The ancient Chinese discovered about 1,000 spots on the body where acupuncture helps relieve pain. These are called acupoints. All acupoints are close to specific nerves or muscle- tendon spots. They are arranged into 12 paired groups called meridians. The names given to these groupings are bladder, large intestine, liver, lung, pericardium, small intestine, spleen, stomach, triple warmer, gallbladder, heart and kidney. There are two midline meridians called governing vessel and conception vessel. Classical acupuncturists believe that these acupoints have an effect on one organ or organ system.
To do acupuncture, a fine, stainless steel, two-inch needle is inserted into an acupoint. This action increases the endorphin level at the spot and in the blood. The needle piercing the skin gives little or no pain. It is left in place for 15 minutes, with or without manipulation. Sometimes the area is stimulated using a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machine.
In China, acupuncture is a remedy for a wide range of problems such as acne, eczema, fainting, allergies, asthma, Bell's palsy, anxiety, hypertension, fever, obesity, nausea, vertigo and impotence. The list goes on! Headaches, backaches, sciatica, knee sprains, shoulder bursitis, tendonitis, sinusitis, arthritis, and a host of other aches and pains receive the attention of the acupuncturist.
Recently, acupuncture has been used in patients trying to stop drug habits, such as nicotine and cocaine addiction. When it is used to help people stop smoking, a small patch with a metal ball is placed in the ear. Between acupuncture sessions pressure on the patch may decrease the urge for a cigarette.
The most popular use of acupuncture is for control of pain. In China, acupuncture is used as an anesthetic for certain operations. Dentists use acupuncture for pain control. In Canada, the most popular uses for acupuncture are back pains, headaches, neck aches and the desire to stop smoking.
Like other treatments in medicine, acupuncture has limitations. It will not cure diseases such as cancer, AIDS, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, arthritis, multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer's disease. However, it can reduce pain. When pain is part of these conditions it can improve the patient's quality of life.
For those who do not like needles, acupressure is available. Instead of a needle, the tip of a thumb is pressed deep into the point. A particularly useful point is at the midpoint of the triangle of flesh, on the back of the hand, between the thumb and index knuckles. Acupressure to a spot on the large intestine meridian for five to 10 seconds is used to ease headaches.
Acupressure does not relieve symptoms as well as acupuncture. Its major advantage is that it is a treatment that can be done quickly in a person's own home. An acupuncture study done in Toronto showed patients had a distinct improvement in 85 per cent of headaches, 81.5 per cent of low back pain, 80.8 per cent of arthritic spondylitic inflammatory pain, 61.5 per cent of other pains, and 67 per cent of nonpainful conditions. Sixty per cent of patients quit smoking after electroacupuncture treatments.
The side effects and complications from acupuncture are few. Mild bruising and occasional low blood pressure are the most common ill effects. Use of disposable needles removes the risk of spreading diseases such as AIDS, hepatitis and abscesses. Poor blood clotting ability or an allergy to steel would make people unable to take acupuncture. TENS machines should not be used in patients with epilepsy. Specific acupoints that start uterine contractions should not be used in pregnancy.
Despite having its origins in the Taoist philosophy of yin and yang, acupuncture does have a place in Western medicine. It is a safe, helpful alternative treatment. Several provincial health care programs have recently agreed to cover acupuncture as a recognized treatment. People looking for doctors that practice acupuncture can ask their family physician.