Acupuncture, simply stated, is a health
science, which is used to successfully treat both pain
and dysfunction in the body.
Acupuncture has its roots deeply planted in China. In
fact, authorities agree the science is between 5,000
and 7,000 years old. Its use spread throughout ancient
Egypt, the Middle East, the Roman Empire and later into
Western Europe as merchants and missionaries to China
told of the amazing discoveries the people of the Oriental
had developed. Acupuncture did not become known on a
national level in the U.S. until 1971 when diplomatic
relations between China and America were related.
Early Chinese physicians discovered there is an energy
network transversing just below the surface of the skin,
which communicates from the exterior to the internal
organs and structures at over 1,000 “Acupoints” on the
body. This energy works in harmony with the body’s circulatory,
nervous, muscular, digestive, genitourinary and all
other systems of the body. When this vital energy becomes
blocked or weakened, an affect in a body system or anatomic
location becomes evident. Stimulation of one or a combination
of key “Acupoints” on the body may restore harmony to
the affected area.
Historians have stated, “More people have benefited
from Acupuncture over the course of fifty centuries
than the combined total of all other healing sciences,
both ancient and modern. |
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What
is Meridian Therapy?
Meridian Therapy is the accepted name employed by those
who practice the principle of Acupuncture without the
use of a penetrating needle.
Acupuncture is a principle, not a technique. Therefore,
there are many ways to stimulate an Acupoint other than
a needle, just as there are many different strokes used
in swimming.
Many practitioners use electronic stimulation, laser
beam or pressure massage to treat an Acupoint. The principle
of Acupuncture does not change, only the technique.
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How Does it Work?
Far too often in the medical professions, a patient
is told after extensive examination. “There is nothing
wrong,” It is all in your head” or “Sorry, you’ll have
to learn to live with it. The examining doctor unable
to find the cause of the problem has little else to
tell the patient. Fortunately, many physicians are now
referring their patients for an Acupuncture evaluation
as a last resort.
The human body’s energy flow courses over twelve meridians
or channels that are normally well balanced. If a disruption
of energy flow exists, it can alter the entire system,
producing pain or symptoms in the body.
If we were to compare a 175 pound man on one end of
a seesaw and a 45 pound child on the other end, it becomes
obvious the seesaw would be “broken” due to the fact
the heavier person would be sitting on the ground and
the lighter would be dangling in the air. Even though
the seesaw is producing a symptom of being broken-extensive
examination would not reveal anything wrong with the
seesaw. The obvious answer is in the balance. Correction
of the balance corrects the problem. This is Acupuncture’s
goal-to restore normalcy to the body’s energy balance
by utilizing a combination of Acupoints located on the
twelve meridians. This is accomplished by a variety
of means, the needle is just one.
Medical research continues in this country and others
to attempt to explain in western scientific terms what
the ancient Chinese seventy centuries earlier described.
Today, many theories have been postulated as to why
Acupuncture is so effective in pain control. However,
as more discoveries are made, more research is indicated.
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Is
Treatment Painful?
One would assume inserting a needle into the skin would
be painful since most of us can relate to being stuck
with a pin or having a hypodermic injection. However,
four Acupuncture needles can easily be inserted into
the hollow tube of a hypodermic needle. Because of the
extreme slenderness of the needle, most people compare
the sensations “less” than a mosquito bite. A phenomena
referred to as “TECHI” occurs when the energy is contracted.
This sensation is felt as a mild to moderate heaviness
or tingling.
Needles obviously still have their place in clinical
practice. However, many physicians certified in Acupuncture
and licensed Acupuncturists are employing electronic
and laser stimulation to the Acupoint with equal effectiveness
as the needle. Both of these procedures are painless
and are quickly becoming standard worldwide.
The tapping needle “teishen,” is not really a needle
as it does not pierce the skin. It produces a mild to
moderate sensation. Compare it to tapping a ballpoint
pen on the skin. This form of stimulation has been used
successfully for centuries. Thumb pressure is equally
impressive and not considered painful.
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How Many Treatments are Usual?
Obviously the number of treatments vary with different
conditions and individuals. Chronic problems generally
require more treatment than acute ones. Some patients
notice an immediate improvement after the first treatment,
whereas others may not notice any effect until the seventh
or eighth visit. It’s been shown that a certain percentage
of patients receive maximum benefit up to three months
following a course of therapy.
A small number of patients will experience a worsening
of symptoms, as the body’s energies are returning to
normal. This is usual and no need for alarm. It is followed
by improvement. Researchers internationally agree the
usual number of treatments is between eight and sixteen.
The usual frequency is between two and four times a
week.
Patients are urged not to enter an Acupuncture program
with the thought of “taking a few” to see what will
happen. Even though it is possible to achieve success,
a program of ten visits would have a better chance for
success. If the treatments are recommended and results
occur in just five visits, the doctor may elect to discontinue
treatments or continue their use to stabilize the condition.
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Are
Results Psychological?
Many critics of Acupuncture have suggested the science
is hypnosis of “mind over matter.” This criticism is
totally unfounded as Acupuncture has startling effects
in infants and toddlers as well as veterinary applications.
The effect it has in surgery as an anesthetic further
disclaims the skeptics. Even total disbelievers report
favorable response to Acupuncture.
However, a positive outlook is obviously beneficial
in all phases of life to include healing.
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What Conditions are Accepted?
Acupuncture textbooks list well over one hundred different
conditions that respond well to Acupuncture. The World
Health Organization, working in close harmony with the
International Acupuncture training center of the Shanghai
College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, has indicated
Acupuncture is effective in the following conditions:
Acute and chronic pain relief, migraine, tension cluster,
and sinus headaches, trigeminal neuralgia, bladder dysfunction,
bed wetting, cervical (neck) pain, mid back pain, low
shoulder, tennis elbow, post operative pain relief,
gastric problems, asthma, allergies, skin conditions,
hemorrhoids, abnormal blood pressure, fatigue, anxiety,
neurologic syndrome, various eye problems, etc.
This is only a partial list of numerous conditions Acupuncture
has been credited with helping.
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Is
Acupuncture Expensive?
The cost of Acupuncture treatment varies in different
parts of the country. However, the average appears to
be between $25.00 and $60.00 per treatment.
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Are
Results Permanent?
For acute problems where there has been little or no
organ system or tissue damage, results are often permanent.
For chronic conditions, symptoms may recur from time
to time. Generally a few additional treatments are sufficient
to obtain relief. It’s suggested that patients with
severe or chronic conditions return for a booster treatment
two to three times a year.
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Acupuncture
Examination
Perhaps the cornerstone of Acupuncture examination is
pulse diagnosis whereby the trained practitioner, by
feeling the pulse, is able to determine the balance
of the twelve (12) meridians. This ancient method of
diagnosis is giving way to modern electronic evaluation
referred to as “ryodoraku” or “electro meridian imaging”
(EMI). The practitioner places a small painless electronic
pen on the skin over specific Acupoints. By way of a
sensitive metering device, the electro potential of
the point is measured.
This examination is extremely reliable and is quickly
becoming the standard method of diagnosis internationally.
Many physicians utilize applied Kinesiology, which is
an examination involving testing certain muscles and
correlating them to the associated meridian. Case history
and consultation play a vital role in determining what
is abnormal as does simple palpation over specific body
parts.
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Addiction
Control
Acupuncture has gained a great deal of notoriety in
recent years concerning it’s considerable success with
addiction control. It has been shown that Acupuncture
has a very positive effect in the area of drug and alcohol
addiction. This procedure, in conjunction with professional
counseling, has been proven extremely effective.
One of the most noteworthy addictions Acupuncture helps
is smoking. The average patient will reduce their intake
by at least one half within twenty four hours of the
first treatment. Several additional treatments generally
allow the patient to stop without experiencing the negative
side effects of quitting. Currently there are
several clinics in the U.S. devoted solely to drug and
alcohol rehabilitation. Acupuncture also has a
favorable effect in weight control.
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Ear
Acupuncture
On the ear there are more than on hundred Acupoints
which relate to various organ systems and parts of the
body. During fetal development the first structure to
develope is the brain and spinal cord. At about the
same time, what later becomes the external ear also
develops. Accordingly, there is a very strong relationship
between the external ear and the central nervous system.
The Ancient Chinese viewed the ear as resembling an
upside down fetus with all the body parts proportionately
arranged in and on the ear. Therefore, the lobe of the
ear would relate to the head, brain, stem, etc, whereas
the top of the ear relates to the knee, foot, ankle,
etc.
The success rate in ear Acupuncture is remarkable. Thousands
of American physicians have begun using Ear Acupuncture
as an adjunct to their practice.
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Hand
and Cerebral Acupuncture
Throughout the body there are a number of Acupoints,
which have a particular effect. This is of particular
significance on the hand and scalp. Cerebral Acupuncture
consists of a number of zones which are primarily used
for serious neurologic conditions, whereas hand Acupoints
are used for a variety of common conditions. By stimulating
specific handpoints, headache, sore throat, neck and
shoulder pain, even toothaches may be successfully treated.
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Spinal
Mobilization
Even though chiropractic was discovered as a healing
art in the late 1800’s, in America, the use of spinal
manipulation in the Far East for over 7,000 years.
Spinal vertebral therapy and soft tissue mobilization
known in the Orient as “Tui Na” is a vital part of “Chung
Guo I Hsueh” or Middle Kingdom Healing.
Since all parts of the body to include all 300 trillion
cells, are under the direct influence of the nervous
system, the spinal column comprised of 24 movable segments,
plays an integral part in human functioning as it protects
the spinal cord, which sends large nerve trunks to the
organs and structures of the body through small openings
between the vertabrae.
Chiropractic physicians and Oriental medical doctors
are explicitly trained in the detection and correction
of “vertebral subluxations” which impinge or impede
vital nerve impulses.
Thus spinal mobilization “adjustment” as it is referred
to in the west, may play a vital role in the recovery
of a patient. Treatment is considered painless and pleasant.
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