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Introduction
Acupuncture is among the oldest healing practices in the world.
As part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a whole medical
system that originated in China /Tibet region. It is based
on the concept that disease results from disruption in the
flow of qi and imbalance in the forces of yin and yang. Practices
such as herbs, meditation, massage, and acupuncture seek to
aid healing by restoring the yin-yang balance and the flow
of qi in the body.
Acupuncture
is a family of procedures that treat imbalances in the body
by stimulating points along the meridians system, (rivers
of energy traversing the body) on the body by a variety of
techniques, including the use of pressure, heat and the insertion
of thin metal needles though the skin. It is intended to remove
blockages in the flow of qi and restore and maintain health.
The
Society of Integrative Oncology rates acupuncture as "A1"
, being both safe and effective treatment for a list of conditions.
Acupuncture is recognized as complementary medicine, used
together with conventional medicine. This is a distinction
from alternative medicine which implies to abandoning the
methods of conventional medicine.
Key
Points
- Acupuncture
has been practiced in China and other Asian countries for
thousands of years. In Japan, China and Korea, acupuncture
is part of mainstream medicine.
- Scientists
are studying the efficacy of acupuncture for a wide range
of conditions.
- Relatively
few complications have been reported from the use of acupuncture.
However, acupuncture can cause potentially serious side
effects if not delivered properly by a qualified practitioner.
- Tell
your health care providers about any complementary and alternative
practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you
do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated
and safe care.
About
Acupuncture
Practiced
in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years,
acupuncture is one of the key components of traditional Chinese
medicine. In TCM, the body is seen as a delicate balance of
two opposing and inseparable forces: yin and yang.
Yin represents
the cold, slow, or passive principle, while yang represents
the hot, excited, or active principle. According to TCM, health
is achieved by maintaining the body in a "balanced state";
disease is due to an internal imbalance of yin and yang. This
imbalance leads to blockage in the flow of qi. In traditional
Chinese medicine, the qi or vital energy regulates a person's
spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health. Thereby,
balancing the qi in the body impacts the health of both body
and mind.
Meridians:
Sources vary on the number of meridians, with numbers ranging
from 14 to 20. One commonly cited source describes meridians
as 14 main channels "connecting the body in a web like
interconnecting matrix" of at least 2,000 acupuncture
points.
Acupuncture
Use in the United States
The report
from a Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture held
at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1997 stated
that acupuncture is being "widely" practiced-by
thousands of physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, and other
practitioners-for relief or prevention of pain and for various
other health conditions. According to the 2002 National Health
Interview Survey-the largest and most comprehensive survey
of use by American adults to date-an estimated 8.2 million
U.S. adults have used acupuncture.
Acupuncture
Side Effects and Risks
The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates acupuncture needles
for use by licensed practitioners, requiring that needles
be manufactured and labeled according to certain standards.
For example, the FDA requires that needles be sterile, nontoxic,
and labeled for single use by qualified practitioners only.
Relatively
few complications from the use of acupuncture have been reported
to the FDA, in light of the millions of people treated each
year and the number of acupuncture needles used. When not
delivered properly, acupuncture can cause serious adverse
effects, including infections and punctured organs.
Status
of Acupuncture Research
There
have been many studies on acupuncture's potential health benefits
for a wide range of conditions. Summarizing earlier research,
the 1997 NIH Consensus Statement on Acupuncture found that,
overall, results were hard to interpret because of problems
with the size and design of the studies.
In the
years since the Consensus Statement was issued, the National
Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
has funded extensive research to advance scientific understanding
of acupuncture. Some recent NCCAM-supported studies have looked
at:
- Whether
acupuncture works for specific health conditions such as
chronic low-back pain, headache, and osteoarthritis of the
knee
- How
acupuncture might work, such as what happens in the brain
during acupuncture treatment (Functional MRI studies).
- Ways
to better identify and understand the potential neurological
properties of meridians and acupuncture points
- Methods
and instruments for improving the quality of acupuncture
research
Finding
a Qualified Practitioner
Health
care providers can be a resource for referral to acupuncturists,
and some conventional medical practitioners. In addition,
national acupuncture organizations (which can be found through
libraries or Web search engines) may provide referrals to
acupuncturists.
- Check
a practitioner's credentials. Most states require a
license to practice acupuncture; however, education and
training standards and requirements for obtaining a license
to practice vary from state to state. Although a license
does not ensure quality of care, it does indicate that the
practitioner meets certain standards regarding the knowledge
and use of acupuncture.
What
To Expect from Acupuncture Visits
During
your first office visit, the practitioner may ask you at length
about your health condition, lifestyle, and behavior. The
practitioner will want to obtain a complete picture of your
treatment needs and behaviors that may contribute to your
condition. Inform the acupuncturist about all treatments or
medications you are taking and all medical conditions you
have.
Root
and branch of disease: The acupuncturist will ask questions
and make observations to decipher the imbalances of qi that
are leading to the patient's symptoms. The prescription of
acupuncture points will address the patient's symptoms "branch"
and the "root" of the imbalance, or the origin of
the pathology. By addressing the branch, or symptoms alone,
the pathology will likely reemerge in a related condition.
Acupuncture treatments address the root of the cause, changing
the energetic origin of the pathology.
During
treatment, a patient rests very fine needles in place for
25-40 minutes. People experience acupuncture differently,
but most feel no or minimal pain, as the needles are inserted.
Some people feel energized by treatment, while most others
feel relaxed. Many patients fall asleep during treatment.
Treatment
may take place over a period of several weeks, once or twice
a week. Many conditions will feel some results after 6-10
treatments. Conditions experienced over a longer period of
time in general, take a longer to resolve than those conditions
more recently acquired. Some patients seek acupuncture after
they have been unsuccessful finding relief from a long list
of other modalities. The acupuncturist frequently treats patients
frustrated by their chronic conditions with success if the
patient dedicates themselves to making some lifestyle changes
and following up with acupuncture treatments.
Treatment
Costs
Ask the
practitioner about the estimated number of treatments needed
and how much each treatment will cost. Some insurance companies
may cover the costs of acupuncture, while others may not.
It is important to check with your insurer. Charges for acupuncture
treatments around the USA, range from $50. to $160. per session.
Related
Topics
References
- Acupuncture.
Natural Standard Database Web site. Accessed at www.naturalstandard.com
on June 28, 2007.
- Barnes
PM, Powell-Griner E, McFann K, Nahin RL. Complementary and
alternative medicine use among adults: United States, 2002.
CDC Advance Data Report #343. 2004.
- Berman
BM, Lao L, Langenberg P, et al. Effectiveness of acupuncture
as adjunctive therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized,
controlled trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2004;141(12):901-910.
- Eisenberg
DM, Cohen MH, Hrbek A, et al. Credentialing complementary
and alternative medical providers. Annals of Internal Medicine.
2002;137(12):965-973.
- Ernst
E. Acupuncture-a critical analysis. Journal of Internal
Medicine. 2006;259(2):125-137.
- Kaptchuk,
TJ. Acupuncture: theory, efficacy, and practice. Annals
of Internal Medicine. 2002;136(5):374-383.
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L. Safety issues in acupuncture. Journal of Alternative
and Complementary Medicine. 1996;2(1):27-31.
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H, Thomas K. Short-term reactions to acupuncture-a cross-sectional
survey of patient reports. Acupuncture in Medicine. 2005;23(3):112-120.
- National
Cancer Institute. Acupuncture (PDQ). National Cancer Institute
Web site. Accessed at www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/acupuncture
on August 16, 2007.
- National
Institutes of Health Consensus Panel. Acupuncture: National
Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement.
National Institutes of Health Web site. Accessed at www.consensus.nih.gov/1997/1997acupuncture107html.htm
on June 22, 2007.
- Reston
J. Now, about my operation in Peking; Now, let me tell you
about my appendectomy in Peking…. New York Times. July
26, 1971:1.
- U.S.
Food and Drug Administration. Acupuncture needles no longer
investigational. FDA Consumer. 1996;30(5). Also available
at www.fda.gov/fdac/departs/596_upd.html.
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