Acupuncture is a component of Traditional Chinese Medicine that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to restore balance to a person's energy flow. It is commonly used to treat pain, but can also be used for other conditions. While its mechanisms are not fully understood from a Western perspective, studies show it can stimulate the release of endorphins and affect brain activity and blood flow. Acupuncture is generally safe when performed by a licensed practitioner, though some people may experience minor bruising or soreness after treatment.

1. WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?
Overview
Acupuncture isan importantcomponentof Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) thatinvolvesthe
insertionof thinneedlesatspecificbodilypoints(acupoints),mostof whichare groupedaccordingto
theirclinical effectsonlinescalledmeridians.The TCMtheoryof acupuncture isbasedinpart on the
premise thatbloodandenergytermedqi (pronouncedchee) circulate inacyclical fashionthroughthese
meridians.Thisenergyflowisrequiredforgoodhealth;blockagesinqi canleadto painand/or ill health.
(Many traditional Oriental medicine practicesfocusonimprovingthe flow andbalance of qi.) Thus,TCM
practitionerswillneedlespecificacupuncture pointsalongthe meridianstorestore (ormaintain) a
healthyflowandbalance of qi and bloodinthem.
TCM practitionersuse acupuncture totreatandpreventa range of conditionsandillnesses,evencolds
and flu.Inthe UnitedStates,one of its mostcommonusesisto relieve pain,butitisalsousedforother
conditionsrangingfromear,nose andthroat diseasestoneurologic,respiratoryorevenpsychiatric
problemssuchasdepression.Acupuncture maybe usedalone,inconjunctionwithotherTCMtherapi es
such as herbs,orwithmore conventional therapies.
Acupuncture asa therapeuticinterventioniswidelypracticedinthe UnitedStates.Accordingtothe
2007 National HealthInterview Survey,whichincludedacomprehensivesurveyof complementaryand
alternative medicine use byAmericans,about3.1 millionadultsand150,000 childrenundergothe
treatmenteachyear.Andthe popularityof acupuncture isincreasingovertime;accordingtothe same
survey,acupuncture use increasedby1millionpeoplebetween2002 and2007. People usuallyfindthe
procedure tobe relativelypainless,althoughsome pointsinsome patientsmaybe quite sensitive.
Dependingonyourpractitioner,the needlesmaybe stimulatedwithmanual manipulation,heator
electricity.
There are manystate acupuncture organizations,andmanystateshave acupuncture regulationsand
codes.Almosteverystate hasa State Acupuncture Board,andthere are approximately50accredited
schoolsof acupuncture inthe UnitedStates.There are also manyphysician-acupuncturistswhopractice
acupuncture as part of theirmedical practices.
Widelypracticedaroundthe world,especiallyinAsia(the practice originatedinChina)andEurope,
acupuncture didn’tgaina notable followinginthe UnitedStatesuntil the 1970s, whenNew YorkTimes
journalistJamesRestonpiquedpublicinterestbywritingabouthow physiciansinBeijingeasedhis
postsurgeryabdominal painwithacupuncture.Acupuncture hasbeengainingpopularityinthe United
Stateseversince.
The 1997 National Institutesof Health(NIH) ConsensusConference onAcupuncture gave aboostto
acupuncture byconcludingthatacupuncture issafe and,for some conditions,proveneffective.These
include reducingnauseaassociatedwithchemotherapy,anesthesia orpregnancyandlesseningthe pain
fromdental surgery.There wasalsoevidence suggestingacupuncture maybe effectiveintreating
migraines,depression,tenniselbow,constipation,low-backpainandinfertility.Additionally,

2. acupuncture maybe useful intreatingneckpain,asthma,insomniaandwoundhealing,amongother
conditions.
More recentevidence suggeststhathypertensionandcertaincardiovasculardiseasescanlikewise be
improvedbytreatmentwithacupuncture.The NIHcontinuestofunda varietyof researchprojects
relatingtothe safetyandeffectivenessof acupuncture.
The World HealthOrganization(WHO),usingdifferentcriteria,hasrecognizedacupuncture asan
appropriate treatmentformore than50 conditions,includingcertaindigestive, respiratory,
neurological,muscular,urinary,menstrual andreproductive disorders.
There are manystylesof acupuncture practicedhere,manyof whichare differentfromtraditional
Chinese acupuncture.“Medical acupuncture”referstoacupuncture practicedbyaWesternphysician.
Physiciansaswell asnonphysicianswhoare licensedtopractice acupuncture (LAcs) will oftenuse a
varietyof acupuncture styles.The mostcommonstyle taughtinAmericanschoolsiscalledTraditional
Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture,butFive Element,AuricularandNeuro-anatomical acupuncture
stylesare alsowidelyused.Scientistsare findingithardto reconcile the traditional explanationof how
acupuncture workswithstandardWesternmedical models.Althoughseveral studieshave documented
acupuncture’sefficacyandeffectiveness,muchremainstobe learnedaboutitsmechanismsof action
froma Westernperspective.
Human andanimal studiesshowthatacupuncture can generate variousbiological responses—some
close to the insertionpointandothersata distance.Researchhasdemonstratedthatacupuncture
stimulatesthe bodytorelease hormones,aswell asnaturallyoccurringopioidanalgesics(termed
endorphinsandenkephalins)fromthe central nervoussystem.Endorphinsdiminishpain,influencethe
body’sself-regulatingsystemsandpromote physical andemotional well-being.
Associated mechanisms are also at work:
 Electromagneticsignals:Evidence suggeststhatacupuncture pointsare strategicconductorsof
electromagneticsignals,andacupuncture enableselectromagneticsignalstobe relayedata
greaterrate thanundernormal conditions.
 Brain bloodflow:Studiesindicate thatacupuncture clearlyaffectsbloodflowtocentersof the
brainand the central nervoussystemrelatedtosensationandinvoluntarybodyfunctions,such
as immune reactionsandthe regulationof bloodpressure,bloodflow,oxygenationandbody
temperature.Specificactivationof certainbrainregions,includingsome of the painperception
centers(such as the limbicareaand hypothalamus)canbe demonstratedduringacupuncture
treatments.
Ultimately,scientistsdon’tknowexactlywhichmechanismsmake acupunctureeffective;more research
isneeded.Itisoftenbelievedthattoget the bestresults,treatmentsneedtobe individualized.That’s

3. one of manyreasonsacupuncture ismore difficulttoresearchthana standardpharmaceutical
medication.
Diagnosis
Whenis acupuncture anappropriate treatment?If youhave pain,nauseaandvomitingfrom
chemotherapyorpregnancy,orare facingsurgeryandare worriedaboutanesthesia-inducednausea,
youmay want to askyour healthcare professionalaboutacupuncture.If youhave hadlittle orno
successusingconventionalmedicine,youmaywishtoask yourhealthcare professional whether
acupuncture mighthelp.Whenthe risksassociatedwithconventional treatmentsare greatorthe
outcomesuncertain,youmightconsiderthe saferoptionof acupuncture first.Often,acupuncture can
be usedeffectivelyasa complementarytherapytoconventional therapies.
For example,acupunctureisoftenusedincombinationwithmore conventional painrelievers.Some
medical professionalsreportbetterresultsbycombiningacupuncture andcertainconventional pain-
killingdrugsthanfromusingthe drugsalone.The NIHpanel statedthat there isclearclinical evidence
that acupuncture providesrelieffromthe nauseaassociatedwithchemotherapy,anesthesiaor
pregnancy,aswell aspost-operativedental pain.Recentresearchalsohasdemonstratedacupuncture’s
usefulnessintreatingmigraine headaches,neckpain,low-backpainandknee osteoarthritis.
There are othersituationsinwhichresearchonacupuncture’seffectivenessislessconvincing,yetstill
promising:
 addiction
 asthma
 fibromyalgia
 myofascial pain
 infertility
 insomnia
 tenniselbow
Studiessuggestthatacupuncture mayalsohelprelieve some of the physical problemsassociatedwith
tension,stress,depression,anxietyandotheremotional conditions.
The World Health Organizationhastakenabroaderapproach than U.S. organizations,recognizing
acupuncture as appropriate fora wide range of conditions.Amongthemare:
 gastrointestinal disorders:ulcers,acute andchroniccolitis,indigestion,constipationand
diarrhea
 respiratorydisorders:sinusitis,rhinitis,commoncold,bronchitis,andasthma
 neurological disorders:headaches,migraine,trigeminal neuralgia,facial paralysis,frozen
shoulder,neuralgia,sciatica,arthritisandMeniere’sdisease
 poor eyesight
 urinary,menstrual andreproductiveproblems

4.  orthopedicdisorders:tenniselbow,low-backpain,tendonitisandneckpain
One advantage of acupuncture isits extremelylow incidence of majorside effects—especiallywhen
comparedto conventional medical treatments. The complicationsinvolvedwithacupuncture are similar
but lesscommonthanthe complicationsseenwithothertypesof needle use.The mostcommonside
effectsare local bruisingortransientworseningof local pain.Rare side effectsreportedincludedisease
transmission,infection,needle breakage,nerve damage ororganpuncture.Major adverse eventsare
extremelyrare andare usuallyassociatedwithpoorlytrainedorunlicensedacupuncturists.
A Japanese studyof 65,482 acupuncture treatmentsreported nomajoradverse effects,andanother
twosurveysperformedinthe UnitedKingdomtotaling66,000 acupuncture treatmentsreportedno
seriousadverse events.Also,inaprospective Germanstudyof 97,733 patientsreceivingacupuncture,
the most frequently reportedside effectswere needlingpain(3.3percent) andhematoma(3.2percent).
The more seriouseventsincludedtwocasesof collapsedlung.Andanasthmaattack,exacerbationof
depression,acute highbloodpressure andfaintingwere consideredtobe possiblyrelatedtotreatment,
but notdefinitely.Overall,acupuncture isconsideredverysafe,andthe riskof adverse effectsis
extremelylow.
Finding an Acupuncturist
If you thinkacupuncture isforyou,you mayneedto finda healthcare professionalwhoisopentothe
possibility;manyare skeptical.Butthere’salsoagoodchance that yourhealthcare professional will be
able to referyouto a licensedpractitioner.Don’tbe surprisedif youare referredtoa physician:some
neurologists,anesthesiologistsandotherphysicianshave traininginacupuncture.Referralsfor
acupuncture fromsomeone youtrustare particularlyimportantsince state licensingandregulatory
guidelinesforacupuncturistsvarywidely.
Checkto see if the acupuncturistyouhave chosenislicensedand/orcredentialed.Approximately40
stateshave establishedtrainingstandardsforacupuncture certification.
Traditionally,acupuncture,evenmore thanWesternmedicine,acknowledgesthe “art”of medicine.
Therefore,recommendationsfromotherhealthcare providers,friendsandfamilycanbe helpful.
Checktreatmentcostsand insurance coverage.If yourinsurance companycoversacupuncture
treatment,itmayhave preferredprovidersorrequire pre-certification.Yourphysicianoracupuncturist
shouldinformyouaboutthe estimatednumberof treatmentsandthe costfor eachvisit.

5. The First Visit
Duringyour firstvisit,the acupuncturistwill probablyaskaboutthe conditionandsymptomsthatled
youto seekacupuncture.Discussanyhealthconditionsyouhave,especiallypregnancy.Certainpoints
shouldn’tbe stimulatedduringpregnancy;youmayriskuterine contractions,premature laboranda
possible miscarriage.
Take a listof all the medicationsyouare takingto share withthe acupuncturist.Forinstance,if youare
takinganticoagulants(blood-thinningdrugs),youshouldwarnthe acupuncturistbecauseyouare more
prone to bleedingcomplications(althoughacupuncture generallydoesn’tdraw blood).Alsoletthe
practitionerknowif youhave a pacemakerorany otherimplantedmedical device.
The acupuncturistwill askaboutyourmedical history,buthe or she will probablyalsoaskquestions
seeminglyunrelatedtomedicine.Thisholisticapproachistypical of manyalternative and
complementarytherapies.It’sthe person,notonlythe symptomsandcondition,whoisbeingtreated.
The practitionermaytake your pulse,examine yourtongue andearsandtouch(palpate) partsof your
body.Askaboutthe treatmentproceduresthatwill be usedandtheirlikelihoodof successforyour
conditionordisease.
In the UnitedStatesandEurope,the trainingand licensingof practitionerswhoprovide acupuncture
makesthe spreadof infectiousdiseasesthroughthe procedure extremelyrare.If the practitioneris
licensed,youcanassume he orshe knowshow to protect youfrominfectiousdiseasesspreadby
contaminatedneedles.Youracupuncturistshouldalwaysuse sterile,single-use disposableneedles.This
may notbe true inunderdevelopedcountries.
Treatment
Here are some guidelinestofollowbefore goingforacupuncture treatment:
 Don’teat an extremelyheavymeal ordrinkalcohol rightbefore orafteryourtreatment.
 Don’toverexertyourself.
 Try to arrange yourschedule soyoucan get some restafterward,especiallyearlyoninthe
process.If youcan’t, at leastavoidschedulingactivitiesthatrequire youtobe intopphysical
and mental condition.Youmayfeel veryrelaxedoreventiredafteryoursession.
 Wear comfortable clothes.
 Continue takingyourmedicationsasdirectedbyyourhealthcare professional,butmake sure
the acupuncturistknowswhattheyare.Don’task advice fromyour acupuncturisttochange or
stopthe medicationsbecause itisyourprimarycare physician’sdutytooversee your
medications.
 Don’ttake illegal drugs.Drugs,aswell asalcohol abuse,mayseriouslyinterfere withthe
effectivenessyourtreatment.

6. The average sessionmaylastfrom15 minutestoan hour; yourfirstone may take a bitlonger.The
numberof treatmentsdepends,of course,onyourconditionandhow well yourespond.Forsome
chronicor complex problems,youmayneedone totwosessionsaweekforseveral months.Some
conditionsrequiremaintenance therapy,justastheydoinWesternmedicine.
As youare needled,youmayfeel somethingakintoa mosquitobite orperhapsa dull ache,numbness,
tinglingora warm feeling.Thatisa normal reactionto the needle insertion.Sharporsevere painisnot.
If you’ve hadbad experienceswithshotsanddrawingblood,acupuncture will be different.Acupuncture
needlesare smoothandsolid;hypodermicneedlesare hollow withcuttingedges.Thismakes
acupuncture needle insertionmuchlesspainful andreducesthe likelihoodof bruising.Needle phobias
are common and sometimesnon-needlingtechniquesmaybe usedforphobicpatientsorchildren.
Acupuncture usinglasersisgainingpopularityasapainlesswaytoprovide treatments.
Once the needlesare inplace—theyare usuallyleftthere for10 to 15 minutes—youprobablywon’tfeel
anything.The acupuncturistmaymanuallystimulate the needles,heatthemoruse electrical stimulation
on them.Typically,the needles,whichare muchthinnerthanhypodermicneedles,are inserted
betweenone-quarterandone inchindepth.However,youneedtostayrelativelystill andrelaxed,
because youcouldfeel achyor tightinthe needle spotsif youmove suddenlyortightenyourmuscles.
If you are uncomfortable,tell the acupuncturist.If youfeel faint,dizzyornauseatedorbecome shortof
breathor breakintoa coldsweat,speakup.It’softena functionof nervousness,butyourpractitioner
can readjustor withdrawthe needlesif necessary.Acupuncture,performedcorrectly,hasalmostnoside
effects.Yourrelief maybe immediate ordelayedforafew hoursor up to three days,andyou may
notice dizziness,sleeplessness,nauseaoreuphoria.Youmayalsohave a little bleedingandbruising
where the needleswere inserted.
Some of these side effectsmayindicatethe acupuncture isstartingtowork,andtheydon’tlast forlong.
If theydo, talkto your regularhealthcare professional andyouracupuncturist.Often,the firstone or
twotreatmentsmayleave youdeeplyrelaxedorevenmildlydisoriented.Youshouldtake precautions
while driving,especiallyafterthe firstseveral sessions.
Emotionallyspeaking,mostpatientsfeel relaxed,energeticorevencheerfulaftertreatment.
Make sure youkeepyourprimaryhealthcare professional apprisedof youracupuncture treatment.And
keepyouracupuncturistupto date on changesinyour health.Youmaywant to suggestthattheytalkto
each otherto reduce the chance that importantmedical problemswill be overlooked.
The National CenterforComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine (part of the National Institutesof
Health) hasstudiedoriscontinuingtoresearchthe use of acupuncture inthe followingareas:
 How exactlyacupuncture works,suchaswhathappensinthe brain duringtreatment
 Acupuncture anditsuse in treatingpain
 Acupuncture tohelptreatpost-traumaticstressdisorder

7.  Whetheracupuncture worksforspecifichealthconditions,suchaschroniclow-backpain,
headache andosteoarthritisof the knee
 The use of acupuncture to relievethe side effectsof hormone replacementtherapy
Ways to betterunderstandandidentifythe potentialneurological propertiesof meridiansand
acupuncture points
Methodsand instrumentsthatcanimprove the qualityof acupuncture research
The use of acupuncture inimprovingpregnancyratesfollowingIVF
Researchershope toshowthatacupuncture at certainacupointsproduceslong-lastingbloodpressure
reductionsinhypertensive patientsbutnotinsubjectswithnormal bloodpressure.Tobe of clinical
value,acupuncture mustprovide anantihypertensive effectthatpersistsinacost-efficientmanner.
Encouragingresearchcontinuesonpotential acupuncture treatmentsfordental surgerypain,attention
deficithyperactivitydisorder,asthma,bronchitis,myocardialinfarctionandrehabilitationfrom stroke
and otherconditions.
Prevention
Acupuncture isconsideredaformof treatmentortherapy.However,acupuncture practitionersbelieve
that acupuncture maybe mostsuccessful whenitisappliedasanearlyinterventionforsymptomsor
conditions.In theory,acupuncture canpreventorreverse some diseases,oratleastpreventthemfrom
worseningorbecomingchronic.Forexample,researchhasshownapositive effectinpreventingbreech
birthsamongpregnantwomen.More researchisneededtodefine the preventivevalue of acupuncture.
Facts to Know
1. Medical acupuncture referstoacupuncture performedbyaphysiciantrainedandlicensedin
Westernmedicine.
2. The theorybehindacupuncture inTraditional ChineseMedicine involves,inpart,the regular
flow of energyinthe body.Variouspointsonthe body(acupuncture points) are connectedby
pathways,termedmeridians.Traditional practitionersbelievethese meridiansconductenergy,
or qi,betweenthe surface of the bodyandinternal organs.Blockage of thisenergymayresultin
illnessordisease.Acupunctureissaidtounblockthe meridians,allowingthe energytoflow
properly.
3. Studiesshowthatacupuncture can relievephysical problemsassociatedwithtension,stressand
otheremotional conditions(suchasdepression).

8. 4. You don’thave to believeinacupuncture forittowork,but you shouldatleastbe neutral toits
effects.
5. Pregnantwomenmayhave acupuncture treatments,buttheyshouldalwaysadvisethe
acupuncturistof theircondition.Stimulatingcertainacupuncture points,particularlythose onor
nearthe abdomen,couldinduce premature laborandpossiblymiscarriage.
6. About3.1 millionpeopleinthe UnitedStatesundergoacupuncture eachyear.
7. While studieshave documentedacupuncture’sefficacy,none have fullyexplainedhow itworks
inthe contextof Westernmedicine.
8. The World HealthOrganizationhasidentifiedmore than50 conditionsforwhichacupuncture
can be used.
9. In general,youshouldavoidtreatmentwhenyouare veryhungry,full fromaheavymeal or
upset.Treatmentcanbe adjustedaccordingto a patient’sconditionandsymptoms.
10. Speakup duringtreatment.Letthe acupuncturistknow if youare nervous,uncomfortable,
dizzy,nauseatedorsufferinganyotherill effects.Youracupuncturistcanadjustthe needlesor
evenwithdrawthem,if needed.
KeyQ&A
1. Doesacupuncture workthe same for everybody?No.Infact,researchersaren’tcompletelysure
howor why itworks.Your response maybe differentthanthatof anotherpatientwithsimilar
symptoms.Mostpatientshave a favorable response totreatment,andnone are made worse
long-term.
2. Isn’tacupuncture justa placebo?No.Whileresearchersdon’tdiscountthe placeboeffect,
evidence indicatesthatacupuncture iseffective intreatingavarietyof conditions,including
postoperative andchemotherapy-inducednauseaandvomiting,painassociatedwithdental
surgery,neckpain,low-backpain,migrainesandknee osteoarthritis.
3. I knowI wantto try acupuncture.WhyshouldI talkto my primaryhealthcare professional
first?Painmaybe a symptomof a seriouscondition.Youshouldbe screenedbyahealth
professionalwithformal traininginWesternallopathicmedicine if the diagnosisisnotclearor
standardtreatmentoptionsunknown.
4. Is acupuncture a replacementforconventional medicine?Sometimes,butgenerally,itisprudent
to continue anycurrenttreatmentsprescribedforyou.Acupunctureoftenservesas
complementarytherapy,workinginconjunctionwithothertreatments.Infact,insome cases,
usingacupuncture andcertainconventional painkillerstogetherleadstocompletepainrelief.
Andremember:If youare seeingseveral healthcare professionals,keepthemall apprisedof
your varioustreatmentsandtherapies.
5. Are the acupuncture needleslike those usedtogive shotsordraw blood?No.Acupuncture
needlesare hair-thin,smoothandsolid,while hypodermicneedlesare thicker,hollow andhave
cuttingedges.
6. Whenis acupuncture anappropriate treatment?Ifyouhave pain,nauseaandvomitingfrom
chemotherapyorpregnancy,orare facingsurgeryandworriedaboutanesthesia-induced
nausea,talkto yourphysicianaboutacupuncture.Youmayalso talkwithan acupuncturisttoget

9. information.Acupuncture mayofferpainrelief orimprove othersymptomsevenif youhave had
little successwithconventional medicine.
For more informationvisitusourwebsite:http://www.healthinfi.com