|
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.
|
|
|
(0 vote)