Acupuncture

We can define Acupuncture as the process of applying a stimulus to a point on the body to produce an effect. The stimulus can be either:-

1. mechanical, as in the traditional insertion of a needle;
2. pressure, as in acupressure;
3. laser;
4. heat, such as moxibustion;
5. others, e.g. electricity, TENS (Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation); some have even suggested ultrasound;
6. acupuncture points can even be injected with substances such as Vitamin B12, Vitamin C or Local Anaesthetic; this is called Aquapuncture.

These points may be pre-determined, as seen in the acupuncture charts and were described by Chinese practitioners thousands of years ago. These points have relatively predictable effects. Most of these traditional points line on “meridians” which traditionally represent the flow of energy through the body.

Other points are not traditional but could be individual for the person. These are tender points, known as “Ah Shi” points. (Ah Shi means “Oh Yes” in Chinese, not an abbreviation of a common English exclamation!) These points are discovered by systematically examining the patient. Some Ah Shi points are traditional points. A tender point means that it needs to be treated. The simplest, perhaps the crudest, form of acupuncture is just needling any painful point. In orthodox terms this practice is given respectability by calling it “Trigger Point Therapy” or “Dry Needling”.

Acupuncture has been simplified for the western mind. We call it “Medical Acupuncture” and it is a bastardised version of the traditional form, stripped down to bare bones so that it can be understood in the context of the western medical model. Western medical acupuncture is basically “cookbook” acupuncture, by this I mean that for every disease or medical problem there is a recipe of which points to use.

Some have denigrated this form of acupuncture as not being the“true” form. Traditional Acupuncture is much more complicated. Diagnosis is based on pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, Yin and Yang, etc., etc., and this determines the points punctured. Bare bone, bastardised medical acupuncture can deal with many common problems. Anything really complicated may need to be dealt with in the traditional way.

Just this simple form of acupuncture can still be a very useful addition to any doctor’s “tool box”, which can ease suffering in their patients.

What conditions can be treated with acupuncture? In short, everything can be treated with acupuncture. To qualify this statement: with some conditions, acupuncture can be the primary treatment and with others it can be an adjunct treatment. Knowing the difference is a reflection of knowledge, experience and skill.

[Extract from There is Always an Alternative, by Peter Baratosy, MB BS PhD DipAcup DipClinHyp FACNEM]