Acupuncture

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical procedure that relieves pain and treats disease by restoring the normal flow of energy though the body. A typical acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of a dozen or so hair-thin needles into specific points that connect with deeper organs and tissues elsewhere in the body. The World Health Organization (WHO), the health branch of the United Nations, lists more than 40 conditions for which acupuncture may be useful.

Acupuncture: Pain Relief and Much More

Acupuncture originated in China thousands of years ago, but just because this therapy has its roots in ancient history doesn't mean that it's primitive. Traditional Chinese medicine, which developed the practice of acupuncture, is a highly sophisticated medical discipline based on the concept of Qi (pronounced "chee"), the life energy that flows through everyone. When Qi is blocked by stress, fatigue, poor diet, and other disturbances, the result is discomfort or disease. The goal of acupuncture is to restore the flow of Qi, bringing the body into healthy balance.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

If you've never experienced acupuncture, the idea that a needle can relieve pain may be hard to fathom. But the sterilized, disposable needles used in acupuncture are so thin that most people feel nothing more that a slight tingling sensation. After the needles are inserted, the lights are lowered, soft music is played, and you experience complete, healing relaxation. The treatment lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes, during which time the doctor may slightly twist the needles once or twice to "grab" the Qi. Massage, heat, and electrical stimulation may be used in conjunction with the needles. Some conditions clear up with one or two treatments, however, chronic conditions may require multiple sessions.

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How Can Acupuncture Benefit Such a Wide Variety of Conditions?

Researchers have identified several physiological mechanisms to explain the effects of acupuncture. First, acupuncture stimulates electromagnetic signals in the body to be relayed at a greater rate than normal. Some of these signals start the flow of pain-killing biochemicals such as endorphins, while others mobilize immune system cells to specific sites that are injured or vulnerable to disease. Placing needles at specific acupuncture points also activates opioids in the brain that relieve pain and promote sleep.

Finally, acupuncture promotes the release of neurotransmitters and hormones that affect the body's organ systems in beneficial ways. Some of these chemicals help restore balance to the immune system. Others affect basic metabolic functions such as blood pressure, blood flow, body temperature, and blood sugar levels.

What Conditions Benefit From Acupuncture?

Though it is most frequently used for pain relief, acupuncture's wide-ranging effects make it a useful therapy for conditions affecting the digestive system, musculoskeletal system, respiratory system, nervous system, and more. Here is a partial list of conditions for which acupuncture therapy is appropriate:

Abdominal pain
Addiction control
Anxiety
Arthritis
Asthma
Back pain
Bronchitis
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Cataracts
Chronic fatigue
Constipation
Depression
Diarrhea
Fibromyalgia
Headaches/Migraines
Hypertension
Indigestion
Infertility
Insomnia
Menopausal symptoms
Nausea
Neck pain
Parkinson's disease
Premenstrual syndrome
Sciatica
Smoking cessation
Stroke rehabilitation
Tinnitus
AND MORE..................

Post-Surgical Pain

In a study conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland, patients undergoing extraction of wisdom teeth were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture treatment or placebo ("sham") acupuncture following oral surgery. Subjects treated with acupuncture remained pain-free almost three times as long after surgery as those receiving placebo acupuncture (181 minutes vs. 71 minutes). Those receiving true acupuncture also experienced less intense pain that the placebo group. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics 1995; 79(4): 423-8.

Osteoarthritis

British researchers found that acupuncture was significantly more effective than exercise for osteoarthritis pain. In this study, 32 patients awaiting hip replacement surgery were randomly assigned to one or two groups: the first group relieved one acupuncture session per week for six weeks, while the second group was given medical advice and exercises for the hip over the same six-week period. At the end of the six weeks, the patients receiving acupuncture had significant improvement in pain, while those in the exercise group showed no improvement. At follow-up eight weeks later, the difference in pain between the two groups was still evident. Acupuncture in Medicine 2001; 19(1): 19-26.