Acupuncture: Chinese Medicine
As with all things we know little about there is quite a bit of mystery
surrounding acupuncture. The part people see the most is a person with needles
sticking out of their flesh. Understandably being wary of sharp pointed objects
being wielded by a complete stranger, this is often an obstacle that needs to
be over come. The best way to do this is by becoming educated about how
acupuncture is performed, where it came from, what it does, some of the
benefits vs. the problems, and the different views about it. Though out the
many different texts on acupuncture you find there is room for interpretation
on how to perform it, what to use, and even where the pressure is placed. One
thing you will find in common among these texts is this, acupuncture works to
varying degrees.
The earliest recordings of the use of acupuncture go back 2,000 years. In China
it is widely expressed that it has been in use for 4,000 years. The origins go
back as early as the Stone Age where abscesses were punctured by sharp stones
or bone fragments. ( History ) When you experience pain it is an instinctive
reaction to apply pressure to that location. Such as when you get a toothache.
Also the body may experience pain where the infection is not localized. Your
body naturally sends you warning signals that something is wrong. The Ancient
Chinese utilized these warnings, and developed an intricate system of these
points over time through observation. It is easy to infer that applying
pressure to relive pain with your hands evolved into the use of needles
instead.
Tortoise shells have been found and dated back to 1500 B.C. – during the Shang
Dynasty - recording the use of acupuncture. The first actual written text
acclaiming acupuncture is called Nei Ching Su Wen. It is written into two basic
sections. The Su Wen, or easy questions and the Lung Shu, or hard questions.
This book basically lays out all the different points, but it is mostly a book
on concept and theory. The Nei Ching Su Wen lays the basic rules of philosophy
and treaties on health. These philosophies branched form two mainstream
religions that abounded during the Warring States period in Chinese history.
The first is Confucianism. The teachings of this “ religion “ stress that the
body is scared and are against dissection or surgery. This makes acupuncture a
perfect means of curing ales because by applying pressure to the external body,
you can relieve internal disease. The other major train of thought is called
Taoism. In this pool of thought comes the idea of Yin and Yang. Maintaining
harmony is the stressed idea; you must have a balance between the forces at
work. Interconnection of all things is also very important to the theory of how
acupuncture works. The passive, nonviolent theme is promoted, thus supporting
the external use of small needles. The unique way the diagnosis is made stems
from an emphasis on detailed observation. Thus acupuncture is a process, which
is not merely clinical. ( History )
The European definition for acupuncture means needle pressure. Acupuncture is
really a Dutch term coined by William Ten Rhyne in the 17th century. ( history
) In china acupuncture is represented by the character ‘ Chen”. Which means to
“prick with a needle.“ ( History ) There are many different ways to apply the
pressure. It is not necessary to use the needles, often is more effective to
use your fingers. ( Leong 72 ) There is a method called Moxibustion, which is
the use of heat by itself or in combination with needles. An acupuncturist will
use the dried leaves of Artemisia vulgaris. This method used to leave scarring,
now it is utilized by burning a small cone on specific points, or heating the
needle before insertion. ( Leong 87 ) Friction, suction, or impulses of
electromagnetic energy may also be used to stimulate acupuncture points. (
Alternative )
Of all the different techniques they all use the same points. The organs they
help connect these points. All the points connected like a dot-to-dot pattern
are called a meridian. There are fourteen main meridians, and these are
connected by smaller meridians. ( Chaitow 21 ) There are also five main
elements and organs that are connected by these meridians. These are fire (
heart ), earth ( spleen ) , metal ( lung ) , water ( kidney ) , wood ( liver).
The two cycles of the elements are called Sheng ( creation ) and K’O ( control
). These cycles work much like paper, rock , and scissors. In the Sheng cycle
wood feeds fire, fire makes ashes, earth makes metal, metal defined as slime,
and water , so metal makes water. There is another cycle, but it is not the
reverse of the first. It’s meaning is opposing, not the order in which it
flows. Water puts out fire, metal cuts wood, wood plows earth, earth dams
water. The Sheng cycle is circle shaped, and the K’O cycle is star shaped. (
Leong 51 )
The traditional Chinese view of acupuncture is based on trial and error over
hundreds of years, and a lot of symbolic representation. The meridians ( or
channels ) run in regular patterns over the surface of the body. They irrigate
and give nourishment to the body. Any obstruction of this flow of Yin and Yang
must be unblocked by applying pressure to certain points. ( How ) Some of the
different qualities given to Yang are : plus, hot, light, man, and the tendency
to grow outward. Some of the symptoms of Yang are : pain, burning, spasms, over
activity, excess. Some of the qualities of Yin are minus, cold, dark, women,
tendency to shrink inward. The symptoms of Yin are : paralysis, cold, laxity,
under activity, and deficiency. The sum of the Yin and Yang are equal to zero
or Tao. ( Leong 19 )
The Yin and Yang go along with the traditional approach to acupuncture. One of
unique ways to diagnoses people is that they use pulse. There are six veins I
your wrist and depending on how fast or slow your heart beats in each vein
determines what aliment you have. Acupuncturists also take into account how you
look, your skin color – yellow or pale – and your bearing. They also listen
very attentively to your heart, tone of voice, breathing pattern. They also ask
many questions, they want to know who you are so they known who they’re
treating them. ( Leong 19 )
The skeptics are found in the west, because most western countries don’t have
the background and origin of acupuncture they do not rely on the ancient
reasoning behind why the meridians work. The truth is no one really knows why
acupuncture works. There are many complicated theories dealing with
electromagnetic forces. A curious incident worth noting that came up with a
good theory is when Professor Robert Becker was performing an experiment where
he measured the conductivity of electricity through different points I the
body. As a pure coincidence all the points that had high rates of conductivity
were exactly the same as the meridians established by ancient acupuncturists.
This discovery has lead to the use electromagnetic waves being used to apply
stimuli to points, and also to locate different points on the body.
Another theory from the west involves the discovery of endorphins. Endorphins
are chemicals released into the body that inhibit the feeling of pain. Chemical
testes have proven that the use of acupuncture releases endorphins. This
effectively elevates your threshold of pain.
The use of acupuncture must not be taken as a cure all. It is most often used
along with another form of treatment or regimen. For example if pain serves as
a warning sign and you use acupuncture to dull the pain you could do more harm
than good. The best way to use acupuncture is in conjunction with the healing
process of your body. Thus it has become very popular in the western countries.
So much so that there are insurance companies specifically to provide health
care through acupuncture. California recently approved a healthcare plan called
Acupuncture Plus+ . Positive attitudes continue to grow through good
experiences with acupuncture in China itself. James Reston was on an interview
assignment in Peking when he was overcome by a sudden attack of appendicitis.
He was taken to the government hospital, and diagnosed through the same
procedure used in acupuncture. He describes the doctors and nurses as “
meticulous, calm, and cheerful..” He thus underwent surgery with local
anesthesia. After his surgery he experienced some discomfort. Thus the resident
acupuncturist applied pressure to a few specific points and he gradually felt
better. There are many factors involved I how well acupuncture works. The most
important are the skill of the doctor, and experience of the doctor. The second
is the willingness of the patient. If the patient cannot relax then the
treatment will be unsuccessful. The needles will be gripped by the skin and
will cause pain rather than a seeping sensation of pleasure. Another key factor
is the size and length of the needle. One of the most interesting is how long
the needle is left in the skin. The longer you leave the needle I the greater
chance you will become numb. It is only sensible that if needles can be used to
relieve pain after surgery, why can’t they be used to relieve pain before
surgery. Thus acupuncture can be used as anesthesia. The patient must be very
comfortable however because you are not paralyzed by this procedure and retain
all capability of motion. You can still feel pressure but have not sensation of
pain. Patients are able to converse with the surgeon , and eat. Some even get
up and walk away from the table after they’re done. The benefits of this are
innumerable. You have no nasty side effect of drowsiness, or being groggy. The
vomiting and stomach irritation are a thing of the past. This technique is
especially being used and experimented with in China.
There is also another branch of acupuncture being explored. It involves
pressure points specifically I the ear. These points are being found to be
connected to all other organs of the body.
Although there are arguments that acupuncture is purely suggestion, they can be
proven wrong. Suggestion cannot allow for a human being to under surgery with
pain. The discovery of endorphins shows that a chemical process is instigated
through pressure points. There is a chemical increase of endorphins when
acupuncture is performed. Research being funded in China by the United States,
and other Western countries, are going to lead us to a great break through some
day. The future looks bright, and everyday we learn more and more. Some day we
may learn the secret of why acupuncture works for now we will have to accept
that it does work and try to combine old and new philosophies to reach a
greater understanding.