ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture is a non-drug, non-invasive therapy that
may produce a variety of benefits—from pain management
to helping with nausea associated with
chemotherapy. According to the 2002 National Health
Interview Survey, an estimated 8.2 million Americans
have been to an acupuncturist, and an estimated 2.1
million U.S. adults used acupuncture in the previous
year. Since the use of acupuncture has spread widely in
the U.S. in the past 20 years, researchers are studying
the benefits of acupuncture for many conditions, including
low-back pain, headaches, and osteoarthritis of the
knee.
Acupuncture may be useful as an independent treatment
for some conditions, but it can also be used as a
complement to other healthcare therapies.
The philosophy of acupuncture
One of the oldest healing arts, acupuncture originated in
China and other Asian countries thousands of years
ago. Acupuncture practitioners believe that all illness is
caused from interference with the flow of energy, also
called chi, and imbalance of two opposing and complementary
forces within the body: yin, the cold and passive
aspect, and yang, the hot, active, and excited
aspect.
To restore the balance between yin and yang and to
unblock chi, acupuncture stimulates specific points of
the body through several techniques, including insertion
of hair-thin metal needles through the skin. In Chinese
medicine, chi is believed to flow through pathways
(meridians) in the body, which are accessible through
more than 350 acupuncture points. Western medicine
explains the effect of acupuncture through stimulating
nerves, muscles, and connective tissue, which
increases the body’s natural activity to regulate pain and
increase blood flow.
Before your visit
• Ask your doctor of chiropractic or another
health care provider for a referral. Some
doctors of chiropractic practice acupuncture,
too.
• Ask people you trust for recommendations.
• Check online referral listings of national
acupuncture organizations.
• Check the acupuncturist’s credentials. A
license is required to practice acupuncture;
however, education and training standards, as
well as license-obtaining requirements, vary
among states. Most states require non-physician
acupuncturists to pass an exam through
the National Certification Commission for
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
• Interview the provider. Ask what the treatment
involves, how likely it is to be effective for your
condition, and how much it will cost.
• Check with your insurance company to find out
if the treatment is covered by your insurance.
During your visit
During your first office visit, the acupuncture
practitioner may ask you for details related to your
health condition, lifestyle, and behavior. Be sure to tell
the provider about all treatments or medications you are
taking and all conditions you have. Ask how many visits
the treatment will take approximately.
While acupuncture providers may have different styles,
a typical visit—which usually lasts about 30 minutes—
includes an exam and assessment of your condition,
insertion of needles, and advice on home care. Before
the needles are placed, you will lie down on a comfortable
surface face down, face up, or on your side,
depending on where the needles will be inserted.
Usually the procedure isn’t painful; however, you may
feel a brief, sharp sensation when the needle is inserted
and when it reaches the correct depth. Sometimes, the
needles are gently moved or stimulated with electricity
or heat. Each treatment may require the insertion of as
many as 12 needles, which stay in place for 5 to 20 minutes.
Benefits and risks
Just as with other therapies, acupuncture has benefits
and risks. On the benefit side, acupuncture:
• Has few side effects
• Can be a useful complement to other therapies
• Is becoming widely available
• Helps control certain types of pain
If you have a bleeding disorder or are taking blood thinners,
acupuncture may not be for you.
Acupuncture treatment is experienced differently by different
people—some report feeling energized by treatment;
others feel relaxed. Most report feeling no or minimal
pain from the insertion of the needles. Soreness
and pain during treatment can result from improper
needle placement, a defect in the needle, or the movement
of the patient. Some experience bleeding or bruising
at the needle sites.
If acupuncture is not provided by a properly qualified
practitioner, however, potentially serious side effects
can occur. Acupuncture needles, which are regulated by
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, should be sterile
and non-toxic, and should come in single-use packages
labeled for use by qualified providers only. Some
complications have been reported from inadequately
sterilized needles. Inappropriately delivered treatment
can result in infections and injured organs. These risks,
however, are low when acupuncture is provided by a
competent, certified practitioner..
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