Acupuncture

The practice of acupuncture originated in China more than 2,000 years ago. As one of the oldest healing practices in the world, acupuncture aims to restore and maintain health by stimulating specific points on the body.

Acupuncture treatments began growing in the U.S. in 1971, when New York Times reporter James Reston wrote about how doctors in China used needles to ease his pain after surgery.

Practitioners in the United States incorporate the traditions from China as well as Japan, Korea, and other countries when using acupuncture in today’s modern times. Acupuncture, which is considered a contemporary and alternative medicine, has become more accepted in the U.S. over the decades, particularly as research has confirmed its advantages.

Read more about the history of acupuncture:

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/introduction.htm

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a procedure in which the skin is penetrated by thin, metallic needles to stimulate points on the body. Acupuncture practitioners manipulate the needles by hands or electrical stimulation. An acupuncture chart can be used to help identify the placement of the needles.

The premise behind acupuncture is that there are patterns of energy that flow through the body, contributing to a person’s health.

Find out more about acupuncture:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/acupuncture.html

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/

What It Is Not

Acupuncture is not a painful, expensive practice that only works if you “believe” in it. It doesn’t completely replace medical treatment but it can augment it.

How It Works

Acupuncture is based on the theory that an invisible energy force called qi (pronounced chee) travels around the body in 14 acupuncture meridians, according to the Wall Street Journal. Causing imbalances of qi are Illness and pain. Acupuncture points on the body are connected to internal pathways that conduct energy, or qi. Practitioners believe the idea of inserting thin needles into the skin at precise points can promote the healthy flow of qi, taking away the meridian blockages and treating a variety of symptoms and illnesses.

Research has found acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins, sending nerve signals to the brain that impact the perception of pain and reboot the autonomic nervous system, and stimulates blood flow and tissue repair at the needle sites.

Discover how acupuncture works:

http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB10001424052748704841304575137872667749264.html

http://www.health.com/health/condition-article/0,,20189570,00.html

Who Performs Acupuncture?

Thousands of physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, and other practitioners, according to the National Institutes of Health. Most states require a license to practice acupuncture, but the education and training standards vary by state. Individuals also are recommended by the NIH to not rely on a diagnosis by an acupuncture practitioner without substantial conventional medical training; you’ll want to ask your doctor as well.

Find an acupuncture practitioner:

http://www.acufinder.com

http://www.acupuncture.com/statelaws/statelaw.htm – State-by-state certification requirements

http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/acu_info/licensure.html – State-by-state list of those requiring licenses

Acupuncture Training

About 50 Traditional Chinese Medicine universities in the U.S. are accredited. The schools offer degrees specifically in acupuncture, and you also will want to check out the requirements in the state where you plan to practice because they also may receive other training as well.

The American Board of Medical Acupuncture also has set requirements for board certification.

Get in-depth information on acupuncture training:

http://www.medicalacupuncture.org

http://www.dabma.org/programs.asp

http://www.acaom.org/accdtd_cndtdschls.htm

What to Expect from Acupuncture

The styles of acupuncture treatment vary, but generally, practitioners place three to 15 needles on the body. As they are inserted, you should feel no or minimal pain; reports of those who have experienced pain typically are using inexperienced practitioners with low levels of training. An estimated 10 percent of patients experience some bleeding at the needle sites, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Before the procedure starts, however, you will be asked about your health, lifestyle, and behavior so the practitioner can have a complete picture of your needs and factors that may contribute to your condition. You also need to inform the acupuncturist about medications and treatments you are taking, as well as other medical conditions.

Some practitioners adhere to the idea of auricular acupuncture, in which the ear is stimulated to treat other health problems.

The use of laser acupuncture is something some practitioners incorporate with other methods and has proven effective with in treating carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic headaches in children, tennis elbow, and arthritis of the knee.

You may need treatment over a period of several weeks. The immediate response after acupuncture treatment varies – some people are energized, while others are relaxed.

Who Can Benefit from Acupuncture?

About 3.2 million adults and 150,000 in the U.S. use acupuncture annually, according to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey. The average acupuncture session costs $50. Research has found that acupuncture will reduce nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy and surgery. People seeking acupuncture for back pain can find relief, according to research.

The same goes for seeking acupuncture treatment to relieve pain from osteoarthritis of the knee. A recent study in the journal Pain found a positive result between adults with knee osteoarthritis and electro-acupuncture – the needles are fit with clips attached to a small device delivering an electrical impulse to stimulate the acupuncture point.

Women using acupuncture for fertility also have been successful while undergoing in vitro fertilization as clinical trials have shown it can improve rates of pregnancy. Research has also made a positive connection between acupuncture and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Conditions recommended for acupuncture, which may be covered by your insurance, by the World Health Organization include:

• Respiratory diseases, even as minor as the common cold
• Brochopulmonary diseases such as acute bronchitis
• Eye disorders, such as acute conjunctivitis and myopia
• Mouth pain such as a toothache
• Orthopedic problems such as sciatica and tennis elbow
• Gastroinsteninal disorders, even hiccups and constipation
• Neurologic disorders such as migraines and facial paralysis