ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture is a time-honored practice rooted in early medicine that has been used for thousands of years to promote health and well-being while preventing chronic disease. In the United States, for example, where early prevention with herbs and food is not widely practiced, mainstream medicine often focuses on pharmaceuticals and procedures. Acupuncture as a medical practice has gained popularity for treating both the symptoms and the underlying problems.
Acupuncture is a medical approach that involves the insertion of thin, sterile needles into specific areas on the body to stimulate fluid movement, improve nerve conductivity, restore function, enhance balance, and improve regulatory functions by releasing entrapped nerves, moving blood, modulating glands, and encouraging oxygen to various tissues. Acupuncture often has a tertiary benefit of stimulating the body’s natural healing processes through various pathways.
Acupuncture was not well understood by Western medicine practitioners and policymakers when it first became legal in the United States in the early 1970s. We now know that acupuncture pathways, translated as meridians, are thorough maps of the peripheral nervous system. Every known junction of nerves has a mapped acupuncture point. Not a nerve junction was missed. By inserting needles at specific junctions and other structures, applying angles, depth, and needling techniques, highly trained practitioners can render changes in the body akin to surgery without damaging other structures.
There are a range of acupuncture techniques, such as acupuncture with electric stimulation, bloodletting, and trigger therapy release (dry needling). There is also a range of acupuncture approaches such as meridian (peripheral nervous system), microsystems, scalp, post-stroke, bone needling, and nerve release. To determine the best course of action, acupuncturists will engage in basic questions and advanced assessment to establish a differential diagnosis and treatment plan.
Benefits of Basic Acupuncture
- Pain Relief: Acupuncture is widely recognized for its effectiveness in reducing chronic pain, including back pain, arthritis, migraines, and postoperative pain.
- Stress Reduction: By promoting relaxation and reducing stress hormones, acupuncture can help manage stress and anxiety.
- Improved Sleep: Many people experience better sleep quality and reduced insomnia with regular acupuncture treatments.
- Enhanced Digestion: Acupuncture can support digestive health by regulating digestive function and alleviating issues like bloating, constipation, and indigestion.
- Boosted Immunity: Regular acupuncture sessions can strengthen the immune system, helping the body to fend off illnesses and infections.
- Overall Wellness: Acupuncture is not just for specific ailments; it can improve overall health by fostering a sense of balance and harmony in the body.
Benefits of Advanced Acupuncture
- Explanations of Complex Conditions – Differential diagnosis is best explained through mechanisms explained with integrated biomedical and physiological science.
- Logical Treatment Plans – After assessing the complex conditions and comorbidities, advanced practitioners offer a variety and often blend therapeutic options.
- Improved Function – Advanced acupuncture can improve muscle control, gate, and sensory functions after stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, and neurodegeneration.
- Refind Gut Health – Most people with chronic conditions have a history of poor gut health. This comorbidity often needs to be addressed and fixed.
- Significant and Sustained Results – Advanced practitioners do not require multiple visits up front. This is a Western medicine business model.
- Adjunct Modalities – The practice of Acupuncture medicine includes bodywork, light therapy, and herbal medicine. For more, scroll down.
What to Expect
During an acupuncture session, a licensed practitioner will conduct a thorough assessment of your health history and current condition. They will then insert fine needles into specific points on your body. The process is generally painless, and many patients find it relaxing. Sessions typically last between 30 minutes to an hour, and the number of sessions required depends on the individual’s condition and response to treatment.
Safety and Professional Standards
Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment when performed by a licensed and trained practitioner. These professionals undergo extensive education and training to understand the complexities of the human body and the principles of TCM. They adhere to strict safety standards, using disposable, sterile needles to prevent any risk of infection.
The Dangers of Abbreviated Needle Therapy Classes
It’s important to distinguish between authentic acupuncture practices and abbreviated needle therapy classes. These short-term courses often lack the comprehensive training necessary to safely and effectively perform acupuncture. Unfortunately, such abbreviated training can result in injuries and a misunderstanding of the intricate principles underlying true acupuncture practice.
Injuries from improperly administered acupuncture can include infections, punctured organs, and nerve damage. Moreover, these courses contribute to a diluted understanding of acupuncture’s potential, leading to skepticism and reduced trust in this ancient healing art.
When seeking acupuncture treatment, always ensure your practitioner is fully licensed and certified. This guarantees they have undergone rigorous training and adhere to professional standards, ensuring your safety and the efficacy of the treatment.
Authentic Acupuncture is so Much More than Sticking Needles
Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a technique often used in conjunction with acupuncture that involves the burning of mugwort (artemisia vulgaris) near specific areas of the body to promote healing and improve function. Moxibustion can be performed directly or indirectly, and it is particularly beneficial for conditions involving cold or stagnation.
Infrared Heat Lamp Therapy
Infrared heat lamp therapy utilizes special lamps that emit infrared radiation to penetrate the body’s tissues. This therapy can be used as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with acupuncture. The gentle heat from the lamps helps promote circulation, relax muscles, and alleviate pain and inflammation.
Low Light Laser Therapy
Low light laser therapy, also known as cold laser therapy or photobiomodulation, involves the application of low-intensity lasers to specific points or areas of the body. This non-invasive treatment stimulates cellular activity, enhances tissue repair, reduces inflammation, and relieves pain. Low light laser therapy is commonly used for musculoskeletal conditions, wound healing, and dermatological issues.
Injection Therapy
Although this adjunct modality is part of accredited programs and included in textbooks, there is a required step to involve state pharmacy boards to determine acceptable agents that licensed acupuncturists can procure. In some states, licensed acupuncturists may have the scope to offer injection therapy as an adjunct to acupuncture treatment. This involves the injection of natural substances such as vitamins, homeopathic remedies, or herbal extracts into specific acupuncture points or affected areas. Injection therapy can provide targeted support for pain management, inflammation reduction, and tissue healing.
Cupping
Cupping involves placing special cups on the skin to create suction. This therapy helps promote blood flow, release tension, and alleviate muscle soreness. Cupping is often used for musculoskeletal conditions, respiratory issues, and detoxification.
Gua Sha
Gua sha is a technique that involves scraping the skin using a smooth-edged tool. This therapeutic scraping motion helps release stagnation, improve circulation, and relieve muscle tension. Gua sha is commonly utilized for pain management, immune support, and detoxification.
Tui Na Massage
Tui na is a form of Chinese therapeutic massage that combines various manual techniques and manipulation, including, kneading, stretching, and joint mobilization. Tui na helps promote circulation, relieve muscle tension, and address dysfunction. It is often used in conjunction with acupuncture for musculoskeletal issues, stress reduction, and overall wellness.
Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicine is an integral component of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves the use of natural substances, such as plants, minerals, and animal products, to restore balance and support healing. Herbal prescriptions are tailored to individual needs and can be used internally or externally to address a wide range of conditions.
Acupuncture Practice
As the practice of acupuncture medicine unfolded in the West, mainstream medicine practitioners, researchers, and administrators formed a framework for analyzing acupuncture based on an initial and possibly inadequate interpretation of the established theories. One of the most significant results of this interpretation was the establishment of researching acupuncture as if it were a drug to treat a condition with limited parameters as opposed to utilizing the multitude of options that acupuncture medicine employs to tease out mechanisms and treat a person with a complex presentation.
Ear Acupuncture
Like many microsystems, such as feet, hands, and eyes, the ear can connect to many areas of the body and brain. The practice of using the ear as a microsystem is called auriculotherapy. The power of ear acupuncture goes beyond treating pain, feelings of stress, and behavioral problems. Due to the direct access of the brain, we can use it to neuromodulate the brain.
Anyone can practice auriculotherapy
One technique involves the application of ear seeds, or pellets to stimulate areas. These seeds are traditionally vaccaria seeds (which resemble poppy seeds) and are on small bandages that hold them in place. Leaving those seeds for a few days allow the benefits of treatment to continue after the patient leaves the clinic. They are barely noticeable and don’t get in the way of normal activities.