Hazel Tree Holistic Health

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the insertion of thin filiform needles to a combination of acupoints, decided upon individually for each patient, on a patient’s body with the goal of rebalancing energy and engendering health.  The best way to think about acupuncture and balance is to think about a typical FM radio.  If you want to listen to channel 107.5 and you happen to be on 107.4 or 107.6, you can still hear the song or program you would like to hear.  The further away you get from the proper frequency, the more static is heard, or a completely different frequency comes through.  Complete health of the body relies on the bodies ability to maintain 107.4 - 107.6 station.  It is less important to maintain a steady 107.5.  The body is adept at slightly adjusting according to varying conditions.  However, sometimes the imbalance slips too far and only static is heard.  A quick retuning is all that is needed to reset the station and continue listening in harmony.

How does acupuncture work?

In Chinese medical theory, acupuncture works by balancing the body’s Qi. Qi can be described as a form of bioenergy that runs along 12 major meridians. If Qi gets blocked, it shows up as an imbalance or illness. Basically, if you have a health condition, some part of your body’s system is out of whack. Chinese medical theory allows us to diagnose the imbalance… and balance it.

In Western medical theory, acupuncture appears to work by stimulating parts of the brain. It also stimulates the body to release natural biomolecules such as neurotransmitters, vasodilators, and hormones. The exact mechanisms which brings this about are unknown, but the effects are measurable.

A good example of this is the use of acupuncture to induce labor. One of the first things that Oriental medical students learn is that there are a few points that are absolutely forbidden to use with pregnant women. These points cause the release of oxytocin, which is the hormone that naturally induces labor. Studies have shown that using acupuncture to induce labor reduces the active (painful) phase of labor by an average of 3.6 hours.

How many needles will be used and where will they be placed?

The amount of needles used per treatment will vary between as little as 4 and as many as 15.  For a complete mapping of acupuncture points, channel by channel, please visit Acuxo, click on Acupuncture Points and feel free to browse.  Please note that not all of these points are used on a regular basis.  The most common areas for needle insertion include:

• areas below elbows and knees
• back
• abdomen
• ears

Do acupuncture needles hurt?

Most people barely feel a thing when needles are inserted. Some people feel a slight pinch, and others ask “Is it in yet?” The reason acupuncture needles don’t give the painful sensation you might expect is because they’re very, very thin in comparison to the hypodermic needles used to give injections. Hypodermic needles are necessarily hollow so that the shot can be injected. They also have a very blunt point (actually a wedge shape) in comparison to an acupuncture needle. Forty acupuncture needles can fit into the tip of one standard 18 gauge hypodermic needle.

There are certain sensations associated with the therapeutic effects of acupuncture, which are known as de qi (pronounced “day-chee”). These may include slight cramping, heaviness, distention, tingling or electric sensation traveling along a meridian. If any discomfort is experienced, it is usually mild.

Is acupuncture safe?

Acupuncture is very safe. The average liability coverage for an acupuncturist is about $600 per year, while primary care physicians pay an average of $12,000 per year. That’s a 20:1 difference. While this may not translate into exactly a 20 to 1 difference in safety, a visit to an acupuncturist is at least as safe as a visit to your doctor, if not safer.

Acupuncture needles are extremely safe, because they are pre-sterilized, individually packaged, and disposable. Every practitioner gets extensive training in anatomy so as to avoid accidentally inserting a needle in a place that can cause damage.

Do I have to believe in it for it to work? Does acupuncture always work?

Acupuncture and herbs work whether you believe in them or not. Good results are seen in the majority of cases. When all other treatment methods have failed, this indicates a systematic imbalance - exactly what acupuncture and herbs excel at treating.  Also, as noted in Caitlin’s blog, the most important factor in healing is not necessarily belief in the particular medical system being used, but the belief that health and healing are possible.  This is most often noted with cancer patients, whose best indicator for treatment success is they attitude they take to their own bodies and health.