Acupuncture
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used systems of healing in the world. Originating in China some 3,500 years ago, Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that there are as many as 2,000 acupuncture points on the human body, which are connected by 20 pathways (12 main, 8 secondary) called meridians. These meridians conduct energy, or qi (pronounced “chi”), between the surface of the body and its internal organs. Each point has a different effect on the qi that passes through it.
Qi is believed to help regulate balance in the body. It is influenced by the opposing forces of yin and yang, which represent positive and negative energy and forces in the universe and human body. Acupuncture is believed to keep the balance between yin and yang, thus allowing for the normal flow of qi throughout the body and restoring health to the mind and body.
How does it work?
Acupuncture stimulates the body to produce its own pain relieving chemicals called “endorphins”. These chemicals mimic morphine by attaching to opiate receptor sites found throughout the nervous system. Endorphins help to block pathways that relay pain messages from the body to the brain, resulting in pain relief, general relaxation and biochemical restoration of the body’s own internal regulation systems.
Does it hurt?
While each person experiences acupuncture differently, most people feel only minimal discomfort as the needles are inserted: some feel no pain at all. Some people report a sensation of excitement or increased energy, while others feel relaxed.
Unlike hypodermic needles, acupuncture needles are solid and hair-thin, and they are not designed to cut the skin. Two or three acupuncture needles would fit inside the barrel of a regular hollow needle used for injections.
Is it safe?
When practiced by a licensed, trained acupuncture practitioner, acupuncture is extremely safe. Precautions are related to clean needling technique, including use of sterile needles and appropriate disposal of needles, as well as proper hand washing and skin preparation. Women in early pregnancy and hemophiliacs should be treated with caution.
What conditions does it treat?
In the late 1970s, the World Health Organization recognized the ability of acupuncture and Oriental medicine to treat nearly four dozen common ailments, including neuromusculoskeletal conditions (such as arthritis, neuralgia, insomnia, dizziness, and neck/shoulder pain); emotional and psychological disorders (such as depression and anxiety); circulatory disorders (such as hypertension, angina pectoris, arteriosclerosis and anemia); addictions to alcohol, nicotine and other drugs; respiratory disorders (such as emphysema, sinusitis, allergies and bronchitis); and gastrointestinal conditions (such as food allergies, ulcers, chronic diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, intestinal weakness, anorexia and gastritis).
In 1997, a consensus statement released by the National Institutes of Health found that acupuncture could be useful by itself or in combination with other therapies to treat addiction, headaches, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, lower back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and asthma.
Please note, at Royal Centre Physiotherapy acupuncture is used within a physiotherapy treatment regimen and thus focuses on conditions that are musculoskeletal in nature. We treat ailments to bones, joints, muscles, nerves, and various soft tissues, including: Whiplash Associated Disorders, headaches, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Osteoarthritis, Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder), Neck and Low Back Pain, Iliotibial Band Syndrome, Tennis Elbow, Achilles Tendonitis, Plantar Fasciitis, Sciatica, Tibial Stress Syndrome (Shin Splints), Rotator Cuff Strain, Impingement Syndrome, Bursitis, Torticollis, DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis, Piriformis Syndrome, TMJ disorders, acute joint sprains and muscle strains; conditions typically treated by physiotherapists. We do not treat emotional/psychological conditions, circulatory disorders, addictions or gastrointestinal disorders.
How many treatments will be required?
The number of treatments will vary with each individual and the condition being treated. Typically, the initial treatments will be close together, perhaps 2 or 3 in the first week. One to two treatments per week will likely be necessary thereafter. For more acute conditions, as little as one treatment may be sufficient.
When used as part of a physiotherapy treatment program, performance of specific prescribed exercises is important to sustain improvements gained with acupuncture.
Is there any special advice to follow before/after a treatment?
Acupuncture affects blood sugar. As such it is important to avoid consumption of a large meal prior to treatment. Receiving treatment on an empty stomach should also be avoided. It is best to avoid alcohol or sedatives for hours before treatment and another 2 hours following treatment. Caffeine and cigarettes should also be avoided for about two hours following treatment. For painful conditions, avoid strenuous activity for 48 hours following treatment. Medication, as directed by your physician, may be taken as required.
For more information, please visit the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute.