The Oriental And Occidental Approach To Acupuncture
- Written by Alen
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What is acupuncture? It is healing through the insertion of fine needles into certain points in the body. This alleviates certain symptoms like pain and stress. Today, in Western medicine, acupuncture is used to relieve menstrual cramps, post-operative pain, etc.
Let’s first look at the Oriental or Eastern view of acupuncture. In the East, it is a 2000-year tradition. What they say is that when the energy in the body circulates and functions at its optimum best that is when everything works as it ideally should in the body. When this happens, the body is said to be in harmony or in perfect balance. A balance between the two opposites force in the body – the Yin and the Yang. The Yang is the masculine force and is active, energetic and pertains to the actions and organs that are assertive. The Yin is the feminine force and is cool and relaxed, pertaining to emotions and organs that are passive. Together, they form the energy called Qi which goes around the body maintaining equilibrium. Whether it is mental, physical, spiritual or emotional. When this is blocked or loses its vitality for whatever reason, the body gets into a state of disease. Then the symptoms of illness start making their presence felt.
Why does an acupuncturist agree to treat any kind of illness even if it is psychological? It’s because for him, it all boils down to getting the Qi back and working perfectly again. So it doesn’t really matter whether it is a physical injury or pain or whether it is depression – he will treat all according to the symptoms with his fine needles and his knowledge of the acupuncture points. So whatever the illness, the diagnosis is based on a lot more than just the physical symptoms.
According to the Western system, there has been ongoing research into acupuncture for a number of years now, at least two decades. Research has thrown up so much success and they have been carefully documented. But though the cures have been seen and experienced, there is still a grey area of how to explain the incredible effect these little needles have. The logical realm of western medicine finds that hard to do, in spite of the empirical evidence. What it does do is try and explain it by saying that it probably affects the nervous system, which when stimulated, produces certain chemicals to heal, relieve pain or strengthen immunity.
This is quite like how the body behaves according to the western viewpoint. Endorphins when released, reduce pain and the system is made immune with the white blood cells. But the process by which a needle can trigger the production of these biochemicals still eludes us. Certain studies have shown that acupuncture actually alters the chemistry in the brain. It is hoped that more studies will throw light on this wonderful healing technique and reveal to us how it works.
There are so many diseases today where relief if not cure is sought through acupuncture. This form of healing has been proved to be very effective in treating stress and pain. There are many ways that acupuncture can be done and one of them is to use the needles with a very low electric charge running through them. It’s a technique that’s creating ripples in the field of acupuncture and was tried in the U.S in the 30s and 40s and then waned for a while. The idea of using electricity in the medical field is a fascinating one.
How were the acupuncture points discovered? Probably through years and years of observing which were the tender spots in a patient’s skin. Today, one can identify these spots with the help of electrical contraptions. Using infrared photography can help medical professionals to identify these points because of the difference in temperature between them and the rest of the skin. When a person suffers from any disease, these points tend to behave differently from the rest of the cells.
The reason for advocating electricity with acupuncture has a basis in research that has already been done. There was tissue regrowth observed in animals when a low-charge electric current was administered by a scientist called Becker. There have been instances where heart tissue has shown signs of being restored without scarring. There have also been instances when fractures to the bone have healed much faster with electricity than if they would have healed on their own.
This seems to be a good fit especially as acupuncture works on the electrical impulses in the body. It strives to ensure a good and even flow of energy through the body and if this is disrupted due to any cause, acupuncture tries and restores it so the body can go back to its state of wellness. Without this flow of energy, the body loses its vitality and there is no stimulation or regrowth. What acupuncture does is to get the energy in a particular area going again.
Where this combination has seen very great benefits is in the area of broken bones. Whether it’s wrist bones, ankles, arms, feet, with acupuncture sessions there is significant improvement. It has also proved effective in palpitations of the heart and this has been categorically proved from a scientific point of view by means of EKG results. In fact, when patients are hooked up to an EKG machine and given acupuncture treatment, one can see how it changes the heartbeat, which after all is controlled by the nerves and the electrical impulses that are sent out by them.
What happens when you insert an acupuncture needle into the skin? The cells there are disturbed and you have electrical activity at the point where the needle goes in. This happens because cells by themselves have an electrical charge and any disturbance causes electrical activity. This shows up very well in Kirlian photography where photographs are taken before a needle is inserted and after and they are very different as far as the energy fields are concerned.
What has happened as a result of all this research into electricity and acupuncture is that it has expanded the field of this ancient technique. In acupuncture, various factors govern the insertion of the needle into a specific point. Some of the important ones are the location, the depth to which the needle has to go, the way it is put in, whether heat or moxa needs to be applied, or whether herbs need to be administered as well. A low charge electrical current instead of the traditional needle is one more. It’s this new research and new methods that make an exciting field out of an age-old healing technique.
It’s easier today than it used to be simply because it has become much more common as a form of healing. It is perhaps as simple as looking for a dentist. You could ask around and you’ll probably find that friends have already been to one. You could look one up in the phone book or the Internet. Online, you’ll find that there are many and they are usually listed by city and state. Very often, your family doctor could give you a few leads especially now that traditional medical professionals are referring cases to acupuncturists and the line between the two streams isn’t as rigid as it used to be. For all you know, you might just discover that your physician has done a course in either acupuncture or in an associated field.
Finding an acupuncturist today as we said might be an easy task. Finding one that’s good might take a bit of effort. Once you know the ones in your area, it is always better to check out their credentials. In fact, you should do this with all the health care professionals you go to. You could do this by checking to see if your state has training standards for acupuncturists. Not all do, but if yours does, it might be a good idea to find out a bit more about the professional you are looking at. This is not to say that everyone with a certification is good but it is an assurance of recognized training. What you could expect with an acupuncturist is a healthcare professional who looks at your symptoms. If you are looking to him to diagnose your ailment, you might be disappointed. Unless of course, he is a trained traditional medical practitioner. Chinese medicine usually treats symptoms and is not overly bothered about diagnosis. For diagnosis, it might be worthwhile going to your regular physician.
After getting a list of acupuncturists in your area and checking their credentials, look to your family and friends’ circle to see if anyone has heard of any of the acupuncturists and if anyone has success stories to report. Then go and take a look at the office, the surroundings, see if you feel comfortable with the person and then decide whether or not you want to go ahead. The first visit will usually be a good indication of how comfortable you feel.
Once the acupuncturist has listed out your symptoms, he will probably give you some idea of how much it will cost you. This will depend on the number of visits and these in turn will depend on many factors like your age, your general state of health, the severity of your symptoms, etc. There might be just one session needed or on the other hand, you might need to keep going for weeks. You’ll find that acupuncturists will cost less to go to than physicians who also have training in acupuncture.
Does your insurance cover acupuncture? It does but you will need to talk to them as there could be exceptions. You would also need to be referred by your physician.
The usual picture that acupuncture brings to mind is a patient sitting or lying down with a number of fine needles stuck into him and even sometimes dangling from the ears or other parts of the body. That’s true in most cases, though the needles don’t always dangle because they are so tiny and usually one does not find them being stuck into every part, making one look like a porcupine.
Why does acupuncture involve the placing of needles in certain strategic points? This is done to make sure the energy that runs through the body gets back to the way it was - flowing freely and ensuring balance in every part. This flow of energy has to be restored for the body to get back to its state of health. How long this takes to happen and how many sessions are needed depends on the illness, on the patient and on the severity of the symptoms.
Acupuncture is a centuries-old Chinese system of healing. Some practitioners also use herbs along with the conventional acupuncture techniques in order to speed up healing. We in the U.S. are quite used to taking capsules and tablets for general health. Be it vitamins or supplements, they are so much a part of our daily lives. With an acupuncturist, the herbs used for each disease is very specific. These could be administered to the patient as capsules or pills. Or maybe you will have to swallow down a brew or a tea made with these herbs. So the acupuncturist makes sure that you are getting just the right amount of herbs that is supposed to be taken by each patient. The tea usually speeds up the action and sometimes to make the herb act even faster, it is given in its raw, potent form. Of course, that could be a terrible experience for your taste buds as most of them taste foul but once you’ve tried it, you’ll probably see how fast it acts and ask for it.
Talk to your acupuncturist before you start your treatment. It is always better to know what to anticipate. Will he be giving you herbs? Maybe not as a lot of acupuncture treatment does not involve herbs and is usually very effective even without them. Also remember to tell him about what you take every day, even if it is only a vitamin or a supplement. In most cases it will not matter but in some cases it might, so it is better to be sure than sorry. There are some herbs that interact with many things you take or eat regularly so if your acupuncturist plans to administer those to you, he should know exactly what you take. Of course it goes without saying that it is imperative to apprise him of any prescription medication that you might be on. In most cases, herbs do not react with anything but help general healing within the body.
When it comes to herbal treatment, you have to be very acutely conscious of any new symptoms that you might experience. Maybe you will experience a slight tummy upset which could just mean adjusting to the herbs but even this as well as any other symptom should be reported to the acupuncturist at once. Yes, herbs could quicken the healing process when combined with acupuncture and get you back to good health faster.
Acupuncture today has been accepted into the mainstream of medicine. Most medical professionals from the mainstream don’t hesitate to recommend an acupuncture line of treatment for certain ailments like stress, pain and certain emotional problems. The great thing is that acupuncture has no side effects which regular medicine very often has so besides being recommended by a doctor, individuals today are exercising their choice and going to acupuncture clinics in order to get cured.
How long does acupuncture treatment last? This could vary greatly not only regarding the disease and the severity but also the patient. Some tend to be more responsive to the treatment than others and some respond quicker than others. It also depends on certain symptoms, how old or active the patient is, how long he has suffered from the condition, etc. There are some patients who are very easy to cure because they respond so well and so fast. For them, maybe a visit or two would do. This is observed very often with children who are naturally responsive. For adults, the duration for a responsive patient could be anything from one visit to maybe six for one or maybe more symptoms. Sometimes, a patient might need to go twenty times before a cure or relief is effected. In certain cases like paralysis, there might need to be many sessions before any sign of improvement is observed.
There could be times when the patient might have to go in every day for a session. This is usually recommended when there is pain and the treatment continues till the pain stops. Regular sessions could also be needed for problems like drug addiction in order to keep the cravings down. What does happen with acupuncture at times is a slight aggravation of the symptoms in the beginning, but this subsides and settles down. Of course, if you are one of the lucky few, you will probably feel well and absolutely fit immediately. But there have been cases when improvement has been followed by an aggravation of symptoms in the following sessions. Always remember to ensure that the acupuncture practitioner knows about this as he might want to change his line of treatment if this happens.
Whenever you have any ailment, do look at treatment by acupuncture as one of the options too. This is because your ailment might just get very much better with acupuncture so you should consider it. The ailments that respond particularly well are: cramps – all kinds whether muscular, stomach or menstrual, headaches or congestion in the head, tiredness, children’s nervousness, depression, pain and hemorrhoids. To a lesser degree, you will find that acupuncture is useful in other conditions too like eczema, palpitations of the heart, diarrhea, shingles, gall bladder problems, menstruation when it is painful, gastric problems and autonomic nervous problems when they come on after surgery.
Acupuncture can also be resorted to in many other ailments. Very often, one finds that when traditional treatment fails, acupuncture presents a ray of hope, with relief even if it does not completely cure. The view today is that it might not be very effective when it comes to curing serious illnesses like infantile paralysis, tuberculosis or Parkinson’s disease. What it has proved very helpful for is to alleviate the symptoms of most diseases.
There have been cases where the success rate has been excellent, especially when it comes to pain relief. Take the case of a lady whose ankle was painful and no medicine gave her relief. Three treatments with acupuncture and she was cured. The acupuncturist took careful note of her problem and the treatment was prescribed. Yet another case involved a man with low grade fever that kept persisting at 100°F and it would come on every night. He suffered for many months and traditional medicines just couldn’t cure him. With acupuncture, at first, the regular treatments were tried with no effect. Then the acupuncturist started giving him what was called optimal treatment which meant that it was done very early in the morning. That was the end of the fever attacks for the man. So acupuncture basically offers hope for cure without side effects.
Why are acupuncture needles used in certain specific points? They are used to trigger the energy in the body to get back to its healthy normal state. At what points these needles are inserted depends on the ailment of the patient. Basically, it is the symptoms that are apparent in the patient – be it emotional, physical or mental that dictate the treatment. Each patient might have a different treatment. What the needles do when they are inserted is to stimulate energy at that particular part or to dissipate it. In the case of depression or dizzy spells, an acupuncturist might need to stimulate energy. However, if there is heat or anger, the energy flow might have to be dissipated.
After doing a detailed analysis of all the patient’s symptoms and the organs that are affected, the acupuncturist decides at what points to insert the needles. One could of course dispense with the needles and apply pressure at these points but most acupuncturists feel that the results are much better when the needles are inserted. Inserting the needles can be done in many ways – in fact there are many techniques to do this. The needles used could differ too. Today’s acupuncturists usually use small needles and most of them are disposable. The needles can also go into the points to varying depths and this would of course depend on what was being treated. And of course, there is a particular technique that stimulates and another that dissipates the flow of energy.
Sometimes, an acupuncturist will warm the needle before inserting it. This makes it better when it comes to stimulating energy. The point into which the needle goes is also massaged. The needle slides in slowly, with the skin being punctured just a bit at first and then the needle slides in, with the acupuncturist knowing exactly how deep it should go. While it is being removed, too, it should be done very slowly. What helps is if the needle could be inserted when the patient exhales and taken out when he inhales. The order of the points being punctured would depend on the flow of energy. The needles are usually kept inserted for around 10 minutes.
When energy needs to be dissipated, the needle is usually inserted quickly and removed fast. It is usually not warmed. When it comes to stimulating energy, the needles are inserted deeper and could be warmed up. Depending on the flow of energy, the needles are inserted in a particular order or in the opposite direction. When the needle is inserted, it helps if the patient were to inhale and when it is removed, he should exhale. Sometimes, the needle stays inside for just a few seconds. One could look at it this way. Dissipating energy is like letting air out of a balloon while stimulation it is more like blowing air in.
The hallmark of a good acupuncturist is that there is hardly any pain, if at all. There may be a slight twinge, a bit of a warm sensation but that is all. When the needle is inside, there is no feeling and people don’t even realize it’s in. There are various needles that are used in acupuncture. Japanese needles you’ll find, are thinner than the normal needles used and they appear different because they come in guide tubes. There can be different sizes and widths as far as needles are concerned and the ones that dissipate energy are thicker usually than the ones that stimulate it.
Needles stuck all over the body, some of them dangling. That’s what acupuncture usually brings to mind. You sit around getting poked and you stay that way for a while. Well, acupuncture treatments can be anything from a few minutes to maybe half an hour and it all depends upon what the patient is suffering from and how serious the condition is. The thin needles that are used are inserted into the skin at certain specific points to hold them in place. Sometimes, the practitioner decides on different depths to which certain needles need to go and this again would depend on what the treatment was for.
How exactly are these acupuncture needles prepared for insertion? Well, in various ways, depending on what they have to cure. Sometimes you’ll find that they are warmed up prior to inserting them into the skin, sometimes they have heat applied to them after they have been inserted and sometimes they are twirled and inserted. Does it hurt when a needle is inserted? Usually not, when it is inserted, turned around or taken out. Sometimes you might just feel a twinge, nothing more. What has been noticed however is that most patients feel a little warmer after the treatment than they did before. Or they feel a bit more energetic. Others of course don’t feel any difference immediately but get better with many sessions over time, which could be anything that lasts many weeks.
There are different types of acupuncture and some of them do not use a needle. It might seem a bit difficult to think of acupuncture without the needles but there are variations. The main thing in this healing technique is the way the body is made and the acupuncture points in it. In these types too, the points are the same as the ones used in the regular traditional acupuncture therapy. The only difference is that needles are not used and other devices take their place.
One device that is used on these acupuncture points is one that transmits sound waves into the point where the needle would normally go. This form of acupuncture is called sonopuncture. Other devices that are used are tuning forks because they produce vibrations. Many do practice these variations but they have not had proven results like traditional acupuncture.
Decades ago, there were experiments done with using a low-charge electrical current at these points. This was done sometimes with a needle and sometimes with just a wire that was allowed to touch the point. What the patient experiences is a bit of tingling, nothing more and there is no pain. This variation was tried in both the U.S and in Britain in the 30s and 40s though people lost interest in it for a long time.
Acupressure is also a variation of acupuncture. Here, pressure is applied to the same points and no device is needed because the pressure comes from the fingers of the practitioner. One finds that this technique of acupressure is being used a lot in massage as well, especially in shiatsu massage. This is easy enough for anyone to learn and it can be followed with the help of diagrams to show you just where to apply the pressure. However, treatment is best administered by someone who is a professional who sees healing as a lot more than just having knowledge of where the points are.
Today, acupuncture has grown way beyond its boundaries and there is a great interest in devices other than needles. You’ll find that heat is also used in acupuncture treatment and this could be by warming the needles and then inserting them or applying heat after the needles have been inserted. Devices that are being experimented with are magnets, suction and friction instruments and today, even lasers. This makes this system of healing a very adaptable therapy indeed.