The AcuFAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Acupuncture
Acupuncture—one of a number of ancient Chinese medicine practices—can be traced back as far as the Stone Age in China, when stone knives and pointed rocks were used to relieve pain and diseases. They called these instruments bian; its Chinese character meant "stone to treat disease." Later these stones were replaced by needles made of bamboo and slivers of animal bone.
About 3,000 years ago, in the Shang Dynasty, bronze casting techniques made metal needles possible, which conducted electricity (and qi, pronounced “chee,” the bioelectric energy that flows through the body). This led to the mapping of the meridian system, the fourteen "channels" along which energy travels in the human body. The meridians—rather like the copper traces on an electronic circuit board—were named by the life function or body organ associated with them.
Along the meridians are 365 classical acupuncture points, plus 40 commonly used “extra” points that are not associated with any particular meridians. Three millennia of consistent practice have confirmed that skillful insertion of acupuncture needles and manipulation of these points and meridians will produce predictable and verifiable physiological results.
The Big Question: Does It Hurt?
While people who haven’t experienced acupuncture find it hard to believe, acupuncture is virtually painless.
Acupuncture uses small, extremely thin, sterile needles—not at all like the needles used to give injections. Syringes are hollow and stiff and can be painful. Acupuncture needles have tips that are smooth and rounded so they won't cut the skin. The rounded edge pushes the tissue aside, and the needles are so thin (about the thickness of thread or a strand of hair) that they can glide through the space between the individual cells of the body.
Most patients are surprised to find how comfortable they are during an acupuncture treatment and how easily and comfortably the needles are inserted. Some patients even go to sleep during treatment!
When your practitioner inserts a needle, she looks for signs that qi has arrived by any one of a number of signs. You may have different sensations, a feeling of electricity or tingling, a sensation of heat or cold, or a dull heaviness; sometimes you can feel qi running up or down the body or a limb. Once in a great while you may feel a brief sensation like a bee sting, but the feeling passes almost immediately. However, the vast majority of clients report that after a while, they begin to feel a real sense of well-being, almost euphoria.
Is It Safe?
Acupuncture needles were approved by the FDA in 1996, and are regulated so that they must be manufactured to other "single-use standards of sterility." We use pre-sterilized, individually packaged, disposable acupuncture needles which are used only once and then thrown away to ensure absolute control over cross-infection, and we clean the area to be treated with alcohol before any needles are inserted.
One of the great advantages of acupuncture is its safety. Acupuncturists are trained in the exact location, angle, and depth of insertion of the acupuncture needle to avoid any injuries. It is an ideal complementary therapy for people who are already taking medications, because it is drug-free and will not interact adversely with existing prescriptions.
We never needle scar tissue, open wounds, or open sores. Once needles are inserted, you should try to lie still and not make any major movements until the treatment is finished.
How and Why Does Acupuncture Work?
The meridians are like rivers flowing through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues. As long as the energy flows freely through them, health is maintained. But an obstruction in the movement of these meridians is like a dam blocking up a river: when the flow of energy is disturbed for any reason—usually by conditions such as stress, injury, emotional trauma, or infection—there is a disruption in health, resulting in pain or illness.
Acupuncture unblocks the obstructions at the dams, and reestablishes the regular flow through the meridians. Acupuncture treatments help the body's internal organs to correct imbalances in their digestion, absorption, and energy production activities, and in the circulation of their energy through the meridians.
Needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals will either change the experience of pain, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones which influence the body's own internal regulating system. The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture results in stimulating the body's natural healing abilities, and in promoting physical and emotional well-being.
How Long Does Treatment Last?
The average treatment session lasts about an hour: an extensive diagnostic period, then anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes of needling, depending upon the problem being treated. You should allow two hours for the initial intake session, and up to an hour for follow-up visits. We encourage patients not to schedule so tightly that they are stressed out about the time during their appointment.
Some conditions are improved in a single visit (for example, for a sore throat, fever, and body aches); other treatments will involve multiple visits (for example, if you have been suffering from arthritis for the last ten years and you are fifty pounds overweight). The length of treatment depends on the condition, the severity, and the duration of the condition. Moreover, no two conditions or people respond exactly the same. The physical and emotional state of the patient is also important, as well as the compliance with your acupuncturist's instructions and recommendations.
The primary focus of Chinese medicine is on correcting the underlying cause, not simply alleviating symptoms, so acupuncture has a great track record in effecting lasting change.
What Problems Can Be Treated by Acupuncture?
The World Health Organization has stated that acupuncture is suitable for treating many conditions. Please see our separate WHO page for more details.
In addition, acupuncture has been used for centuries in China to treat a host of other problems, such as joint pain, sprains, and strains, stress, skin problems, infertility, sexual dysfunction, PMS, menopause, and most gynecological complaints.
It’s also an extremely effective, drug-free, non-surgical adjunct to cancer treatment, and is particularly helpful in treating the serious side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Moreover, it can successfully treat many autoimmune diseases, and is a powerful tool to ease post-operative pain.
Many other conditions can be treated, too. Among the most responsive are musculoskeletal problems such as sciatica, low back pain and arthritis; circulatory problems like high or low blood pressure, or cold hands and feet; nervous system imbalances, especially anxiety, nervousness, sleeplessness or depression; asthma, allergies and sinus problems; and digestive disorders like Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, diarrhea, and constipation.
We often treat headaches, vertigo, sports and stress injuries, skin problems, immune system disorders, fatigue, and chronic pain. Acupuncture has been found to be especially useful for detoxification from addictive substances such as drugs, alcohol, caffeine, cocaine, heroin and cigarettes.
Acupuncture is particularly effective at treating emotional disorders such as phobias, grief, and anger.
It should be noted that acupuncture is not only good if you are sick. Acupuncture balances the body's systems and promotes good health and well-being. You are then able to handle the stresses of everyday life more easily, and minor health issues can be resolved before they become more deeply rooted problems.
