Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an important component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that involves the insertion of thin needles at specific bodily points (acupoints), most of which are grouped according to their clinical effects on lines called
meridians . The TCM theory of acupuncture is based in part on the premise that blood and energy termed
Qi (pronounced chee) circulate in a cyclical fashion through these meridians. This energy flow is required for good health; blockages in Qi can lead to pain and/or ill health. (Many traditional Oriental medicine practices focus on improving the flow and balance of Qi.) Thus, TCM practitioners will needle specific acupuncture points along the meridians to restore (or maintain) a healthy flow and balance of Qi and blood in them.
TCM practitioners use acupuncture to treat and prevent a range of conditions and illnesses, even colds and flu. In the United States, one of its most common uses is to relieve pain, but it is also used for other conditions ranging from ear, nose and throat diseases to neurologic, respiratory, or even psychiatric problems such as depression. Acupuncture may be used alone, in conjunction with other TCM therapies such as herbs, or with more conventional therapies.
Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely practiced in the United States. An estimated 8.2 million Americans have undergone acupuncture, and about 2.1 million undergo the treatment each year. People usually find the procedure to be relatively painless, although some points in some patients may be quite sensitive. Depending on your practitioner, the needles may be stimulated with manual manipulation, heat or electricity.
There are many state acupuncture organizations, and many states have acupuncture regulations and codes. Almost every state has a State Acupuncture Board, and there are approximately 50 accredited schools of acupuncture in the United States. There are also many physician-acupuncturists who practice acupuncture as part of their medical practices.
Widely practiced around the world, especially in Asia (the practice originated in China) and Europe, acupuncture didn't gain a notable following in the United States until the 1970s, when New York Times journalist James Reston piqued public interest by writing about how physicians in Beijing eased his postsurgery abdominal pain with acupuncture. Acupuncture has been gaining popularity in the United States ever since.
The 1997 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Conference on Acupuncture gave a boost to acupuncture by concluding that acupuncture is safe and, for some conditions, proven effective. These include reducing nausea associated with chemotherapy, anesthesia or pregnancy and lessening the pain from dental surgery. There was also evidence suggesting acupuncture may be effective in treating migraines, depression, tennis elbow, constipation, low-back pain and infertility. Additionally, acupuncture may be useful in treating neck pain, asthma, insomnia and wound healing, among other conditions. More recent evidence suggests that hypertension and certain cardiovascular diseases can likewise be improved by treatment with acupuncture. The NIH continues to fund a variety of research projects relating to the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture.
The World Health Organization (WHO), using different criteria, has recognized acupuncture as an appropriate treatment for more than 50 conditions, including certain digestive, respiratory,
neurological, muscular, urinary, menstrual and reproductive disorders.
There are many styles of acupuncture practiced here, many of which are different from traditional Chinese acupuncture. "Medical acupuncture" refers to acupuncture practiced by a Western physician. Physicians as well as nonphysicians who are licensed to practice acupuncture (LAcs) will often use a variety of acupuncture styles. The most common style taught in American schools is called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture, but Five Element, Auricular and Neuro-anatomical acupuncture styles are also widely used.
Scientists are finding it hard to reconcile the traditional explanation of how acupuncture works with standard Western medical models. Although several studies have documented acupuncture's efficacy and effectiveness, much remains to be learned about its mechanisms of action from a Western perspective.
Human and animal studies show that acupuncture can generate various biological responses—some close to the insertion point and others at a distance. Research has demonstrated that acupuncture stimulates the body to release hormones, as well as naturally occurring opioid analgesics (termed endorphins and enkephalins) from the central nervous system. Endorphins diminish pain, influence the body's self-regulating systems and promote physical and emotional well-being.
Associated mechanisms are also at work:
Electromagnetic signals: Evidence suggests that acupuncture points are strategic conductors of electromagnetic signals, and acupuncture enables electromagnetic signals to be relayed at a greater rate than under normal conditions.
Brain blood flow: Studies indicate that acupuncture clearly affects blood flow to centers of the brain and the central nervous system related to sensation and involuntary body functions, such as immune reactions and the regulation of blood pressure, blood flow, oxygenation and body temperature. Specific activation of certain brain regions, including some of the pain perception centers (such as the limbic area and hypothalamus) can be demonstrated during acupuncture treatments.
Ultimately, scientists don't know exactly which mechanisms make acupuncture effective; more research is needed. It is often believed that to get the best results, treatments need to be individualized. That's one of many reasons acupuncture is more difficult to research than a standard pharmaceutical medication.
