Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles at energetically active points on the body. Developed in China, acupuncture has been in clinical use for over 2,500 years. As acupuncture has spread to other cultures, theory and practice have continued to evolve. Different styles of acupuncture are now practiced worldwide to treat a variety of medical conditions.
Acupuncture is becoming increasingly popular as a healthcare option in the United States. Acupuncture treats acute and chronic pain and speeds injury rehabilitation. In addition to treating musculoskeletal complaints, acupuncture can be used for internal medicine disorders and emotional balancing.
Many treatment modalities fall under the scope of acupuncture. In my practice, I use a combination of acupuncture, acupressure and bodywork. My massage styles include Tuina, a vigorous style of Chinese massage that increases circulation and breaks up soft tissue adhesions, and Manual Lymphatic Drainage, a gentle technique that stimulates the lymphatic system to encourage fluid drainage and detoxification and enhance immune function. I also use Gua Sha, cupping, tuning forks and mild forms of electrical and laser stimulation when appropriate.
Don’t be nervous about acupuncture. It is nothing like getting an injection! Acupuncture needles rarely cause discomfort. Once the needles are inserted, you will not be aware of them for the remainder of your treatment. Acupuncture is very relaxing. Most patients fall asleep. If you are still uncertain, I can use non-needle techniques like acupressure and massage for your treatment.
Acupuncture Theory
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, a vital energy called Qi (pronounced “Chee”) circulates through the body in specific pathways called channels or meridians. These meridians flow through the internal organs, muscles and superficial tissues of the body. Qi can be accessed and manipulated by needling specific points on the meridians. These acupuncture points can be used to treat conditions within the tissues and organ systems of the corresponding meridians. For example, a point on the Stomach channel can treat pain along the Stomach meridian, as well as digestive disorders related to the stomach organ.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a holistic practice. After taking a medical history and performing physical exams, practitioners will assess how various symptoms and findings relate to one another. This allows the practitioner to make a diagnosis and choose an appropriate combination of points for treatment. Because all of the organs and meridians connect and relate to one another, acupuncture diagnoses and treatments can be quite complex. I share all of my observations with my patients and they are often surprised at how their diverse symptoms actually arise from very specific patterns of disharmony in their bodies. I think at some level of consciousness we all know that our symptoms are interrelated, and it can be a validating experience to hear that confirmed by a medical professional.
Acupuncture Research
Acupuncture research falls into two general categories: the effects of acupuncture and the mechanisms underlying successful treatments. Both are fascinating areas, and new research into biophysics and energy medicine continues to add valuable insights to this emerging field.
Acupuncture effects: Acupuncture affects all systems of the body. In the nervous system, acupuncture switches the body from sympathetic dominance, also known as “fight or flight” mode, to parasympathetic dominance, which returns the body to homeostasis. In sympathetic mode, we respond and adapt to stress. In parasympathetic mode, we relax and repair. Deep healing and self-regulating take place when the body is in a parasympathetic state. The heart rate slows and blood vessels relax. The digestive system processes and assimilates nutrients. Hormone and neurotransmitter levels regulate and balance. In this state of deep relaxation, the body is ready to accept positive changes and integrate them physiologically. This is one reason why acupuncture treatments are effective and outcomes are overwhelmingly positive.
Acupuncture mechanisms: At its heart, acupuncture is energetic medicine that creates positive physical changes in the mind and body. Research into the nature of acupuncture points on the skin has revealed that acupoints are distinct areas of decreased electrical resistance that respond to mechanical and electrical stimulation. Beneath the skin surface, acupoints are composed of dense connective tissue called collagen. These collagen planes often run in lines between large muscles, in courses that align with acupuncture meridians. Collagen forms a network that touches every organ, muscle, tissue and cell in the body. This collagen matrix is often described as an organized, crystalline, lattice-work structure composed largely of collagen fibers and water molecules. These water molecules must be properly aligned to transmit electrical signals in the form of charged particles. Physical, thermal and chemical stressors can misalign the water molecules in the collagen matrix. Acupuncture signals the collagen to realign the water molecules, allowing the collagen matrix to function as a communication network within the body.
The meridians themselves are distinct channels outside of the vascular and lymphatic systems. Like the acupoints, the meridians are more electrically conductive than the surrounding tissues. Some researchers have speculated that acupuncture meridians conduct both physical matter and electrical charges. One researcher used a high-powered electron microscope to analyze fluid flowing in the area of an acupuncture meridian. This fluid was comprised of DNA, adrenaline, estrogen and hyaluronic acid, all in higher concentrations than in surrounding vessels and tissues. He concluded that this blend of high-energy chemical substances could be the material aspect of the energy we call Qi.
Specialties
Pain Relief: Acupuncture treats pain through a variety of mechanisms. Energetically, it opens meridian pathways to facilitate the smooth flow of Qi. Physiologically, it improves blood circulation and reduces inflammation. It relieves muscle tension and spasms, releases trigger points that contribute to both muscle and joint pain, and resets muscle spindles to improve musculoskeletal function. Biochemically, acupuncture releases endorphins and neurotransmitters that act on pain receptors in the brain.
Emotional Balancing: Acupuncture releases endorphins in both the brain and bloodstream. By balancing neurotransmitters and hormones, and relaxing the nervous system, acupuncture can alleviate depression, anxiety and insomnia. All my patients comment on how calm, balanced, relaxed and energized they feel after an acupuncture treatment.
Endocrinology and Fertility: I love acupuncture for the treatment of endocrine disorders. Between our stressful lives, and the number of endocrine disruptors in our environment, these sensitive glands easily become unbalanced or underactive. Acupuncture gently restores proper endocrine function and hormone regulation. It is one of the best therapies I know for both men’s and women’s reproductive health, and acupuncture fertility is some of the most rewarding work I do.
Cosmetic Acupuncture: Cosmetic acupuncture is a gentle, non-invasive treatment option for reducing fine lines and improving muscle tone on the face, neck and décolletage. Successive treatments work by lifting muscle tissue from the denser underlying connective tissue to decrease the adhesions that form lines and creases, and by improving overall muscle tone to lift sagging skin. Call about cosmetic acupuncture packages.
Chronic Infections: After many years as both a patient and practitioner, I have come to believe chronic infections (Lingering Pathogens in Chinese Medicine) are some of the most often missed diagnoses in modern medicine. Bacteria, yeast and parasites can live for years undetected in the gastrointestinal tract. Screening for Hepatitis B and C is infrequent, even in at-risk patient populations. Lyme Disease and other vector-borne pathogens have reached epidemic levels. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, psychiatric disorders and many autoimmune conditions are now being linked to long-term, undetected infections. All of these conditions create diverse symptom pictures that are easily missed by a healthcare system that tends to treat symptoms individually, rather than assessing a patient holistically. Identifying possible untreated infections and getting patients to doctors who can order sensitive, accurate tests has become a mainstay in my practice, and I work with several area MDs and NDs in identifying and treating these patients.