What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture
is a treatment based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM),
a system of healing that dates back thousands of years. At the
core of TCM is the notion that a type of life force, or energy,
known as qi (pronounced "chee") flows through energy
pathways in the body called "meridians." Each meridian
connects to one specific organ, or group of organs, that governs
particular bodily functions. Qi maintains the dynamic balance
of yin and yang, the complementary opposites that are reflected
in all beings and throughout nature. When too little or too
much qi exists in a meridian or when the qi stagnates or is
blocked, illness results. By applying needles to certain points
along the meridian lines, acupuncture restores equilibrium and
health by correcting the flow of qi. Acupuncture points, or
the specific locations where needles are inserted, are places
where the energy pathway is close to the surface of the skin.
Acupuncture was formally recognized as part of mainstream medicine's
range of healing options in 1997, when the National Institutes
of Health issued a statement documenting its safety and efficacy
for a range of health conditions.
There are two major approaches that may guide acupuncture practice:
the eight principles (used particularly in TCM acupuncture),
and the five-element theory. The eight principles are in fact
four sets of complementary opposites:
yin/yang,
internal/external,
excess/deficiency,
and hot/cold
The five-element theory of acupuncture
holds that there are five elements in the universe-wood, fire,
earth, water, and metal-and that these correspond to the internal
organs and produce a specific sequence of circulating energy
in the body. In parallel with these five elements, there are
five internal organs regulating the human body. These five organs-liver,
heart, spleen, lung, and kidney-correspond to more than a specific
bodily part. The kidney, for example, represents not only the
kidney itself, but the entire urinary system and the adrenal
glands as well. The heart represents both the heart and the
brain.
While there are over 70 identified
meridians in the body, acupuncture treatment generally
focuses on points that lie along the 12 principal meridians
and 2 "extraordinary" ones. A practitioner may also
needle "extra" points identified as a result of clinical
experience or "ah shi" points that are identified
by their tenderness to the touch. The 12 principal meridians
are Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen, Heart, Small Intestine,
Urinary Bladder, Kidney, Pericardium, Gallbladder, Liver, and
Triple Warmer. Points are identified by the abbreviation of
a meridian and a number to indicate the point. For example,
SP6 refers to point 6 along the Spleen meridian, while GB20
refers to point 20 on the Gall Bladder meridian. It is important
to remember that the names of these meridians do not refer to
the same meanings one might attach, for example, to gall bladder
or liver in conventional Western medicine.
The
type of needle used and the needling technique are also important.
Needles may be inserted at particular angles, for example, they
may be stimulated manually, electrically (electro-acupuncture),
or with lasers; they may be manipulated and quickly removed,
or left in place for up to 30 minutes. In certain acupuncture
traditions, particularly some of those practiced in Japan, needles
may not be actually inserted into the skin at all.
There are a number of different approaches to the practice
of acupuncture; five of those most commonly found in the United
States today are as follows:
TCM-based acupuncture is the most commonly practiced in the
United States today and focuses on a diagnosis based on
the eight principles (yin/yang, internal/external, excess/deficiency,
hot/cold).
French energetic acupuncture is mostly used by MD acupuncturists
and emphasizes meridian patterns, in particular the yin-yang
pairs of primary meridians, as well as treatment of the extraordinary
vessels.
Korean hand acupuncturists believe that the hands and
feet are regions of concentrated qi; applying acupuncture needles
to these areas is effective for the entire body.
Auricular acupuncture is based on the idea that the ear
is a microcosm of the body; applying acupuncture needles to
certain points on the ear affects corresponding organs. This
type of acupuncture is used widely in treating addiction disorders.
Myofascially-based acupuncture, often practiced by physical
therapists, involves palpation of the meridian lines in search
of tender points, which indicate areas of abnormal energy flow,
often without the comprehensive diagnoses associated with other
approaches. Acupuncture needles are then applied to those locations.
Japanese styles of acupuncture (sometimes referred to
as "meridian therapy") tend to put more emphasis on
needling technique, often using very subtle needle stimulation,
and a more extensive use of palpation in diagnosis.
Mechanism of Action:
The de qi sensation, or the numbing, tingling sensation caused
by the needling, is thought to be essential to the therapeutic
effect of acupuncture in TCM and some other styles of acupuncture.
This sensation is a result of the activation of nerve fibers,
which are thought to transmit impulses to the spinal cord, thus
activating the central nervous system.
