History of Acupuncture
The earliest recorded use of acupuncture dates from 200 BC. Knowledge of acupuncture spread from China along Arab trade routes
towards the West. However, up until the early 1970s, most Americans had never heard of acupuncture.
Acupuncture gained attention in the United States when President Nixon visited China in 1972. Traveling with Nixon was New York
Times reporter James Reston, who received acupuncture in China after undergoing an emergency appendectomy. Reston was so impressed
with the post-operative pain relief he experienced from the procedure that he wrote about acupuncture upon returning to the United
States.In 1997, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) formally recognized acupuncture as a mainstream medicine healing option with a statement documenting the procedure's safety and efficacy for treating a range of health conditions. While awareness of acupuncture is growing, many conventional physicians are still unfamiliar with both the theory and practice of acupuncture.
There are now hundreds of clinical studies on the benefits of acupuncture now. Many of these clinical studies are performed in China. Acupuncture has been used successfully in the treatment of conditions ranging from musculoskeletal problems (back pain, neck pain, and others), nausea, migraine headache, anxiety, and insomnia.
How does acupuncture work?
The effects of acupuncture are complex. How it works is not entirely clear. Research suggests that the needling process, and other
techniques used in acupuncture, may produce a variety of effects in the body and the brain. One theory is that stimulated nerve
fibers transmit signals to the spinal cord and brain, activating the body's central nervous system. The spinal cord and brain
then release hormones responsible for making us feel less pain while improving overall health. In fact, a study using images
of the brain confirmed that acupuncture increases our pain threshold, which may explain why it produces long-term pain relief.
Acupuncture may also increase blood circulation and body temperature, affect white blood cell activity (responsible for our
immune function), reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and regulate blood sugar levels.
What does an acupuncturist do?
In addition to asking questions, the acupuncturist may want to take your pulse at several points along the wrist and look at the
shape, color, and coating of your tongue. The acupuncturist may also look at the color and texture of your skin, your posture, and
other physical characteristics that offer clues to your health. You will lie down on a padded examining table, and the acupuncturist
will insert the needles, twirling or gently jiggling each as it goes in. You may not feel the needles at all, or you may feel a
twitch or a quick twinge of pain that disappears when the needle is completely inserted. Once the needles are all in place, you
rest for 15 - 60 minutes. During this time, you'll probably feel relaxed and sleepy and may even doze off. At the end of the
session, the acupuncturist quickly and painlessly removes the needles.
For certain conditions, acupuncture is more effective when the needles are heated, using a technique known as "moxibustion." The acupuncturist lights a small bunch of the dried herb moxa (mugwort) and holds it above the needles. The herb, which burns slowly and gives off a little smoke and a pleasant, incense-like smell, never touches the body. Another variation is electrical acupuncture. This technique consists of hooking up electrical wires to the needles and running a weak current through them. In this procedure, you may feel a mild tingling, or nothing at all. Acupuncturists trained in Chinese herbal preparations may prescribe herbs along with acupuncture.
How many treatments do I need?
The number of acupuncture treatments you need depends on the complexity of your illness, whether it's a chronic or recent
condition, and your general health. For example, you may need only one treatment for a recent wrist sprain, while a long-standing,
chronic illness may require treatments once or twice a week for several months to achieve good results.
What is acupuncture helpful for?
Acupuncture is particularly effective for pain relief and for post-surgery and chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting.
In addition, both the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health recognize that acupuncture can be a helpful
part of a treatment plan for many illnesses. A partial list includes: addiction (such as alcoholism, narcortics and smoking),
asthma, bronchitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, facial tics, fibromyalgia, headaches, irregular periods,
low back pain, menopausal symptoms, menstrual cramps, osteoarthritis, sinusitis, spastic colon (often called irritable bowel
syndrome), stroke rehabilitation, tendonitis, tennis elbow, and urinary problems such as incontinence. You can safely combine
acupuncture with prescription drugs and other conventional treatments.
The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture also lists a wide range of conditions for which acupuncture is appropriate. In addition to those listed above, they recommend acupuncture for sports injuries, sprains, strains, whiplash, neck pain, sciatica, nerve pain due to compression, overuse syndromes similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, pain resulting from spinal cord injuries, allergies, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), sore throat (called pharyngitis), high blood pressure, gastroesophageal reflux (felt as heartburn or indigestion), ulcers, chronic and recurrent bladder and kidney infections, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), infertility, endometriosis, memory problems, insomnia, multiple sclerosis, sensory disturbances, depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders.
Some health care providers may avoid treatment during pregnancy. However, if you were seeing a practitioner prior to your pregnancy it is generally safe to continue receiving treatment from them during your pregnancy. You should inform your acupuncturist about any treatments or medications you are taking and all medical conditions you have (such as pregnancy).
What should I watch out for?
Be sure your acupuncturist uses only disposable needles. If your acupuncturist prescribes herbs and would like you to take them as
part of your treatment, you can inform your doctor about them.
How do I know my acupuncturist is qualified?
Most states require acupuncturists to be licensed and confer a title (LAc).
The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine certifies acupuncturists (Dipl Ac) and practitioners
of Chinese herbal medicine (Dipl CH) upon passing a qualifying exam.
Does my medical insurance cover acupuncture treatments?
An increasing number of insurance providers cover all or part of the cost of acupuncture treatments.
Check with your insurance company to see what your policy offers.