Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has its origin in ancient Taoist philosophy which views a person as an energy system in which body and mind are unified, each influencing and balancing the other. TCM emphasizes a holistic approach that treats the entire person, utilizing different treatment methods to restore and maintain optimum health.
What is Acupuncture and how does it work?
Acupuncture is one of the methods used in TCM and consists of the gentle insertion and stimulation of extremely thin, disposable, and sterile needles at strategic points along the surface of the body. The needles penetrate anywhere from a fraction of an inch to several inches depending on the thickness of the flesh and muscle at a given location.
Qi (pronounced “chee”) is often defined as the “force” or “vital substance” that controls and animates the functions of living beings. This vital substance flows through the body along channels, known as meridians that connect all of our major organs. According to TCM theory, when the proper flow of Qi in the meridians becomes unbalanced or blocked, illness and pain arises. The proper insertion and stimulation of acupuncture needles at strategic points along the meridians allows Qi to flow freely, thereby alleviating pain, restoring health, and promoting wellness.
In contrast, the Western explanation of acupuncture incorporates modern concepts of neuroscience. According to the National Institutes of Health, researchers are studying at least three possible explanations for how acupuncture works: 1) Opioid Release – During acupuncture, endorphins that are part of the body’s natural pain control system may be released into the central nervous system, which reduces pain much like taking pain medication. 2) Spinal cord stimulation – Acupuncture may stimulate the nerves in the spinal cord to release pain suppressing neurotransmitters. This is known as the “gate control” theory. 3) Blood flow changes – Acupuncture needles may increase the amount of blood flow in the area around the needle. This increased flow may supply additional nutrients and/or remove toxins, thereby promoting healing.
Is an Acupuncture treatment painful?
Since the needles used are extremely thin, minimal pain, if any at all, will be felt upon insertion. Often times the needle insertion goes unnoticed or feels like a small pinch, followed by a sensation of numbness, ache, traveling warmth, tingling, or heaviness around the area needled. This sensation is known as de qi (pronounced dah-chee) which means “obtaining qi”. This feeling is essential because it indicates that the Qi is present at or near the insertion site, allowing for an effective treatment to take place.
Commonly Treated Disorders
Although best known for the control of pain, acupuncture benefits a wide variety of disorders. The following is a list of some of the neurological and musculoskeletal, respiratory, and gastrointestinal disorders that can be treated by acupuncture: headache, migraine, early stage facial palsy, paralysis following stroke, peripheral neuropathies, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, sciatica, low back pain, osteoarthritis, acute sinusitis and rhinitis, common cold, bronchial asthma, hiccough, acute and chronic gastritis, constipation, diarrhea. Treatments can also benefit those with addictions, eating disorders, stress, anxiety, and other emotional/psychological issues. Acupuncture is also beneficial when used alongside conventional medical treatments for both acute and chronic conditions.
Often used as a form of preventative medicine, acupuncture is beneficial in preventing illness from occurring. Many individuals receive acupuncture without suffering from any particular malady or ailment. Treatments strengthen general constitution, and can correct a feeling of being unwell although there is no physical disorder, imbalance or illness in the traditional Western medical sense. |
