Acupuncture: Healing the Safe Way Do you know that our body develops tolerance to the efficacy of prescription drugs? Without you knowing it, you could be taking medicine in high dosages just for simple headaches and pain. Aside from this, our dependence on these drugs can lead to abuse and addiction. So before you reach to that bottle of pain relievers for that recurring headache, you should consider a safer alternative...Acupuncture. Acupuncture has been around for centuries. Considered to be traditional Chinese therapy, acupuncture employs the use of needles inserted into acupuncture points on the body. These acupuncture points are actually pressure points that are connected to specific organs of the body. The main objective of acupuncture is to restore well-being and health. Found to be very effective in treating pain, headache and nausea, acupuncture is relatively safe and side effect-free according to the World Health Organization, American Medical Association, National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine and the National Institute of Health. In the United States alone, around 2.1 million adults went to acupuncturists to get treatment in 2002. Systems of Function The practice of acupuncture should only be done by well-trained acupuncturists. These acupuncturists follow a theory that the human body is composed of many systems of function that are linked to physical organs. When the body is sick, they believe that it is due to imbalance in these systems of function. To treat such imbalance in the body’s harmony, acupuncturists will enhance activity of one or several systems of function through acupuncture. Meridians According to the theory of acupuncture, there are twelve main meridians and eight minor meridians. Ten of the twelve main meridians correspond to the different organs of the body like the heart, liver, stomach, etc. The other two main meridians are for the body functions called Heart Protector and San Jiao. The eight minor meridians are composed of two actual pressure points, located on the midline of the trunk and head, and six activation points that compliment the twelve main meridians. Yin and Yang Channels Since the twelve main meridians run vertically, symmetrically and bilaterally, it creates six yin and six yang channels. In Western culture, yin and yang simply means bad and good and balance between the two should always be maintained. In acupuncture, the yin channels of the hand include the Lung, Pericardium and Heart while the yang channels include the Large intestine, San Jiao and Small intestine. On the foot there are also three yin channels and three yang channels. The yin channels involve the Spleen, Liver and Kidney and the yang channels involve the Stomach, Gallbladder and Bladder. All of these channels are said to be the vessels in which “qi” or vital energy flows. Any blockage or deficiencies in the flow of the “qi” will lead to illnesses and diseases. Acupuncture in Modern Times Many practitioners believe that modern medicine will benefit well from the practice of acupuncture. In fact, many medical conditions can be treated using conventional medical techniques coupled with acupuncture. These illnesses include anxiety attacks, drug detoxification, neuralgias, seventh nerve palsy, headache, vertigo, cervical and lumbar spine syndromes, arthritis, bursitis, sprains, fractures, dysmenorrheal, anorexia, chest pain, allergic sinusitis, hiccups, dermatoses, diarrhea, urinary incontinence, flatulence, severe hyperthermia, cough and abdominal distention. Scientific Theories behind Acupuncture Because of the growing number of evidences documented as proof of acupuncture’s effectivity, many scientific theories have surfaced in an effort to explain how acupuncture works. § Nerve-reflex Theory: this theory proposes a reflex interaction between the autonomic nerve system and the periphery. Simply put, any irregularities in the functions of the internal organs are manifested on the skin surface. Stimulation of the specific skin region will cause changes in the lymph and blood flow of the internal organs and at the same time, activates the immune and neuro-endocrine systems of the body to combat the disease. § Gate-control Theory of pain: since pain is effectively treated by acupuncture, this theory proposes that pain perception can be blocked or controlled through the pain pathways using physiological, psychological and pharmacological means. Acupuncture is believed to not only block pain physiologically by stimulating nerves in the cutaneous region but also relieves pain in an emotional sense by encouraging the release of neuro-hormones like endorphins. § Neuro-hormonal theory: pain is said to be felt in two levels, emotional and physical. The feeling of pain is different from the suffering that pain brings. Acupuncture acts as an analgesic that effectively relives physical pain and also inhibit the activity in the thalamus, the brain region responsible for emotional pain. § Electric conductance theory: since the body is basically composed of electrically-charged cells, acupuncture works by stimulating neurons to generate nerve impulses. These nerve impulses serve as conduits to the different organs promoting cell renewal, repair, regeneration and growth. § Morphogenetic Singularity Theory: this theory proposes that acupuncture works by stimulating strategic acupuncture points to alter bodily functions leading to convergence or divergence. Acupuncture Risks The risks involved in the practice of acupuncture are usually localized in the application or insertion of the needles. Mild illnesses were observed in some patients involving minor bleeding, hematoma and dizziness. Infections can be avoided by making sure that the practitioner uses sterile and unused needles to avoid transfer of diseases like Hepatitis and HIV. Other risks include nerve injuries from accidental insertion of the needle to the wrong nerve site, brain damage or stroke, pneumothorax, kidney damage and haemopericardium. Of course, these injuries were due to the incorrect practice of acupuncture by practitioners who have not been accredited. Always check the acupuncturist’s credentials to check the practitioner’s competency. Even with acupuncture’s effectivity in treating certain illnesses, you should not depend on it entirely. Some illnesses require much more than nerve stimulation. Receiving proper medical care is still advised especially for diseases that are potentially fatal. That is why acupuncture is still considered a complementary therapy rather than an alternative therapy. If diagnosed with a disease, it is advisable to ask your doctor if acupuncture can help. 

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