ACUPUNCTURE ENJOYS A 2,000-YEAR-OLD TRACK RECORD

Acupuncture or the practice of carefully placing very fine needles in specific locations along energy paths called meridians has been practiced by the Chinese for more than 2,000 years, but lately its popularity has been growing in the United States. A national health survey recently found that more than eight million US adults have used acupuncture to help heal aches and pains.

HOW IT WORKS
“Acupuncture sends a signal to the body to turn on its own rescue
system,” says Ka-Kit Hui, MD, professor of medicine and director of the Center for East-West Medicine at UCLA. According to Chinese medicine, energy, also known as qi (pronounced chi), flows along 12 pathways or meridian, which correspond to specific organs and body functions. If this energy is blocked, the body becomes ill. Inserting fine needles in acupoints along the meridians helps restore the flow of qi, so the body can heal itself.

Most doctors believe that the needle stick causes the central nervous system to release morphinelike painkillers called endorphins. Over the millennia other Asian cultures have adopted acupuncture and modified it, but acupuncture as practiced by any trained and licensed individual has the same basic aim, to restore the body’s healthy energy flow. “It re-regulates the body,” says Dr. Hui. “It can help turn the pain signals off.”

Another theory (Western) is that acupuncture creates a powerful placebo effect. In other words, acupuncture may work at least in part because a person believes it does. In general, Chinese medicine places greater emphasis than Western medicine on the close relationship of mind, body and spirit. Poles apart, Western medicine tends to split itself into ever more focused specialties while Chinese medicine maintains a holistic, whole body philosophy of treating ailments.

WHAT IT CAN HEAL
The World Health Organization recommends acupuncture for:

>many respiratory diseases
>eye and mouth problems
>orthopedic troubles
>neurological disorders
>gastrointestinal ailments
>helping stroke patients regain movement
>treating depression
>headaches
>low-back pain
>substance abuse
>An early study in Neuroscience Letters suggests that acupuncture may even be a useful strategy for treating Parkinson’s disease.
>According to the National Institutes of Health Consensus Statement on Acupuncture, the therapy has also shown considerable promise in relieving nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy.

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE
The needles used are only as thick as a single human hair. A tiny prick when the needle is inserted should be the only sensation. The needles usually stay in place for five to 20 minutes, depending on what’s being treated, while the patient relaxes quietly. Treatment can take place over a few days or for several weeks or longer. There should be no pain. Improper needle placement can cause pain, and perhaps harm. And the FDA requires that sterile, nontoxic needles be used only once. To make sure your acupuncturist follows these rules, seek treatment only from certified practitioners. About 40 states have training standards for acupuncture certification.

A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH PROGRAM
Discuss the possible benefits of acupuncture with your doctor, and check with your insurance company to see if you are covered. As this treatment protocol becomes more mainstream in Western practice, more insurance companies will accept it. For best results, Dr. Hui recommends that acupuncture be part of a comprehensive wellness program that includes exercise and a healthy diet. “Our goal is to develop a model system of healthcare that will benefit people all over the world.”

For more information, visit the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine's website at www.cewm.med.ucla.edu or www.uewm.edu.

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Disclaimer: The purpose of this weblog is not to dispense medical advice nor in any way is meant to be construed as diagnostic or prescriptive. Always check with your physician before beginning any new program or trying any of the items discussed in the posts that appear on this site.

Comments

[Sandi]

I love this post the comments as well. I am also a really great fan of acupuncture, mmy mother has had a minor stroke a year ago and I was devasted, because we tried everything the doctors recommended, we actually spent a lot of money on medicines until I met a guy who actually recommended acupuncture because his mother has been through the same thing, so we had nothing to lose we tried everything else why not try alternative medicine as he would call it. so it wwas 5 moths ago and my mom is fully cured from being half body paralyzed.

[Acupuncture Services]

I've being researching about Acupuncture Therapy and reading your blog, I found your post very helpful :) . I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog!

[Timothy W.]

Acupuncture is indeed a very safe yet powerful treatment technique for many ailments, including severe diseases. It is usually combined with herbal treatment to give it maximal results. Many studies have suggested that the placebo effect plays only small to moderate part in acupuncture viability, due to the human body's complexity. For example, some acupuncture points must be needled on the correct spot to work, others (called shan points) may cause certain degree effects (or as good as the precious point needling) even if it was needled 1-3 cm away from the correct point location. The debate still goes on; and we need to be more objective to look at this technique that has been in human healing history more than 5,000 years.

LOVE THE POST AS ALWAYS!!!!!!!!!! VONNIE, YOU ARE DEFINITELY A WALKING Encyclopedia!!!!

With Best Regards,
Timothy W.