Needle Me, Touch My Qi
An acupuncture Overview
By Cynthia Logan
What would make an otherwise normal
person voluntarily lie down on a table and be transformed into
a human pin-cushion? We are, of course, talking acupuncture. That's
acupuncture, not acupressure. Needles, not knuckles. While many
people cringe at being poked by needles, others actually seek
out the benefits wrought by hair fine, sterile needles being inserted
into the skin at specific points which connect to well-charted
channels (or "meridians") throughout the body. Proven
to influence physiological functioning and practiced for thousands
of years as a cornerstone of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM),
acupuncture is one of the most efficient ways to contact and balance
"Qi," the invisible life-force flowing within those
channels, powering everything we do. Sounds great, right? But
does it really work? If so, how? And maybe most importantly, what
might it do for you?
In TCM, health equals balance, or harmony. Illness is considered
an imbalance in the flow of the life-force, and can manifest as
anything from a common cold or temporary indigestion to serious
diseases, such as cancer. At the most fundamental level, balance
refers to harmony between two principles, yin and yang (expansion/feminine
& contraction/masculine)-symbols of the primordial forces
that govern the workings of everything from the macrocosmic universe
to the microcosmic cell within the human body. When these forces
are in balance, Qi (pronounced "chee") flows easily
and evenly along fourteen main meridians which run vertically
up and down the surface of the body.
But, as we all know, things don't always flow along easily. Just
as a river can be blocked by pollution or fallen debris, the flow
of Qi in the body can become stagnant or imbalanced, causing too
much or too little energy to reach physical organs fed by the
meridian streams. When this occurs, acupuncture can be a powerful
means of restoring balance and flow. As hydro-engineers might
use interventions upstream, at the blockage, or downstream to
restore the flow of an impeded river, so the acupuncturist often
treats points above, at, or below the affected site in order to
restore health. There are six kinds of acupuncture needles used
today, varying in length, width of shaft, and shape of head. All
are disposable, in compliance with medical biohazard regulations.
Once inserted, "needling techniques" such as twirling,
rotation, raising and thrusting, plucking,or scraping and trembling
are administered. Though they sound ominous, the sensations produced
are rarely painful, often semi or fully pleasurable, and most
always interesting.
Acupuncture has been used successfully in China for thousands
of years-in some cases, even as anesthesia! In 1982, Dr. David
Eisenberg, of Harvard University Medical School, studied in a
Beijing hospital that used acupuncture extensively. He watched
in amazement as major surgeries were performed with nothing but
needles placed with exquisite precision on the patients' bodies
to "put them under." His subsequent interview with Bill
Moyers on the 1993 PBS special, "Healing and the Mind"
helped open the door for acupuncture's acceptance in the West.
Fortunately, the FDA recently changed the classification of acupuncture
needles (they used to be called "investigational devices"),
thereby removing a large stumbling block to insurance coverage.
Still, modern medicine demands "scientific" evidence
for acupuncture's efficacy. Researchers have therefore studied
its effects on hormones, neurotransmitters, the immune system,
blood pressure and other bodily functions, using established meridian
points and "sham"-or placebo points-and have determined
that benefits are indeed derived from the treatment. Conditions
such as arthritis, hay fever, headache, insomnia, dermatitis,
infertility, morning sickness and even low libido have responded
favorably to those little needles doing their thing. In fact,
The National Institutes of Health now consider acupuncture a viable
therapy in a number of conditions, including dental pain and nausea.
The treatment of pain is one of the more frequent ways in which
acupuncture is utilized.
In a rigorous study of chronic low back pain (the most common
complaint for pain in the United States), results for the advocation
of acupuncture were quite significant. In the group receiving
Western orthopedic therapy, 13.9% had pain reduction of 50% or
greater. For the group receiving the "sham" acupuncture
points, the success rate increased from 13.9% to 29.3%. As for
the group receiving real acupuncture, the success rate increased
to 76.6%! Acupuncture analgesia (AA) relieves pain by triggering
the release of endorphins, or natural pain-killers. Acupuncture
positively influences the immune and circulatory systems, enhances
neurotransmitter activity and assists small "C" nerve
fibers to close their "gates," thereby regulating impulses
which are interpreted by the body as pain.
This ancient therapy WORKS, as numerous studies, patient testimonials,
and the sheer fact that acupuncture has endured for thousands
of years suggests. Does it work all the time? No. Is acupuncture
(or any therapy for that matter) a panacea? No. But odds are,
it could help you restore or maintain optimal health. Besides,
it's fun-and less painful than that annual flu shot (and it's
not toxic)! To find a qualified Doctor of Acupuncture in your
area, check out http://www.acupuncture.com
and click on "Finding A Good Practitioner."