Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine whose origins date back thousands of years. Although at one time it was considered to be a pseudo-science by western medical professionals, the U.S. National Institutes of Health finally conceded, after much evidence was presented, that the procedures worked and had some documented benefits.

Acupuncture treatments are now widely accepted and even recommended by medical professionals. Some insurance policies even cover treatments for a host of conditions, but typically recommend it for pain relief.

THE HISTORY OF ACUPUNCTURE

The first mention of acupuncture treatments comes from a book dating to approximately 100 BC. That book, “The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine,” talks of “channels” that direct the Qi (commonly referred to as a life force) through the body.  It continued to grow in popularity, and 15^th century statutes have been discovered that show the acupuncture points on the body that are still in use by modern practitioners. Today, acupuncturists use many of the same methods and the 365 points that were developed in ancient times.

Amazingly, in 1929 China briefly outlawed acupuncture and other traditional medicines, ostensibly because western medicine was deemed to be more effective. The rise of the Communists in 1949 saw alternative medicine and acupuncture once again permitted, both as a nod to tradition and basically because of the limited access to modern medicine in the post-World War II years. Research institutes into acupuncture and alternative therapies were established in subsequent years.


Although acupuncture had been studied and sometimes practiced in the west for years, its big breakthrough occurred in the 1970s during President Nixon’s historic opening to China. A member of the press corps was treated with acupuncture for a post-operative condition, and wrote about it.  That led to increased interest from western medical professionals and a gradual move toward acceptance as further studies were conducted by the National Institute of Health. 

HOW ACUPUNCTURE WORKS

The process of acupuncture treatment is fairly simple. Acupuncturists use thin needles and insert them into various points on the body, sometimes heating or using electrical current on the tips. They may also use pressure, suction or electromagnetic energy. Once the needles are in place, they are left in for a variable time period, generally no more than 30 minutes, then removed. Many patients report that the procedure is pain-free and leaves them energized or relaxed. You may only need one treatment, but some severe cases may extend treatments for several months.

The use of acupuncture as a medical treatment is growing. The national Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) reported that 3.1 million people tried the method in 2007, up from a million in 2002, the last time the method was surveyed.

WHAT WILL ACUPUNCTURE DO?

Acupuncture works by stimulating the points on the body where sterile needles are inserted. It is hoped that by stimulating these points, which correspond to various organs and locations in the body, that the Qi will be restored to balance. This will ostensibly help “unblock” the energy that is being thwarted in specific locations, thereby restoring the balance (or yin and yang) of your body’s energy, leading to natural healing.


The biggest treatment acknowledged by western medicine is acupuncture’s role in helping to treat pain, but it can also promote digestion, sleep and a general sense of well-being. It helps with the endocrine, nervous, immune and cardiovascular systems, bringing healing energy to those areas that are blocked and in some distress.

Here are six conditions that clinical studies have shown acupuncture can help:

1.     Cancer treatment effects – Many chemotherapy and radiation patients suffer from nausea as a result of treatments. Acupuncture can help with that imbalance, energize a washed-out and listless reaction, help with nausea, and increase the immune system’s battle to right itself.

2.    Headache – Many migraine sufferers have turned to acupuncture treatments for relief.  It is believed that acupuncture can help lengthen the time period between attacks and help make them less severe when they do strike

3.    Chronic pain – Back pain, neck pain and other achy sections of the body are a constant source of anxiety and suffering for the afflicted. Acupuncture can ease symptoms and bring blessed relief to those who have something wrong in sensitive areas.

4.    Women’s reproductive issues – Many women have premenstrual syndrome problems that can cause wild mood swings. Acupuncture can help calm those conditions and can also aid with fertility problems and such menopause issues as insomnia and hot flashes.

5.    Chronic fatigue – This mysterious ailment has perplexed western medicine for decades. Treatments by acupuncturists help chronic fatigue sufferers gain energy to combat the debilitating problems caused by extreme fatigue. It also improves stamina and deals with flu-like symptoms that occur in some patients. Because the traditional Chinese medicine holds that weakened organs are the source of fatigue, it is believed the treatments aid in restoring their vigor.


6.     Asthma - Acupuncture has been used to treat various different respiratory issues, with asthma leading the list. As with migraine headaches, acupuncture treatments can lengthen the time between asthma attacks and help combat their severity when they do occur.

This is by no means a comprehensive list. Acupuncture has been shown by many clinical studies to be of benefit with health problems, including depression, hypertension, knee pain, morning sickness, dentistry pain, stroke, sprains, tennis elbow, sciatica and more.

Talk to your doctor about the possibilities of incorporating the treatment into your schedule of care. It’s also wise to consult your insurance carrier to make sure certain treatments will be covered by your plan.

You can also make a direct appointment with an acupuncture specialist to discuss your needs and devise a plan of treatment. Most will accept insurance plans or work on a cash basis to schedule your treatments. You can find out more about individual practitioners by consulting the licensing board in your state (for example, the State of California Acupuncture Board is the governing body for licensing in that state).  It is best to find a licensed practitioner if you intend on filing an insurance claim, as most insurance plans require that medical professionals have some degree of oversight.