tuina. It's a term most often used by Westerners in reference to the practice of inserting steel needles into acupuncture points to achieve pain relief and healing.

Acupuncture has been in use for well over 2000 years, though there is evidence that a form of acupuncture was used as early as the Bronze Age. It's one of the first components of Chinese traditional medicine to gain wide acceptance in the Western world. In 1995, the FDA declared acupuncture to be safe and effective for treating some conditions.

Theory
Traditional Chinese Medicine states that acupuncture works by balancing the flow of qi (pronounced ‘chee’) in the body. The qi, or life force, is said to flow through all living beings, and to be comprised of positive and negative energies. In a healthy person, the qi is balanced and flows well. Pain and illness are thought to be the result of a blockage that prevents the qi from following the correct paths to maintain that balance. Acupuncture treats illness and disease by unblocking the qi.

Acupuncture perceives the body as a whole, and illness as a disturbance somewhere within that whole. The actual practice of acupuncture involves understanding the centers and meridians of the body, and where the points that control various organs and bodily systems reside. It involves the use of pressure, often applied by inserting fine steel needles into the body, at those points and manipulating those needles to achieve certain effects.

The Evidence
As bizarre as it may seem to the Western mind that sticking a needle into the web between thumb and forefinger can relieve headache, there is a great deal of evidence that acupuncture works. There have been dozens of studies done that show positive results for acupuncture in treating conditions as diverse as asthma, migraines, diabetic neuropathy, arthritis, lower back pain, depression, painful menstruation and menopause. The National Institutes of Health have concluded that there is enough evidence of the value of acupuncture to support further research into its clinical value.

The Potential Risks
Acupuncture does have some associated risks. It's an invasive procedure that involves puncturing the skin, so there is a risk of infection. There is also the potential of nerve damage caused by the needles. There have been rare reports that deep needling in the chest or lower back area can result in damage to the lungs or the kidneys. There is also the potential but extremely rare possibility of a haemopericardium (bleeding in the area around the heart) if a person has a congenital abnormality in the sternum.

Final Points
Check with your state to find out what requirements are necessary for practicing acupuncture. Each state has differing regulations. Some require licensing and special training, others allow conventional doctors with no specific training in acupuncture techniques to apply those techniques in the office. That’s akin to saying that a dentist is qualified to perform heart surgery because he has a medical degree.

As with any other medical treatment, conventional or alternative, do your research and know the risks and benefits before deciding to undergo therapy.

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Did You Know?

With a growing interest in alternative therapies there is also a growing problem of people setting themselves up as alternative health practitioners simply to earn a quick buck. The problem isn't that some of these programs don't work, but that they trick vulnerable people out of significant amounts of money. However, there are some warning signs to watch out for:

The practitioner is rushed and in a hurry to get the interview over with.

He or she doesn't have the certifications and credentials that your local professional board recommends.

You feel that he's being evasive in his answers.

He doesn't ask questions about your condition, and your attitudes toward treatment.

He doesn't seem knowledgeable about your conditions and implications of treatment.

He can't cite any research or studies to support the use of the therapy with your condition.

He's adamant that this be your ONLY form of treatment.

He doesn't ask if you have any questions.

And if in doubt - don't do it. Certainly someone that appeals to your fear, hopes and dreams and tells you that they can fix everything should be treated with suspicion. No one, not even traditional medicine practitioners, can make these sorts of claims.