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28.2%ANMag Issue 21 Global Awareness
Pinpoint Acupuncture
By Salwa Zahabi, Staff Writer
Beirut, Lebanon - Acupuncture is listed as one of the main branches of traditional Chinese medicine. Information on acupuncture dates back to the period when stone needles were discovered (3,000 B.C.). Those needles are now considered as property of the Korean National Museum.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical procedure for unblocking chi (ch'i or qi) by inserting needles in some areas of the body to balance the contrasting forces of Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang symbolizes the balance of energy in nature. Yin symbolizes soft and light feminine characteristics, whereas Yang symbolizes hard and dark masculine characteristics. When our bodies are not in harmony, the Yin and Yang aspects are out of balance. The insertion of acupuncture needles regulates the flow of Chi (Ki) energy through major areas on a series of twelve major pathways or meridians that channel this energy.
Auriculotherapy or ear acupuncture is one of the variations of traditional acupuncture. There is a Chinese belief that the ear is the map of the bodily organs and that there are points there that relate to the acupuncture points of the entire body. Weight loss can be treated by ear acupuncture by inserting a staple into a certain part of the ear and leaving it there until the desired weight loss is achieved.
Su Jok is another style of acupuncture therapy that focuses on the treatment of illnesses by concentrating only on hands and feet. Some of the common illnesses that can be treated by Su Jok acupuncture include headaches, nausea, constipation, sexual disorders, and addiction to alcohol, nicotine and heroin.
Plastic Acupuncture, abbreviated as (PAc), is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine Cosmetology (TCMC). Plastic Acupuncture provides results over a number of treatments (often up to 12 sessions). The patient is required to fill a health questionnaire, and the treatment area is examined to determine suitability of the procedure. In addition to the needle placement, specific Chinese herbal medicines and creams are prescribed to help or accelerate in the cosmetic change process.
Acupuncture has many different styles. Korean acupuncture uses points on the hand, while Japanese acupuncture suggests fewer and finer needles inserted at shallower depths.
Acupuncture needles are metallic, solid, and hair-thin. When the needles are inserted, there is minimal pain experienced by patients. Some people are energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed. Today, the needles are twirled, heated, or even stimulated with weak electrical current, ultrasound, or certain wavelengths of light. Chinese needles are inserted into human body (usually wrists, ankles, feet, back and abdomen) at more than 350 points. The procedure lasts for approximately 20 minutes while the patient rests, and then the needles are removed. Practitioners manipulate and twirl the needles with special techniques, stimulating the energy flows and promoting healing and pain relief.
Acupuncture can be a risky method because there have been some reports of lung and bladder punctures, some broken needles, and some allergic reactions to needles containing substances other than surgical steel. Improper needle placement, movement of the patient, or a defect in the needle can cause soreness and pain during treatment. Inadequate sterilization of needles can cause serious adverse effects, including infections and punctured organs.
In order to practice acupuncture, formal training and certification are required. There are a set of rigorous training standards, which were set by the United States. Most states require a three-to-five-year Masters degree in Oriental Medicine from an accredited acupuncture school and issue a written and practical state board exam, before an acupuncturist can become licensed.
An acupuncturist or Chinese herbalist starts by asking the patient of the symptoms, then s/he checks his tongue and feels his/her pulse in order to determine the specific combination of points and to prescribe the right treatment such as the type of acupuncture along with some herbs that a person needs. Neurologists, anesthesiologists, and specialists in physical medicine are undergoing proper training in the field of acupuncture.
The major role of Chinese medicine is treating specific symptoms that are unique to each patient using a range of procedures such as acupuncture, Chinese herbs, dietary recommendations and bodily exercises to restore health in the body. Modern medicine should be used hand in hand with acupuncture and Chinese herbs in order to treat illnesses. We should learn more about the benefits of Asian medicine, and we should have the benefits of experiencing such a deep synthesis of modern medicine and ancient methods.