A Guide To Acupuncture
A Guide To Acupuncture
Every Thing You Need To Know
Acupuncture offers a holistic approach to healing that proves to be an effective and safe method of stimulating the body to heal itself.
Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years throughout all of Asia (Oriental Medicine) including China (Traditional Chinese Medicine). Today, its popularity continues to grow in the modern world with extensive scientific research available to show how it really works.
Its roots may be ancient but with increasing scientific research, there is now a better understanding to answer the following frequently asked questions about acupuncture;
What is Acupuncture?
How Does Acupuncture Really Work?
How do Acupuncturists Choose the Right Points?
How Many Acupuncture Treatments are Needed?
What to Expect During a Treatment?
Does acupuncture hurt?
Is acupuncture safe?
Is Acupuncture right for me?
What is Acupuncture?
Ancient Medicine Supported by Modern Science
Acupuncture is the practice of inserting fine needles into specific points on the body to promote healing and restore balance.
The word "acupuncture" itself comes from Latin, "acu" or "acute", meaning sharp. The word "puncture“ means to penetrate or pierce.
The term acupuncture was coined in the 1680s by the Dutch physician "Willem Ten Rhijne," who was introduced to acupuncture in Japan.
At the time, Europe did not know of the nervous system but Rhijne bought the concept of pathways of energy in the body that control and regulate the body's functions and they can be manipulated by fine needles.
Acupuncture was a term describing the manipulation of the energy pathways inside the body with fine needles differentiating it from other popular skin puncturing techniques like blood letting, scarification, tattooing, and needle cauterization. All these different types of skin puncturing techniques that had popular use in Europe and around the world for thousands of years.
While the term itself is relatively modern, various types of acupuncture have been practiced for over 2,000 years in China and also throughout Asia including Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.
Many may be surprised that there are large amounts of evidence showing acupuncture techniques were used in the Middle East and in Europe up to 3,000 years before Asia.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Activating the body's ability to heal itself
The style of Acupuncture most commonly taught and practiced around the world today is Traditional Chinese Medicine with metaphysical and cultural beliefs that acupuncture stimulates the flow of Qi (pronounced "chee") along pathways called meridians.
According to TCM, blockages or imbalances in Qi can lead to illness and acupuncture is used to restore balance and promote healing.
Science-based acupuncture has currently over 10,000 randomised controlled trials on acupuncture showing acupuncture works in 5 ways:
1. Increases the natural anti-inflammatory chemical adenosine.
2. Decreases transmission of pain signals to the brain through neural mechanisms called Gate Control.
3. Stimulates the release of powerful pain-killing endorphins through a mechanism called diffuse noxious inhibitory control.
4. Stimulates the regeneration and repair of the body's structures through activating the healing cascade.
5. Activates and regulates the nervous system's reflex functions.
Acupuncture stimulates regeneration and repair of the body's structures.
Acupuncture has been shown to stimulate the repair of damaged or degenerated muscles, tendons, fascia, and nerves by inserting thin needles into the area and applying a gentle electrical current which triggers the body’s natural healing response, a process called the wound healing cascade.
The needles activate fibroblast cells to release growth factor, activate collagen production, and attract stem cells to the affected area, promoting tissue regeneration.
Interestingly, acupuncture works similarly to other regenerative therapies like micro-needling (collagen induction therapy), stem cell therapy, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.
These treatments all activate the body’s inherent ability to repair any damaged tissues which are used in cosmetic acupuncture treatments to help rejuvenate the face by reducing wrinkles and increasing skin and muscle tone.
Acupuncture has the ability to stimulate the repair of soft tissue including muscles, tendons, fascia, ligaments, and nerves damaged from trauma, surgery, or repetitive strain.
Acupuncture Activates and regulates the nervous system's functions.
Another way acupuncture works is the insertion of needles into specific neural structures that house biological programs to control and regulate different structures and functions of the body.
Our body’s functions—muscle movement, hormone balance, digestion, pain responses etc. are controlled by programs inside physical structures or the hardware of the nervous system.
By stimulating the acupuncture point structures, their neurological programs housed inside are activated; these programs control and regulate the body's functions.
For example, a Doctor can tap your knee with a small hammer to make your leg jump. This test is called the patellar reflex test, it is used to test for damage to the nerves in the spine and to check the function of the thyroid and the brain.
Inside the knee, there is a small nerve structure called a Golgi Organ, that when physically stimulated with a hammer, activates its programs to contract and relax every muscle in the leg. This golgi organ also communicates with all the other muscles in the body for movement and balance.
The patellar reflex test also gives information about the brain and thyroid function due to neurological connections with the point on the knee.
Acupuncture works by stimulating points not just to test function but also to activate the function. Acupuncture needles retained in these structures for 20 minutes help reset neurological programs that are biologically installed inside the structures of the nervous system.
How Does an Acupuncturist Know to Choose an Acupuncture Point?
What are the Best Acupuncture Points?
Not all acupuncture points in the body are the same type of structure. Acupuncturists are trained to identify specific acupuncture points by training in the anatomy of the body.
Acupuncture points can be approximately identified to an area of the skin, then the Acupuncturist should feel for the correct structure underneath.
Acupuncturists can feel if the point is swollen, fibrous and reactive; effective acupuncture points will be sore when pressed, people do not usually feel an acupuncture point's soreness unless it is pressed.
There are many different acupuncture points that can treat a function or condition. For example, there are over 50 acupuncture points that can treat the stomach, but not all will automatically work for everybody every time.
The success of the acupuncture treatment depends on selecting the right active points for each individual as some will work for some people and not for others.
There are many different theories and systems to help an acupuncturist choose acupuncture points; the most well-known is the Traditional Chinese Medicine system.
This system, created in ancient China and revitalized during the communist revolution focuses on a practitioner asking questions about a patient's signs and symptoms.
They also examine the tongue and feel the pulse. With this information, the person's symptoms are categorized into a condition; there are different sets of acupuncture points set out to use for each different condition.
The points selected for each condition have been determined by historical references or from authorities in China.
Modern research has confirmed that the most effective acupuncture points are transient, i.e. for one person with a digestive problem Stomach 36 (ST36) acupuncture point may be the best option but another person with exactly the same condition having the same signs and symptoms, ST37 may be better.
There is not one acupuncture point that is the best for any particular problem every time with every person, they have to be found on each person by palpation.
Multiple experiments have confirmed the most effective points to treat are those that are "active"—meaning they show increased neural activity or neurogenic inflammation, they also measure a lower electrical resistance.
In a study on 70 cases of gastric ulcers, researchers divided two groups. In group A, each subjects' different, unique "active" points that related to the condition were identified and only these active points were treated.
In group B, acupuncture points from Traditional Chinese medicine (T.C.M.) standard protocols for gastric ulcers were used without testing for reactivity.
The results were that the subjects in group A all had a significant reduction in symptoms and their ulcers healed and their stomachs restored normal function.
Subjects in group B did not have consistent results with some getting a slight reduction of symptoms with others having little to no positive changes.
Experiments specifically with Menstrual Pain, Ovarian Inflammation, Stomach injury, Gastritis, ulcerated colitis, and blood pressure have
found that the acupuncture points for effective treatment show inflammation.
The science of how acupuncture points treat internal organs and glands is explained by neurogenic inflammation traveling along nerves from the stressed organ to the spinal cord where it connects with nerves traveling out to the body inflaming particular neural structures or acupuncture points.
How Many & How often are Treatments Needed
The number of acupuncture treatments needed to address a condition depends on the nature and the severity of the issue. In general:
Acute conditions: less than 3 months old (such as recent injuries or mild pain) may improve after just a few treatments.
Chronic conditions: (such as long-standing pain or illness) often require at least 6 or more sessions to see lasting results.
Recommended frequency of treatments should be at least once per week until symptoms are better. If pain is severe, two to three times per week is better until the condition improves.
Once symptoms are under control, the frequency of treatments can be reduced and occasional "maintenance" sessions may be recommended to keep symptoms at bay.
What should I expect during a treatment?
How an Acupuncture Treatment Feel
A person should never feel discomfort from the needles during a treatment and should tell the acupuncturist so it can be adjusted, it is normal for a person to deeply relax or fall asleep during the treatment.
The relaxed feeling can continue with the patient for hours to weeks after the treatment. Sensations of floating, euphoria, tingling, and heaviness can be felt around the acupuncture points during the treatment and are normal to feel.
The reduction of pain may be felt immediately in the acupuncture session and may continue to reduce for several days after. Acute conditions of pain may reduce permanently after each treatment not to return unless reinjured.
Chronic and severe pain may take several treatments to feel any significant changes in pain and relief may last only for several days but with ongoing treatment, the intensity of pain reduces more, relief lasts longer, and the pain begins to return less severe after each treatment.
Before a treatment it is important not to fast and to have eaten at least 8 hours beforehand or low blood sugar symptoms/ light headedness can occur immediately after.
It is recommended not to do any vigorous exercise for at least 24 hours after an acupuncture session, individuals should not do any activities that aggravate the condition until improved.
Does Acupuncture Hurt?
One of the most common concerns for newcomers is if acupuncture hurts. The thought of needles might sound intimidating, but acupuncture is generally considered to be a painless therapy.
At Acupuncture Clermont, we use high-quality, ultra-thin needles made in Japan and Korea that have a desensitizing tube that makes acupuncture more comfortable.
When the needle is inserted into the point a slight pinch or pressure on the skin may be felt for a second. Afterwards, there should be no pain or discomfort from the needle when in position.
Many patients report feeling a mild sensation, such as a slight tingling or warmth, when the needles are inserted in some cases, but most people forget them and feel a deep sense of relaxation or even sleep during the treatment.
Is Acupuncture Safe?
Pregnancy, medications, and side effects
Acupuncture is very safe when performed by a licensed and experienced Acupuncturist.
At Acupuncture Clermont, we adhere to the highest standards of safety, including using only disposable needles and following strict infection control practices.
Acupuncture is safe to use with any type of medication, to use during pregnancy, or whilst ongoing I.V.F. treatment. In fact, acupuncture is very effective to help treat infertility and also used to improve the success of I.V.F working.
An Aupuncturist should work with other therapies and medications and refer you for further care if necessary.
Is Acupuncture right for you?
Finding an Acupuncturist Near You
Acupuncture offers a natural, safe, drug-free way to manage pain, stress, and address a variety of conditions. Whether you are looking to treat a specific ailment or simply reboot your mind and body, acupuncture could be an effective and holistic option for you.
If you are new to acupuncture, rest assured that Acupuncture Clermont practices safe, evidence-based Acupuncture and natural therapies with a rich history and modern scientific backing.
With regular treatments, you can expect to experience improvements in both mental, physical, and functional well-being.
If you’re interested in giving acupuncture a try, don’t hesitate to reach out and schedule a consultation to learn more about the benefits of Acupuncture.