American Acupuncture What It's Used For and How It Works

HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?

POINTS OF INTEREST

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American acupuncture is performed by western physicians and incorporates Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and European acupuncture in a manner suitable to Americans. Smaller needles are used. Visits are not daily but usually on a weekly or semi monthly schedule. Traditional Chinese methodology is used with western diagnostic methods. Modern computers, lasers, and electrical stimulation means are used to enhance the treatment results. Often
ear, hand, scalp, and body acupuncture are combined to make the results more successful. Disposable needles are used. There is no in house sterilization of needles nor are they reused. American acupuncture is used as a complementary tool to enhance health and works hand in hand with the western physician. East meets West and harmony and health are restored.

Creation was born from a marriage of two polarities. This is called Ying and Yang. Yin is inward and Yang is outward. Examples would be:

When the above is in harmony health, good weather, and good fortune prevail. When this balance is lost disease, disaster and bad health result. We are all our own miniature worlds and need balance maintained. Acupuncture helps us recover and maintain health.

Nature has air, sea, and land . The human body has Qi, moisture and blood. Qi allows us to move, think,feel, and work. In western thinking it would be the spirit or electromagnetic force. Moisture is the liquid that protects feeds and lubricates our tissues. Blood results in making bone, nerves, skin,muscles, and organs.

As humans we have mind (spirit), psyche (shen) and body (essence , the ability of the body to recover and regenerate itself. We cannot measure the impact of the unseen (thought and emotions) on the visible. There are no miracles, just unknown facts. Qi, moisture, and blood are eroded by our emotional tensions, too little or too much exercise, not enough rest, and poor diet. This results in impairment of our organ networks.

THE LIVER stores blood, controls the flow of qi, and even temperament. Diseases of this organ system are tension neck and shoulders ,high blood pressure, headache, and impulsive behavior.

THE HEART flows through arteries and also holds the spirit and governs the mind. When disturbed angina, palpations, and restless sleep result.

THE SPLEEN digest food, fluids, and ideas. This organ system is disturbed one sees digestion problems, bloating, fatigue, poor concentration and impaired thinking.

THE LUNG controls the body rhythms. It defends its boundaries and affords inspiration. When diseased one sees chest tightness, skin rashes, lack of immunity and resistance to colds, rigid thinking and melancholy.

THE KIDNEY manages the fluid metabolism but also stores essence ( the ability to regenerate and recover). It controlsthe teeth, bones, marrow, brain, inner ears, pupil of the eye, and lumbar region. It controls the ability for sharp thinking , good fertility and good body growth.

Qi, moisture, and blood link the body through channels. When circulation is impaired, the result is joint pain, headaches, asthma, indigestion, high blood pressure, and colds. Congestion results in aches, tenderness, pain, bloating, irritability and swelling. Deficiency results in weakness lethargy, lack of immunity to illnesses, poor digestion and poor blood flow.

DIAGNOSIS is done by feeling the pulse, observing the color of the face, texture of the tongue, body appearance, and skin problems over the ear. Western information is gathered with the complaints, type of work of the patient, living habits, physical environment, emotional and family life, and family history obtained.

TREATMENT GOAL is to balance the Yin and Yang, wet and dry, cold and heat, inner and outer, and body and mind. This is accomplished by balancing the Qi, Moisture, and Blood in the organ network with intense American acupuncture. Weak organs are strengthened. Congested channels are opened. Heat is cooled. Dryness is moistened. Dampness is drained.

Qi (electromagnetic energy) travels through channels of energy in the body (like rivers). These rivers of energy are called meridians. There are 14 such channels: twelve from the hands and feet, one in the center on the front of the body and one in the center on the back of the body.

ACUPUNCTURE POINTS are areas in the skin where these rivers of energy come closest to the body surface. These points are opened and closed to adjust the circulation in the channels, and release toxins from them . These points are also storage areas for cortisone, testosterone, estrogen, and a number of hormones. When these points are stimulated with acupuncture, hormones are released and the acupuncture points decrease in size. Very tiny solid stainless steel needles are inserted into these points to accomplish this.

Most patients only feel a sensation of a small pinch, followed by a comfortable warmness. Relief of symptoms and increased energy occur within 48 hours after treatment. Needles are left in for 20-30 minutes.

Eastern medicine protects and preserves health, anticipates problems, help keep balance., and renew our resources. Western medicine treats after a crisis forms and heroic rescues are attempted. Chronic complaints need both Western and Eastern medicine. The two are not substitutes for each other but compliment each other. American Acupuncture accomplishes this.

Million of educated Americans are seeking alternative medical treatment. They are supplementing or abandoning prescribe medical treatments. Despite medicine's great progress there are many questions related to health. We are living longer because of advances, in antibiotics, and Western Medicine surgery, but most of us are living longer now and suffer from degenerative diseases that cripple us. We have not stopped arteries from clotting and rarely have we prevented or cured cancer, arthritis, Parkinsonism, Alzheimers, Aids, emphysema, cataracts, kidney and liver failure and the common migraine headache.

Doctors are reluctant to accept new approaches. Many encourage patients to abandon treatments with previous good track records. Most patients want to prevent diseases before they start.

Society has narrowed the gap between the West and the East as we appreciate new findings in the brain function and the immune system. There is now a better understanding of alternative medicine and rational approaches are now being taken.

Alternative medicine is here to stay. In chronic pain suggestions are made fro hypnosis, meditation, prayer, special diets, and especially acupuncture. Teas are mentioned for insomnia as well as sleeping pills. Discussions about chelation, ginseng, and ginkgo biloba are taking place.

Even the NIH (the caretaker of western medicine) is spending 23 million dollars a year in research work on alternative treatments. Insurance companies are now reimbursing policyholders for wellness plans and alternative medicines.

We must be flexible on what is good and what is bad. Doctors say they are holistic. So was the country doctor 50 years ago. The mind and body go together. Prevention of disease is important. You the patient want to preserve it. Organ doctors must consider the whole patient.
We also must do our part in considering how we live and its effect on our bodies. We must see the dangers of smoking and drinking and the effects of moods, stresses, foods we ear, and lack of exercising on our bodies.

Different approaches have those who endorse it and those who condemn it. How do you get true information?

There is a middle ground and we try to seek it. Throw out the garbage and provide answers to questions on disease treatments. Journals of western medicine never report results on alternative therapies.

Acupuncture has passed centuries of human experiences but claims are made that it is not scientifically tested according to western protocol. Yet western medicine is always changing its mind. Treatments of 30 years ago are abandoned and found to be harmful.

Traditional doctors often make statements that are not based on hard evidence. These statements are based on belief instead of observed biochemical reactions in the body. How do you measure Qi energy? Clinical observations prove that acupuncture treatments work and have been used for thousands of years.

Suppose you have local back pain and have treatment with acupuncture, Chinese herbs, Vitamin e, antibiotics, massage, steroid injections and even prayer. When your back pain is gone, what worked? Explain the mechanism of how these modalities worked.
Oriental medicine is not scientific as it is practiced. It is not dependant on medical science. Research is needed to validate the effectiveness and mechanism of acupuncture and herbal medicine.

Oriental medicine is extremely old and time tested. There are specific energetic patterns to guide its practice. Only pain control has been scientifically proven by western medicine. The Oriental treatments for disease and injury are radically different from western medicine. It works by manipulating and enhancing Qi and blood. People can't wait for scientific validation.

1. It is a non-scientific language.

Originally, western medicine was a science of anatomy. Now it is a science of biochemical and cellular physiology. Oriental medicine has an energetic framework and does not fit the matrix of western medical thinking.

Oriental medicine uses the energetic force in the body to control the biochemical and cellular activity. These energetic forces dictate this biochemical activity. With acupuncture biochemical changes occur by yin, yang and Qi, and not explained by western biochemical physiology terms.

This traditional language allows us to have effective therapy. Pain control with acupuncture, proven by Dr. Pomerantz , show the neurovascular effect and the release of endorphins.

2. There is a lack of double blind placebo studies for validation.

Acupuncture brings the yin and yang chemicals into energetic balance. By knowing the cause and prevention, we can correct a symptom. There is no interest in proving the efficacy of acupuncture when results can cut on the viability of drug products and medications. Is it ethical to deny a sick patient some form of treatment. It took the NIH twenty five years to accept acupuncture. How many surgical procedures have double blind placebo studies? Aspirin has been used for 100 years and only recently has the physiologic mechanism been explained.

    3. There is a lack of modern scientific explanation of how it works.

    The west uses a language of biochemical physiology and not of energetics. As technology improves, acupuncture will be validated on its own terms. As new scientific instruments are developed, they will record and describe Qi, the difference between yin and yang energy. The mechanism for dissemination of qi and the rotation of qi through the channels with acupuncture stimulation will become obvious. These works are now being done in Japan, Germany, Russia, and China.

    Observing the release of endorphins with acupuncture does not describe the methods of actions but only its consequences. Yet a hundred chemical reactions may occur with acupuncture stimulation. Because they are not observed does not mean they have not occurred. Because energetic pathways of qi, yin and yang, have not been observed scientifically does not mean they do not exist.

Western medicine has a different orientation in the treatment of injury and illness. It seeks to control uncomfortable and dangerous symptoms based on manipulation of biochemical mechanisms. It focuses narrowly on disease manifestations. There is a lack of unified view of heath and vitality. It excels at crisis management of the injured.

Eastern medicine looks at what a healthy body should be. It describes the free circulation of Qi and blood through defined channels and organic function energetically. It uses the natural mechanisms of regeneration and recuperation without side effects. It accelerates the healing process of non-crisis illness.

You, the informed public should have access to both kinds of treatment. And that is what American acupuncture aims to do. One therapy should compliment another and they should be used interchangeably to achieve the optimum health of you the patient.

Statistical analysis is hard to show because the body heals itself and other therapies can enhance healing. The state of the patient's mental, emotional, and spiritual status are very important to healing.

When you are suffering from a debilitating and incurable disease, you look for the most improbable promise. You must always hope. With nothing to lose you become bait for any therapy that promises a cure. Conventional and alternative therapies can work to provide the best of both worlds. Alternative therapy must be complementary as well.

You must assume responsibility for your own survival and health. Never lose hope. Miracles happen every day. Explore alternatives including those outside of the expertise of your doctor. The object is to live longer and also enjoy the best quality of life. Perhaps your doctor is opposed and does not listen to your problems. It may be time to find another doctor who understands you.