What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a technique of inserting and manipulating needles into "acupuncture points" on the body. According to acupuncture theory, this will restore health and well-being, and is particularly good at treating pain. Acupuncture is thought to have originated in China and is most commonly associated with Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Different types of acupuncture (Japanese, Korean, and classical Chinese acupuncture) are practiced and taught throughout the world.

Traditional Chinese medicine's acupuncture theory treats the human body as a whole that involves several "systems of function" that are in some cases loosely associated with physical organs. Disease is understood as a loss of homeostasis among the several systems of function, and treatment of disease is attempted by modifying the activity of one or more systems of function through the activity of needles, pressure, heat, etc. on "acupuncture points". This is referred to as treating "patterns of disharmony".

Treatment of acupuncture points may be performed along the twelve main or eight extra meridians, located throughout the body, or on tender points, called "ashi" (signifying "that's it", "ouch", or "oh yes"). Chinese medical theory holds that acupuncture works by normalizing the free flow of qi (a difficult-to-translate concept that pervades Chinese philosophy and is commonly translated as "vital energy") throughout the body. Pain or illnesses are treated by attempting to remedy local or systemic accumulations or deficiencies of qi. Pain is considered to indicate blockage or stagnation of the flow of qi.

Many patients claim to experience the sensations of stimulus known in Chinese as "deqi" ("obtaining the qi" or "arrival of the qi"). This kind of sensation was historically considered to be evidence of effectively locating the desired point. The acupuncturist decides which points to treat by observing and questioning the patient in order to make a diagnosis according to the tradition which he or she utilizes. In TCM, there are four diagnostic methods: inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiring, and palpation. Inspection focuses on the face and particularly on the tongue, including analysis of the tongue size, shape, tension, color and coating, and the absence or presence of teeth marks around the edge. Auscultation and olfaction refer, respectively, to listening for particular sounds (such as wheezing) and attending to unusual body odor. Inquiring focuses on: ears, nose and throat; respiration; perspiration; appetite, thirst and taste; digestion; defecation and urination; pain; sleep; and menses and leukorrhea. Palpation includes feeling the body for tender "ashi" points, and palpation of the left and right radial pulses at two levels of pressure (superficial and deep) and three positions (immediately proximal to the wrist crease, and one and two fingers' breadth proximally, usually palpated with the index, middle and ring fingers). Other forms of acupuncture employ additional diagnostic techniques. In many forms of classical Chinese acupuncture, as well as Japanese acupuncture, palpation of the muscles and the hara (abdomen) are central to diagnosis.

Clinical Practice

What will happen during a first visit?

The first consultation may be longer than subsequent sessions. The acupuncturist needs to assess the patient's general state of health, in order to identify the underlying pattern of disharmony and give the most effective treatment.

The patient will be asked about their current symptoms and what treatment they have received so far, their medical history and that of their close family diet, digestive system, sleeping patterns and emotional state. To discover how the energies are flowing in the patient's body, the acupuncturist is likely to feel the patient's pulses on both wrists, noting their quality, rhythm and strength.

The structure, colour and coating of the tongue also gives a good guide to your physical health. Once enough information has been gathered to determine the likely causes of the patient's problems, the acupuncturist can select the most appropriate treatment.

The aim is to discover which energy channels need adjusting for the patient's specific complaint to improve, and which require treatment to boost their overall energy and vitality.

Loose, comfortable clothing should be worn, and the patient should be aware that the acupuncturist may need to access points on the torso as well as on the arms and legs.

Needles and how they feel

Most modern acupuncturists use disposable stainless steel needles of fine diameter (0.16 mm to 0.51 mm), sterilized with ethylene oxide or by autoclave. These needles are far smaller in diameter (and therefore less painful) than the needles used to give injections, since they do not have to be hollow for purposes of injection. The upper third of these needles is wound with a thicker wire (typically bronze), or covered in plastic, to stiffen the needle and provide a handle for the acupuncturist to grasp while inserting. The size and type of needle used, and the depth of insertion, depend on the acupuncture style being practised.

Needles are inserted either for a second or two, or may be left in place for 30 minutes or more, depending on the effect required. During treatment, patients commonly experience a heaviness in the limbs or a pleasant feeling of relaxation. The benefits of acupuncture frequently include more than just relief from a particular condition. Many people find that it can also lead to increased energy levels, better appetite and sleep as well as an enhanced sense of overall well being1.

Moxibustion

Warming an acupuncture point, typically by moxibustion (the burning of mugwort), is a different treatment than acupuncture itself and is often, but not exclusively, used as a supplementing treatment. Moxibustion is in various ways: one technique is to insert the needle at the desired acupuncture point, attach dried mugwort to the external end of an acupuncture needle, and then ignite the mugwort. The mugwort will then smolder for several minutes (depending on the amount adhered to the needle) and conduct heat through the needle to the tissue surrounding the needle in the patient's body. Another common technique is to hold a large glowing stick of moxa over the needles. Moxa is also sometimes burned at the skin surface, usually by applying an ointment to the skin to protect from burns.

Electroacupuncture

Electroacupuncture is when acupuncture needles are attached to a device that generates continuous or intermittent electric pulses, generating a small electric current that flows between pairs of needles. Another term is Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (PENS). According to some acupuncturists, this practice augments the use of regular acupuncture, can restore health and well-being, and is particularly good for treating pain.

Indications for Acupuncture

According to the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (2004), acupuncture may be considered as a complementary therapy for these conditions:

• Abdominal distention/flatulence*
• Acute and chronic pain control*
• Allergic sinusitis *
• Anesthesia for high-risk patients or patients with previous adverse responses to anesthetics
• Anorexia
• Anxiety, fright, panic*
• Arthritis/arthrosis*
• Atypical chest pain
• Bursitis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome*
• Certain functional gastrointestinal disorders (nausea and vomiting, esophageal spasm, hyperacidity, irritable bowel) *
• Cervical and lumbar spine syndromes*
• Constipation, diarrhoea *
• Cough with contraindications for narcotics
• Drug detoxification *
• Dysmenorrhoea, pelvic pain *
• Frozen shoulder *
• Headache (migraine and tension-type), vertigo (Meniere disease), tinnitus *
• Idiopathic palpitations, sinus tachycardia
• In fractures, assisting in pain control, edema, and enhancing healing process
• Muscle spasms, tremors, tics, contractures*
• Neuralgias (trigeminal, herpes zoster, postherpetic pain, other)
• Paresthesias *
• Persistent hiccups*
• Phantom pain
• Plantar fasciitis*
• Posttraumatic and postoperative ileus *
• Selected dermatoses (urticaria, pruritus, eczema, psoriasis)
• Sequelae of stroke syndrome (aphasia, hemiplegia) *
• Seventh nerve palsy
• Severe hyperthermia
• Sprains and contusions
• Temporo-mandibular joint derangement, bruxism *
• Urinary incontinence, retention (neurogenic, spastic, adverse drug effect) *

*Also included in the World Health Organization list of acupuncture indications.

Resources

Acupuncture General

Acupuncture.com

Large site on Chinese Medicine; worldwide coverage but geared towards the American market.

The Institute for Traditional Medicine and Preventative Health Care

Articles, schools, and practitioner list.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Student

An American site for acupuncture and oriental medicine information for students and practitioners. Point tables, school listing, state laws, study tools, forums and suppliers.

Books

Chinese Medicine: The Web That Has No Weaver

Kaptchuk 2000
[Detailed introductory text on Chinese Medicine for students and those interested to learn more.]

Professional Member Associations

The British Acupuncture Council

This is the professional body for acupuncturists trained in Chinese Medicine. It includes information about acupuncture, a student area (including discussion forum), Find a Acupuncturist and details about training.

The British Medical Acupuncture Society

The BMAS promotes the use of acupuncture as a therapy following orthodox medical diagnosis by suitably trained practitioners such as: doctors; dentists; physiotherapists; nurses; midwives; health visitor; osteopaths; chiropractors, and podiatrists. The training does not encompass any traditional chinese medical theory and needles are inserted only according to western physiology and pathology, such as muscular trigger points. For practitioners trained in traditional Chinese Medicine contact either the British Acupuncture Council or the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine. The site has information about acupuncture, links to medical suppliers, and Find a Practitioner facility.

The Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine

Professional members association.

Publications

Amercian Journal of Acupuncture
European Journal of Oriental Medicine

The Journal of Chinese Medicine

A well laid-out site containing sample articles, excellent book reviews and shop selling a range of related products.

The Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine

References

Unless indicated information is sourced from Wikipedia. Content has been edited: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture.

Contributors to this Guide

Note the opinions expressed here do not represent a consensus view. Each contributor, if there is more than one, may not agree with all the opinions expressed. If you would like to add or edit any parts of this guide, please contact the Editor at editor@comptogether.co.uk with your contribution.

Tracey Goulding, Acupuncturist & Aromatherapist: Essential Therapia
Purple Pages: Essential Therapia
Website: Essential Therapia

 

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