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ACUPUNCTURE: Dispelling
the Myths
Jennifer A. Walz, L.Ac., RMT
Acupuncture, an important component of Traditional Chinese Medicine,
has been effectively used to treat a wide variety of health conditions for thousands of years. It consists of the
insertion of very fine needles into prescribed points on the body with the intention of balancing the qi or vital
life force energy. If a person's qi is in balance and flowing properly, disease conditions and pain cannot exist.
Laws regarding acupuncture vary widely from state to state.
In California for instance, a licensed acupuncturist can be a primary care provider and is eligible to be fully
covered by health insurance, whereas in some less progressive states acupuncture is not recognized at all.
In Texas, after completion of a three-year intensive program
of study and clinical internship, a person is now eligible to sit for the examinations in acupuncture and Chinese
herbology given by the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists, and be licensed by the state
of Texas following a review by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners. Some medical doctors and chiropractors
also choose to use acupuncture within their practice.
Although acupuncture has been commonly used in the United States
for many years, it is just becoming more widely known in this area lately, perhaps due to positive media exposure.
Since this form of medicine is still somewhat unfamiliar to many here, several misconceptions about it exist.
One of the more common misconceptions is that acupuncture works
solely by producing endorphins, a chemical released by the body which has an opiate-like effect and therefore reduces
pain. Although some points do cause endorphins to be released, the effects of acupuncture are much wider and greater
than this alone. Through years of research, acupuncture treatments have been proven to have positive effects on
virtually every organ system and can be used to treat far more than pain syndromes .
Acupuncture has been used successfully to treat conditions ranging
from the common cold to more serious ones such as hepatitis, diabetes, asthma, infertility and ulcers.
In pain conditions, such as sciatica, acupuncture does not merely
mask the pain, but actually works to relieve the blockage and inflammation that is causing the pain. It is a holistic
treatment that seeks to treat the cause, not just the symptoms.
The greatest fear surrounding trying acupuncture for most people
is the anticipation that it will hurt. In reality there is usually very little discomfort during most acupuncture
treatments and sometimes none at all. The needles that are used are very thin, some about the width of two hairs;
and they are solid, so unlike hollow hypodermic needles, they do not tear the flesh.
It is important to know beforehand what kind of technique a
practitioner uses. Some practitioners believe that getting a very strong sensation upon the insertion of the needle
is necessary. This is known as the "arrival of qi "and since it is an unfamiliar sensation to most Westerners,
it might be interpreted as pain. Other practitioners do not believe that this sensation is necessary at all and
insert the needles very shallowly and do not manipulate them once they are in. Both methods have proven to get
positive results.
Many people are also concerned about the sterility of the needles
themselves. In the past, it was common for acupuncturists to sterilize needles in an autoclave and use the same
ones over and over. However, beginning around 1987, when the national concern about infectious diseases began to
rise, most practitioners switched to disposable needles. These are sterilized needles which are packaged individually
or in small units of five or ten and are only opened at the time of the treatment. After being used once, they
are immediately placed into a medical waste container for proper disposal. All practitioners licensed today have
to also pass a separate exam, in addition to the written exam, demonstrating knowledge and practice of Clean Needle
Technique, which maintains the sterility of the needles.
As in any health care profession, it is essential that you find a practitioner you can build a rapport with. A
good practitioner should be glad to discuss his or her training with you and take the time to discuss your condition
so it can be decided whether acupuncture is appropriate for you.
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