What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a therapy developed by the ancient Chinese that consists of stimulating designed points on the skin by the insertion of needles, application of heat (moxibustion), massage (finger pressure or shiatsu massage) or a combination of these.

Acupuncture is part of the overall system of Chinese medicine, which also includes herbal medicine, Tai Ji, Qi Gong, and massage techniques. Member of the staff at Lincoln Recovery Center have had training in auricular acupuncture, specifically as used in chemical dependency treatment.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

The philosophy of the Chinese medical tradition is based on an awareness of the connected energy network of all things in the universe. In this system of thought, as in modern physics, the same principles of energy apply to any part of the universe, however large or small, whether the solar system, an atom or a living being. The Chinese discovered that certain locations or “points” on the surface of the body are related to internal body function.

According to their medical tradition there is a network of energy that flows through the body and connects these points by way of different channels, also called “meridians.” These channels are related to specific internal functions which are identified with anatomic units, such as heart, liver or lung even though the Chinese “organs” represent complex functions rather than structure.

There are also extra channels, such as the “governor,” which goes up the spine and over the head, and the “belt” channel, which circles the body just below the waist.These channels all form a network, which has circulating energy, called “Qi,” that moves like an electric current. As long as the energy circulation has the appropriate strength and balance, and the flow is not blocked, healthy functioning of the body continues. Just imagine that the body has a circulatory system with electromagnetic properties so that smooth flow correlates with a healthy glow on the surface of the body.

Using special Kirlian techniques we can actually photograph this surface energy. Disease creates an imbalance in the system so that the “signals” are weak, too strong, blocked, crossed, or not moving in the proper pathway. For example, in a photograph of the system, a sprain might show up as a hot spot, and so would a migraine headache. Someone who had just had a heart attack would show a weak or blank spot.

In this context, acupuncture makes perfect sense. It is simply a way of making balancing adjustments in this type of electromagnetic circulatory system. Acupuncture is a suggestion to the human energy system. When the organism is prepared, the suggestion can be accepted easily with few treatments. At other times, the acupuncture suggestion must be repeated quite often to be effective.

When the system is in balance, the electronic signals of the heart work properly, the intestines contract correctly, the immune system works optimally —in other words, the signaling system for all involuntary processes is stimulated to return to its natural balance. For example, if you ask “why does a point on the hand affect the large intestine?” The answer is “because it is hooked up” there. Of course all of the complicated relationships of energetic flow between the channels often make the process of diagnosis and treatment anything but simple.

Just as in Western medicine, acupuncture is an art as well as a science. Diagnosis is directed toward discerning patterns of imbalance in the network that correspond to symptoms and signs in the body, and treatment, as we have said, are directed toward correcting the imbalance.

What Can Acupuncture Treat?

Acupuncture is best known for treating painful conditions such as migraine headaches, arthritis and back pain. However, it is effective for many other conditions, respiratory problems like sinusitis, bronchitis and asthma, gynecological problems such as painful or irregular menstruation or premenstrual syndrome, or digestive problems such as constipation, gastritis, or irritable bowel syndrome.

It can be used to treat well known conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and emphysema, either alone or in combination with Western medicine. In addition, Chinese medicine can often treat more complex disorders such as systemic lupus, inflammatory bowel disease and idiopathic edema.

Acupuncture can enhance immune status and has been used to help people with AIDS fight the diseases that they get as a result of their immune deficiency. Acupuncture is also useful in treating soft tissue injuries, such as cervical strain (“whiplash”) and sports injuries. Many sports “greats” have benefitted from the effects of acupuncture. It is used to treat psychological illnesses and addiction. This is by no means an exhaustive list.

We do not intend to suggest that acupuncture and other techniques of traditional Chinese medicine area cure for all problems. Just as any other medical system, people have a better chance of getting well if they are generally healthy and well nourished, and if their disease is not too far advanced.

For example in China, acupuncture and herbal medicine are used to treat precancerous conditions of the stomach in which partial cell changes are already taken place. However, this is a much different prospect than treating a large established tumor in a person who is already ill and depleted.

Acupuncture is an inexpensive and safe, effective treatment for many chronic disorders and it can be used preventively as well. Many people with so called by functional" disorders without definite diagnosis have been helped by acupuncture. With all the excellence of American medical technology and pharmacology, there are still many important medical needs that are best met by the technique of traditional Chinese medicine.

Can Western and Chinese Medicine be Combined?

Yes. Chinese medicine is often helpful to treat conditions generally unresponsive to Western drug- oriented treatments such as treatment of “nerves” with sedatives and “low back pain” with pain killers. In fact, these medications may interfere with the effectiveness of body function. Conversely, some conditions, most notably infections and conditions with structural changes, e.g., fractures or tumors, respond more rapidly to Western techniques.

Frequently the two methods combine for the patient’s benefit. The treatment of high blood pressure is an example where the use of acupuncture depressing points, along with dietary-salt restrictions can decrease the amount of medication required for blood pressure control.

Does It Hurt?

Acupuncture is done with extremely thin flexible needles made of stainless steel and silver alloy. There is nothing “special” in the needle; it is a tool to balance body energy. There is often brief pain as the needle passes through the skin. As the needles begin to work and the energy effect occurs, you may feel numbness, heat, dull aching or tingling where the needle is located or along a nearby channel.

Is It Safe?

Acupuncture has been used for 5,000 years in China. It is still a frequent treatment of choice for 1/4 of the world’s population despite 30 years of comparison to Western medicine.

Most side effects are minor and include: occasional dizziness, especially during the first treatment, slight bleeding after the needles are withdrawn. Infection at the needle site and any other side effects are very rare.

How do Most People Respond to Acupuncture?

Some patients feel progressively better after each treatment in other patients; the illness may have blunted the senses so that the full severity of the symptoms is no longer clearly felt. Therefore, as the life force increases sensitivity may develop so that a patient may feel worse temporarily. This is called '"The Healing Crisis".

This “healing crisis” passes in a short time. Other illnesses are of a complicated nature. it is possible for symptoms to return ‘that were present years ago, as treatment progresses. The time-related course of the illness may seem to be reversed in these cases.

Oriental medicine describes this process symbolically as having several conditions, on one top of the other, like sheets of paper. The top condition is taken off exposing the one beneath. They must all be taken off one at a time and this will often recreate the symptoms temporarily while healing is taking place. When the last sheet is removed the healing is complete.

Of course, the process of balancing and healing is a life-long activity which all of us accomplish imperfectly. Our well being can be maintained only if we are well nourished physically and spiritually and we continue to respond to challenge with flexible adjustments in our circulating network of Qi.