About Acupuncture
The term "acupuncture" describes a family of procedures involving the
stimulation of anatomical points on the body using a variety of techniques. The
acupuncture technique that has been most often studied scientifically involves
penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by
the hands or by electrical stimulation.
Practiced in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years, acupuncture
is one of the key components of traditional Chinese medicine. In TCM, the body
is seen as a delicate balance of two opposing and inseparable forces. Yin
represents the cold, slow, or passive principle, while yang represents the hot,
excited, or active principle. According to TCM, health is achieved by
maintaining the body in a "balanced state"; disease is due to an internal
imbalance of yin and yang. This imbalance leads to blockage in the flow of qi
(vital energy) along pathways known as meridians. Qi can be unblocked, according
to TCM, by using acupuncture at certain points on the body that connect with
these meridians. Sources vary on the number of meridians, with numbers ranging
from 14 to 20. One commonly cited source describes meridians as 14 main channels
"connecting the body in a weblike interconnecting matrix" of at least 2,000
acupuncture points.
Acupuncture became better known in the United States in 1971, when New York
Times reporter James Reston wrote about how doctors in China used needles to
ease his pain after surgery. American practices of acupuncture incorporate
medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries.
Acupuncture use in the United States
The report from a Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture held at the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1997 stated that acupuncture is being
"widely" practiced—by thousands of physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, and
other practitioners—for relief or prevention of pain and for various other
health conditions. According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, which
included a comprehensive survey of CAM use by Americans, an estimated 3.1
million U.S. adults and 150,000 children had used acupuncture in the previous
year. Between the 2002 and 2007 NHIS, acupuncture use among adults increased by
three-tenths of 1 percent (approximately 1 million people).
Acupuncture Side Effects and Risks
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates acupuncture needles for
use by licensed practitioners, requiring that needles be manufactured and
labeled according to certain standards. For example, the FDA requires that
needles be sterile, nontoxic, and labeled for single use by qualified
practitioners only.
Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture have been reported to
the FDA, in light of the millions of people treated each year and the number of
acupuncture needles used. Still, complications have resulted from inadequate
sterilization of needles and from improper delivery of treatments. Practitioners
should use a new set of disposable needles taken from a sealed package for each
patient and should swab treatment sites with alcohol or another disinfectant
before inserting needles. When not delivered properly, acupuncture can cause
serious adverse effects, including infections and punctured organs.
Status of Acupuncture Research
There have been many studies on acupuncture's potential health benefits for a
wide range of conditions. Summarizing earlier research, the 1997 NIH Consensus
Statement on Acupuncture found that, overall, results were hard to interpret
because of problems with the size and design of the studies.
In the years since the Consensus Statement was issued, the National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has funded extensive research to
advance scientific understanding of acupuncture. Some recent NCCAM-supported
studies have looked at:
- Whether acupuncture works for specific health conditions such as
chronic low-back pain, headache, and osteoarthritis of the knee
- How acupuncture might work, such as what happens in the brain
during acupuncture treatment
- Ways to better identify and understand the potential neurological
properties of meridians and acupuncture points
- Methods and instruments for improving the quality of acupuncture
research
What To Expect from Acupuncture Visits
During your first office visit, the practitioner may ask you at length about
your health condition, lifestyle, and behavior. The practitioner will want to
obtain a complete picture of your treatment needs and behaviors that may
contribute to your condition. Inform the acupuncturist about all treatments or
medications you are taking and all medical conditions you have.
Acupuncture needles are metallic, solid, and hair-thin. People experience
acupuncture differently, but most feel no or minimal pain as the needles are
inserted. Some people feel energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed.
Improper needle placement, movement of the patient, or a defect in the needle
can cause soreness and pain during treatment. This is why it is important to
seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture practitioner.
Treatment may take place over a period of several weeks or more.
For more information please see our specialists Taya Volin, click
here to see her profile.
