Acupuncture

Although acupuncture has been practiced in China for several thousand years, it has been practiced in the United States for only about 40 years, as a result of the United States opening diplomatic relations with China in 1972. By contrast, the technique found its way to England over 400 years ago and France over 900 years ago. Most people learn about acupuncture either through someone who has personally benefitted from treatment or through recent media attention.  Patients who receive regular, ongoing acupuncture treatment for health maintenance and health promotion often experience:

·    Being sick less often and recovering more quickly;
·    An improvement of vitality and stamina;
·    The ability to take care of their own health more effectively;
·    More harmonious relationships with others;
·    A reduction in long-term health care costs.


“Because the meridians influence every cell in the body and pass through every organ and organ system, acupuncture provides health practitioners with an accurate and noninvasive means of determining health deficiencies, as well as a method of re-establishing balance.”  William Cargile, Chairman of Research for the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

 

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Traditional acupuncture theory is rooted in the belief that Qi (chee), a vital energy, flows through the body along pathways (meridians) which are mostly superficial (below the skin), but connect to deeper regions, including the organs. Disruption of this energy flow can cause pain, illness, and disease. Tiny sterile needles as thin as a hair are gently inserted at strategic points along the meridians, where they are left in place for 15-30 minutes, to unlock and open up obstructions, rebalance the energy flow, and restore health. Many of these points are located far from the region they affect; for example, a point on the hand or foot may relieve headaches. Once the needles are in place, most people feel very relaxed, almost in a dreamy, half-asleep state – they may even fall asleep. A treatment can leave you feeling calmer than you’ve felt in a long time – it’s very common to experience a better night’s sleep after you’ve had a session.

NOTE:  Acupuncture points can also be stimulated by the acupuncturist by holding or massaging the point with her fingers (acupressure) or with tuning forks (vibrational sound therapy) for a gentle, needle-free technique.

What Can Acupuncture Treat?

Acupuncture is often referred to as an alternative type of medicine – complementary medicine is actually a more accurate designation, as acupuncture works well in combination with many other modalities – it is not meant to replace your regular doctor’s visits, althoug it may keep you healthier so that you don’t get sick as often. Acupuncture takes into account the wonderful complexity of each human being, and treats the body, mind, and spirit as a total, unified being.  Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are often used together in treatment to obtain optimal results.  Whether used together or separately, they promote the body's natural healing abilities: to enhance immunity, support physical and emotional health, and improve overall well-being.  Modern research has shown that acupuncture has a measurable effect on areas of the brain involved in pain perception, and that it stimulates production of endorphins (the body’s natural pain relievers).  However, pain is only one of many conditions that acupuncture can treat.

                                                           
The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture’s effectiveness for over 40 common disorders, such as:

What is NADA?

Auricular (ear) acupuncture is based on the principle that every part of your body can be treated via the outermost parts of the ear.  Ear points may be included along with body points during an acupuncture session, or the ears alone may be treated – this is especially useful in group treatment situations such as community acupuncture or in trauma relief after a natural disaster, where there is not enough room to have the patients lie down on massage tables – ear acupuncture can be done while the patient is sitting up in a chair.  Other situations where this type of treatment has been helpful are clinics for Veterans suffering from PTSD, for first responders working in stressful situations, or for healthcare practitioners providing medical aid in response to disasters.

The NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) protocol, originally designed for drug detoxification, lends itself well to trauma relief as well, since it is a very calming treatment. It involves only 5 points in each ear – the patient is allowed to relax in a seated position while the acupuncture defuses stress, he/she relaxes, and maybe even falls asleep for 30-45 minutes.  This protocol is also very useful for patients who wish to stop smoking, as it facilitates the detox process during nicotine withdrawal.  Most patients report milder symptoms as they detox, when the NADA treatment is part of their smoking cessation plan.
 

What is Electro-acupuncture?

Electro-acupuncture involves a small micro-current device that is hooked up to two or more acupuncture needles along a meridian, in order to accentuate the effect of pain relief or to open blocked energy that is particularly stubborn.  Other common uses of electro-acupuncture include stimulating ovulation in women who are undergoing fertility treatments, or to stimulate detox points to reduce the effects of nicotine withdrawal during a smoking cessation treatment. The electrical stimulation (e-stim) is very mild, and will feel like a slight tickle near the acupuncture points, just enough to help open up the channel and get your energy flowing once again.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

Sometimes people who have never had acupuncture before are concerned about having discomfort during their session. They don’t realize that the needles are so thin they are barely noticeable, especially when you have chosen a practitioner who uses gentle technique – some points may not even be felt at all. After the needles are in place, you may feel a spreading sensation of warmth or other relaxing feelings as the tension releases and your energy begins to flow more smoothly. You may even feel more energetic after the session. The effects of Chinese medicine are gentle and free of side effects when administered by a trained professional.

Talk to me if you have any concerns – I am here to answer your questions – I will take as long as you need to address any concerns you have, and will provide a soothing experience so that even the most sensitive person can be comfortable and relaxed.

“There is evidence that acupuncture influences the production and distribution of a great many neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, and that this in turn alters the perception of pain.”  David Eisenberg, MD, Clinical Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School