HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?
By Dr Mohammed Sarwar Khan
 

Acupuncture is a branch of Chinese Medicine, which has more than 3000 years of history. The method of acupuncture is to encourage one’s body to promote natural healing and to improve it’s functioning. Acupuncture starts the therapeutic ball rolling by stimulating the appropriate organs and systems to create more Qi and blood in the body as well as addressing the specific problem. Qi (pronounced as “chee”) is simply the energy in our body.

The strongest feature of acupuncture is probably its ability to treat chronic conditions for which conventional medicine has no treatment and no relief other than harsh chemicals with potentially unpleasant side effects.  Acupuncture works quite differently than Allopathic or Homeopathic medicines. It is more gentle and deep acting. It is not as painful as people imagine.  Patients usually feel a tingly, or heavy, distended sensation.  The foremost advantage of acupuncture is that it has no side effects.

Classical Chinese theory behind acupuncture

In the body there are channels of energy that run all over its surface. These channels are called meridians.  They are like rivers flowing through the body irrigating and nourishing the tissues allowing a smooth flow of Qi and blood, which runs through the body to various parts, structures and organs.

An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers is like a dam.  The obstruction backs up the flow in one part of the body and restricts it in others.  Any obstruction and blockages or deficiencies of energy, blood and Qi eventually lead to a disease.

Needling the acupuncture points can influence the meridians. It unblocks the obstructions at the dams re-establishing the regular flow of energy through the meridians. Acupuncture treatments can help the body’s internal organs to correct the imbalance of digestion, absorption and energy producing activities.  They can also help in the circulation of energy through the meridians.

Modern scientific explanation of the functions of acupuncture

1. Needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord and the brain.  These chemicals either change the experience of pain or they trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones.  These chemicals and hormones influence the body’s own internal regulating system.
    
2. Chinese Medicine relies on the principle of YING-YANG balance. YIN-YANG balance is the healthy state of the body. YIN represents negative (“-”) and  YANG represents positive (“+”). The main principle of Chinese medicine is to keep the YIN and YANG balanced or to bring YIN and YANG back into balance.
   
   There are many factors that cause the YIN-YANG to become imbalanced. These factors can be both external and internal. External factors can be of mechanical, physical, chemical or biological nature. Internal factors can be associated with one’s mental, hereditary or constitutional nature.
   
   Acupuncture brings YIN-YANG back into balance. General points are chosen in order to treat the root of the problem.  Other points are chosen for specific symptoms associated with the disease, for example continual headaches. The number of needles used varies widely based on the disease and the diagnosis.

EAR ACUPUNCTURE:

Ear acupuncture can be used for additional assistance in the treatment of pain associated with a disease. Placing acupuncture needles in the ear affects specific organs such as the liver and kidneys. These organs then release chemicals or allow continuous Qi flow in the meridians.  Once the ear needles are removed, seeds can be taped onto the ears to allow on-going stimulation to the points. These seeds, or even magnets can be worn for a few days at a time. 

PULSE DIAGNOSIS:

Pulse diagnosis is also used to diagnose a disease.  It is like a laboratory blood test.  There are over twelve different pulse positions on each wrist and twenty-eight pulse qualities that can be related to each one of these positions. The different pulses can confirm a diagnosis and be used to monitor a patient’s progress.

MOXIBUSTION:

Moxibustion is also used in conjunction with acupuncture.  The science of acupuncture and moxibustion is an important component of Chinese medicine used in prevention and treatment of disease. Moxibustion treats and prevents disease by applying heat to acupunctures points or certain locations of the human body. Moxibustion is used in the form of a stick or cone or wool.  Often if a disease cannot be treated by acupuncture, it is then treated by moxibustion.  Cupping is another therapeutic approach to treating disease by attaching small jars onto the body, in which a vacuum is created.

The CHINESE HOSPITAL

The CHINESE HOSPITAL is affiliated with two of the most prestigious universities in China and the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing.  China-Japan Friendship Hospital employs over 1200 medical specialists and we are fortunate to be affiliated with it. We offer our patients, the diagnosis and treatment according to the method of the Chinese medicine, which has been successfully taught and practiced for years by the above affiliated institutions.