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Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a branch of Chinese medicine that involves the insertion of very thin needles at specific points in the skin known as acupoints. About 350 of these points are commonly used to treat a wide variety of health conditions. Chinese medicine looks at the affected organ or system as an interdependent part of the whole body. Treatment is designed to take this holistic view into account. Further, Chinese medicine is more interested in the environment that resulted in an ailment than it is in the specific site of the ailment. The aim is to restore this environment to proper balance, so that the body will heal itself.

According to traditional acupuncture, your body's life force or Qi (pronounced "chee") flows through a network of passageways called meridians. These meridians are responsible for transporting energy between the surface and internal organs of your body. Practitioners believe that symptoms and diseases can arise when this energy is blocked. By stimulating points along these meridians, acupuncturists strive to unblock the flow of Qi through their bodies, thereby restoring the health of their patients.

Acupuncture is based on the concepts of yin and yang, which are believed to be opposing forces that flow throughout the universe. According to to Chinese medical theory, when the forces of yin and yang become unbalanced within the body, the result is a blockage of Qi manifesting in physical discomfort or disease. Therefore, in order to restore the proper current of Qi and, therefore, a balance of yin and yang, acupuncturists place needles into the relevant meridians.

The Origins of Acupuncture

Acupuncture originated in china well over 2,000 years ago and is one of the oldest known systematic medical therapies. Acupuncture (acus = needle in Greek) is believed to be so old that there are no reliable conjectures as to its origins. The best guesses suggest that the acupoints were identified first, then various methods of stimulating them, pricking with sharp stones, then needles of bone and bamboo and finally modern needles, when metals became available. The most interesting thing about the history of acupuncture is how unchanged it has remained over thousands of years.

Acupuncturists are known for their use of needles in acupuncture. But they often use additional treatments, including moxibustion, cupping, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Acupuncture

According to acupuncture theory, there are twelve main meridians that connect to twelve main organs such as the liver and kidneys, according to Traditional Chinese Medicinal theory or TCM. While these meridians cannot be seen, methods like touch and voice vibration and are used by practitioners to determine the source of a problem, what organ it is connected with, and therefore what meridians are impacted. Thin needles are then inserted along these meridians according to the relevant acupoints.

Moxibustion

Moxa is a substance gotten from the dried leaves of the mugwart plant. It is burned and applied to the acupoints in various direct and indirect painless ways. It is, reportedly, a pleasant and relaxing way to stimulate the desired acupoints.

Cupping

Cupping. This is another traditional therapy. It involves the burning of a candle inside a glass or bamboo cup to create a vacuum. The candle is snuffed out and the cup is placed on an acupoint that results in the drawing of the skin into the cup.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, includes well-known therapies such as acupuncture and herbal medicine, which is said to be over 4,000 years old. Acupuncturists may prescribe Chinese herbs in addition to their acupuncture treatments. Chinese herbalism incorporates a range of plants, using parts such as the seed, roots, and stems, in preparations taken in forms such as tea or powder. These herbs are said to contain four healing properties, which include the nature (referring to the yin and yang), affinity (such as bitterness, sweetness, or spiciness), taste (how the herb effects the blood, fluids, phlegm, and qi) and lastly, the effect (such as detoxification, relaxation, or calming). Similar to acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine has become a commonly practiced therapy stemming from Traditional Chinese Medicine.

In general, your first visit to an acupuncturist should include a long (by Western standards) initial interview which would cover questions about your symptoms, lifestyle, emotions, and may involve an inspection of your pulse, tongue, voice, and skin tone.

After this initial exam, you lie on a table and the acupuncturist inserts about ten to twelve hair-thin sterile needles are inserted at acupoints chosen by the practitioner. Most appointments last between 30 and 60 minutes and about a dozen are usually required.

Used with millions of patients over thousands of years, acupuncture procedures have remained remarkably consistent, suggesting that it has definite benefits whether used alone or as a complement to other therapies.

Some people see an acupuncturist for conditions of chronic or acute pain, such as back pain; psychological issues such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSD); chemotherapy-induced nausea; additions; infertility and to complement invitro fertiilization (IVF) treatments. Acupuncture is also said to complement other conventional medical treatments that patients might be taking.

In the US, there are two paths to becoming a professional acupuncturist.

Medical Doctors who have completed between 200 and 300 hours of training in acupuncture after graduating from an accredited medical school can be certified in most states to practice acupuncture. Certification of doctors of medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, and podiatry is supervised by the American Board of Medical Acupuncture.

Licensed Acupuncturists have the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree and have completed a 2-4 year Master's degree program at an accredited college of acupuncture.

For example, in Massachusetts, a nonmedical doctor with a bachelor's or nursing degree might attend the New England School of Acupuncture. Following graduation with a Master of Acupuncture degree, an applicant would then complete the requirements of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine to become fully licensed to practice.