Acupuncture and Other Chinese Remedies

Acupuncture is a form of healing based on the concept that all body organs are interconnected by channels, known as meridians and that illness occurs when the vital energy, or qi (pronounced chee), flowing through these channels is partially blocked. A practitioner of acupuncture attempts to correct this imbalance by inserting thin needles along the meridians at designated points, called acupoints, and in certain cases twirling them, either manually or with an electrical device. He or she may combine the treatment with other traditional practices, such as herbal medicine, diet therapy, and massage.

The most effective acupuncturists are said to contribute their own qi during the procedure. Transmission of energy occurs when the needles are inserted and rotated.

Origins

The Chinese developed the acupuncture system over 2,000 years ago out of a principle of Taoist religious philosophy. As with all traditional Chinese medicine, it is based on the theory that good health depends upon a balance of the forces of yin and yang. These opposites, which exist in nature -- as female and male, moon and sun, darkness and light -- have their counterparts within the body. Illness occurs when these forces are out of sync, so the goal is to restore balance.

Acupoints were designated according to their assumed clinical function in restoring the balance of yin and yang, thereby improving circulation of both qi and blood. One legend, which attempts to explain how acupoints were determined, says that during wars in ancient times, physicians observed that soldiers who had been struck by arrows in certain parts of the body were mysteriously cured of specific illnesses.

Western interest in acupuncture has developed sporadically. In the 18th century, when Christian missionaries from Europe were expelled from China, some took acupuncture techniques back home with them. In the 19th century, Chinese workers, who came to America to help build the railroads, brought information about acupuncture, among other remedies, which ultimately caught the attention of some doctors and healers. More recently, interest in acupuncture has been sparked by two events: the opening of China to the West and the investigation of alternative methods of dealing with pain.

Practitioners

In 14 states, only physicians may perform acupuncture. These physicians (physiatrists) or medical doctors trained in China or Korea. Another 21 states require that acupuncturists be licensed, which mandates meeting certain educational and training requirements and passing a test developed by the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists.

When Acupuncture is Used

While many of the claims by acupuncturists are viewed with skepticism by mainstream doctors, there is increasing recognition of their success in alleviating pain, thereby providing an alternative to painkillers, tranquilizers, and sleeping pills. The use of acupuncture for anesthesia in dentistry, childbirth, and some forms of surgery is under study by a number of Western medical practitioners. Researchers are also looking into its usefulness as a way of easing the pain and increasing the range of motion for people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Other possible uses of acupuncture include the treatment of allergies, migraine headaches, circulatory disorders, and addictions to nicotine, alcohol, and other drugs.

Interest in acupuncture and other traditional Chinese remedies is increasing in the United States, but their acceptance in Europe is greater. For example, acupuncture is taught in French medical schools and is covered by government health insurance in France and several other European countries.

How Acupuncture Works

There is no parallel in Western medicine for the meridians and acupoints indicated on the traditional acupuncture chart. Within the frame of reference for Western science, it has not been possible to validate the claims of acupuncture as a healing system, nor is there a complete understanding of exactly how it works as an analgesic. Some researchers think its positive effects might result from the release of endorphins, the body's naturally produced analgesics, triggered by the action of the needles. Although the trigger points for pain and for acupuncture have been labeled differently and were discovered independently, recent research into pain has revealed that they represent the same phenomenon and can be explained in terms of how the nervous system functions.

What to Expect

Treatment consists of the insertion of hair-thin stainless steel needles a few millimeters below the skin at specifically designated locations. The mystery is that the needles are inserted in one part of the body, yet the sensations of warmth, numbness, or tingling are experienced in another pan. The traditional explanation for this phenomenon is that qi is traveling along its proper channel. Western research suggests that the autonomic nervous system is responsible.

In current practice, the needles range in diameter from 10 to 13 mils (thousandths of an inch) and from one to three inches in length. It takes considerable skill and many years of practice to insert the needles perpendicular to the skin without bending them. Their insertion and removal rarely cause pain beyond the sensation of a pin prick. When the patient is relaxed, there is no discomfort at any stage of the procedure.

For treating pain, the length of time that needles are left in place, whether they are twirled manually or hooked up to an electrical rotating device, and whether the acupuncture is combined with heat, depends on the nature of the pain or the desired effect. For example, 5 minutes is said to be sufficient for tooth extraction, while 20 to 30 minutes may be needed for a tonsillectomy, with continuous stimulation by the needles throughout the entire surgical procedure. In the last instance, the analgesic effect lasts about 24 hours.

Most treatments for pain relief take 5 to 15 minutes. Since the effect is presumed to be cumulative, a course of six treatments is usually recommended. Some patients, whose pain has not been alleviated immediately after treatment, report its disappearance days or even weeks later.