Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine
Acupuncture is a treatment modality that has been used in China and other countries for thousands of years. It is performed by inserting very thin stainless, sterile, disposable, hair-thin needles into the skin at specific locations along the meridians of the human body, these are acupuncture points. Meridians are intricate networks in which “qi”, the vital energy of living beings, travel through. Chinese medicine believes in using acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to restore the balance of the human body, which may have been disrupted by injuries, stress, and disease processes. Acupuncture aims to unblock the flow of qi within the meridians and Chinese herbal medicine aids in regulating the various organ dysfunctions. They work well together to restore the wellness of body and mind.
Currently, western medicine is only beginning to discover the underlying mechanism of how acupuncture works. Its effects have been explained through different frameworks [3], such as the stimulation of the central nervous system, the endocrine system, and the immune system. Some evidence suggests that acupuncture works by increasing the release of endogenous (produced by our own body) endorphins, neurotransmitters, and hormones. Clinically, these help to regulate how our body experiences pain, emotions, and autonomic regulation (blood pressure, blood flow, and temperature, etc.).
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) recognize that acupuncture is proven effective for the following conditions [1, 2]:
Musculoskeletal: Low back pain, Neck pain, Sciatica, Tennis elbow, Knee pain, Peri-arthritis of the shoulder, Sprains, Facial pain, TMJ, Dental pain, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Post-operative pain
Neurological: Stroke, Headache, Migraines, Insomnia
Cardiovascular: Essential hypertension, primary hypotension
Gastrointestinal: Acute and chronic gastritis, Nausea and vomiting, Peptic ulcer
Genitourinary: Induction of labor, Primary dysmenorrhea
Endocrine/Immune: Morning sickness, Leukopenia
Ear, Nose, and Throat: Allergic rhinitis, Hay fever, Tinnitus, Sinusitis
Psychological: Depression, Anxiety
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be used as stand-alone treatments, or with other treatments such as supplements, prescription medication, and/or surgery. Initial visits typically last 1 to 1.5 hours and follow-up visits are usually 45 minutes long. Variation of acupuncture, such as electroacupuncture or trigger point release, may be used to further stimulate these acupuncture points depending on the condition being treated.
References
World Health Organization. Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2003.
“NCCAM Acupuncture Information.” American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), www.medicalacupuncture.org/For-Patients/Articles-By-Physicians-About-Acupuncture/NCCAM-Acupuncture-Information
Chon, T. Y., & Lee, M. C. (2013, October). Acupuncture. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Retrieved January 3, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(13)00513-2/fulltext