Acupuncture has a history of over 3,000 years. Acupuncture utilizes fine needles made of metal, usually steel but sometimes gold or silver needles, to treat various sicknesses by inserting them through the skin into one or several points of the body. The needles will remain in a static state or be manipulated according to the healing principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Sometimes, mostly to treat a pain condition, needles will be connected with low DC currents to apply for a stronger stimulation. The needles will be withdrawn about twenty minutes later to complete a treatment. During treatment patient is asked to relax and maintain to a stable posture. He or she might breath calmly and lightly during the needling. The treatment is so comfortable many patients fall into sleep during treatment.

WHAT ARE ACUPUNCTURE POINTS?

Energies of the human body are circling through their particular path, called Meridians, and the points (acupuncture points) are typically located along the meridian. It is believed that the points represents the areas collecting more energies because they might be the crossing point of two meridians or link to a particular organ or located at the end of the meridian which can receive direct outside stimulation. There are 365 traditional points on one side of the body. There are also numerous extra points and ear points. Since the points are usually located near the joints, close to the bone edges and rather superficially, one might look at them as Receptors as described by modern microanatomy.

HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?

The classical explanation of Traditional Chinese Medicine is that meridians in the body are like rivers flowing through the body transporting the energy (Chi or Qi in Chinese) to irrigate and nourish the tissues. An obstruction in the movement of these meridians (river of chi) is like a dam that backs up the flow in one part of the body and restricts it in others. Sickness of organ or pain over certain part of the body will then occur.
When the acupuncture needles sticks into the points of the meridians it can stir up the Chi and unblock the obstruction at the dams and re-establish the regular flow of Chi through the meridians. Acupuncture treatments therefore help the body's internal organs to correct imbalances of productive activities and in the regular circulation of their energy through the meridians.
The explanation of modern science is that needling the acupuncture points stimulates the mid brain or autonomic nervous system to release chemical substances in the smooth or striate muscles, the neurons and the post neuronal fibers. These chemical substances, such as well-known morphine-like substance endorphin, will either change the experience of pain or they will trigger the release of other chemicals or hormones which influence the body's own internal regulation system.
The improved energy and chemical substance produced by acupuncture results in stimulating the body's natural healing abilities and in promoting physical and emotional well-being.

IS ACUPUNCTURE SAFE? PAINFUL?

The needles used for acupuncture treatment are sterilized and disposable. They are made by fine steel and flexible about the diameter of a human hair. The tip of the needle is round and solid. The needle made for injection is the large diameter, hollow shift and sharp cutting tip with which caused pain particularly during the medicine being forced into the tissue by pressure. In most cases, inserting the acupuncture needle by a skilled practitioner is performed with a minimal discomfort.

ARE THERE ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS TO ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT?

Usually not.
Most of the Acupuncturist use disposable acupuncture needles so that infections would not be a problem. The acupuncture needles are different from injection needles by their thin caliber and round closed tip. With these needles small nerve or muscle fibers could be pushed away during inserting instead of by being punched into.
During needling patients usually experiences no pain and would only feel a sensation of fullness, dullness or soreness around the site of insertion. Actually if acupuncture is to achieve its maximum effect it is necessary to obtain a "needling sensation" (gaining of energy, Dei-Chi in Chinese) over each acupuncture point that is used. The needling sensation may also travel up or down the channel being treated and it is a good sign of moving of Chi.

HOW DOES A PATIENT RESPOND TO ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENTS?

The response to acupuncture treatment is variable and depends on the sensitivity of patient's body and the serious of the sickness. Of course the duration of the sickness is another factor influencing the effect of treatment. Occasionally, one treatment is all that is required, while other people may need a number of treatments to gain the same result for the same sickness. In general, most people and their problems, do not respond magically to one treatment, and mostly people obtain the best results from acupuncture between four to eight sessions of treatment.
For the chronic disease, acupuncture usually works in stages. The first two or three treatments represent a stage of "understating", from which to assess the specific requirements for that person in that particular condition. In the following treatments, the acupuncturist would have to add or delete certain needling points, subject to the response of the first stage. Many times additional treatment methods are also considered, such as moxibustion or cupping, in order to booster the effect of treatment. If a patient may respond to a particular approach for a specific condition and stop improving half way through treatment, an alterative approach will be needed to treat that condition.
Sometimes the patient may experience a temporary worsening of symptoms due to acupuncture, and actually this is one kind of response to treatment of which Chi is moving by treatment. This reaction would only last for a short time and usually followed by improvement.
Occasionally the patient will not find it easy to remember exactly what the condition was like at the first treatment and this can create a misinterpretation that the condition is not improving. So, it is wise to keep a diary and assess the daily changes that are arising in the condition being treated. Referring back to the record sheet of treatment written by the acupuncturist surely is another good way.

OTHER ADDITION TREATMENT MODALITIES

There are a number of other treatment modalities used in conjunction with Acupuncture to treat the patients.
Electro-acupuncture is a way using an electrical stimulator connected to the acupuncture needle to excite the energy under the points. It is a substitution of hand manipulation for gaining of needle sensation. The electric stimulator releases intermittent impulses of irregular intervals into the body. The intensity of electric impulse can be adjusted to the tolerance of the patient. Electro-acupuncture is very effective to the treatment of acute pain and drug detoxification.

Moxibustion, is a deep heat therapy using the Moxa which is make by the herb Folium Herba Artemisiae (Mugwort leaf). Burning Moxa can be applied on top of the acupuncture needle to introduce the heat energy deep into the tissue. This is called "Warm needle technique". Moxibustion can apply "directly" on the point or close to the skin in a distance. Moxibustion can also apply "indirectly" on the skin with protective and curative items such as salt, ginger, and aconite.
The heat energy of the Moxa will push the Chi (energy) in the body to promote healing. The Moxibustion is very effective against certain type of disease, such as cough, arthritis, diarrhea, of which are caused by cold attack.

Cupping is a technique utilizes glass or plastic "cup" and vacuum inside the cup while they are applying on the patient's skin surface. There is one technique called "Walking cup". The therapeutist moves the cup along the Meridian during treatment. Cupping has documentation attesting its effectiveness. It is especially effective treatment modality for chronic cold disease and muscle disease in the back. It might leave markings but will go away within a couple of days.

Bleeding method is a technique utilizes thick needle or blade to punch the skin inducing mild bleeding. It usually works on the tip of the fingers or the ear. This technique many times use in case of emergency such as stroke or heat condition such as high fever.