What is Acupuncture?ORIENTAL MEDICINE: COMING IN FALL 2012 Acupuncture is probably the best known branch of Traditional East Asian Medicine here in the west. Utilized and refined over several thousands years in China, Japan, and other countries; it has been utilized to successfully treat all manner of diseases and disorders from muscle pain and infections, to many internal conditions. Acupuncture is performed by inserting tiny filiform pins in designated points in the body to achieve a specific result. An example of some of these points can be seen in the figure to the right. All the pins are sterilized and disposable. How Can Acupuncture Help Me?The World Health Organization* has identified numerous conditions for which acupuncture has demonstrated benefit based on research and/or clinical experience, a small sample of which are:
*For More information on the WHO and other research on acupuncture, please look under "Client Resources" under "Research."
How Does Acupuncture Work? The basic philosophy behind all forms of Traditional East Asian Medicine is that the body functions best when it is balanced. A good western analogy is the immune system. If the immune system is strong (and balanced), then the body can heal itself.
Acupuncture visualizes pathways of qi or energy that go through the body. Just like rain collects in streams and rivers, this qi courses down the landscape of our body and collects along certain pathways. In Asian thought, blood also courses along this pathway and it also tends to follow the pathway of nerves (although it is not limited to this). Just as dams can obstruct the flow of of a river -- backing up water on one side and not allowing enough on the other -- blocks in these qi pathways can lead to areas of excess and deficiency. These blocks can also lead to stagnation which can cause pain and illness (think of what happens to a pond when there is no fresh water and it stagnates). Acupuncture can be used to remove these blocks and redirect flows so proper movement or circulation of qi can occur. It also can give the body a signal to focus it's healing energy in a specific part of the body just as an antenna allows a signal to be received by your television, or have reflexive effects to seemingly unrelated parts of the body. A wealth of clinical evidence shows that acupuncture is effective -- that and the fact that acupuncture has remained a vital medicine for thousands of years -- but what about the science of acupuncture? The beauty of living in this modern era is that science is finding out things about the body that Traditional East Asian Medicine has known for years. Some of the current theories have to do with how body cells differentiate. First of all the DNA blueprint of our entire body is contained within every living cell. Second, every cell in our body began as a single cell that gradually divided. During that process of division, it is conceivable that our leg and our arm may have been connected for example. Other promising areas are research on the production of endorphins (or pleasure causing hormones) of the body by acupuncture and the effects of acupuncture on the myofascial system -- a network of connective tissue that interconnects the body like a web and has a function in immunity. For the serious scientist, look under links for "Research" under "Patient Resources." I also try to list the latest in research in my Newsletter/Blog. |  Q: Does Acupuncture Hurt?A: Acupuncture pins are hair-thin and virtually painless.
Let's face it. Many of us have needle phobia from past immunizations and bloodwork. However, acupuncture pins have little resemblance to the needles we experienced in the allopathic doctor's office. I've even had patients who have had to be held down or fainted during immunizations who have little problem receiving acupuncture.  Many people don't feel the pins go in at all. Other individuals might feel a slight sensation upon entry which quickly dissipates once it is in.
There are also many different styles of acupuncture. Someone in China recovering from a stroke may have a more aggressive approach than the gentle meridian style of Japanese acupuncture. Overall, most people find acupuncture to be deeply a deeply relaxing and balancing experience. OTHER TECHNIQUES:MoxabustionAcupuncture is not the only way to work with acupuncture points. Moxa is a traditional Oriental Medicine technique that brings physical warmth and energy to certain acupressure points with the intent of supplementing deficiency in the body and giving more energy.
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