Pins and needles may help certain medical problems
Nicole Patti
Issue date: 2/14/07 Section: Life/styles
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, acupuncture is one of the oldest and most commonly used medical procedures in the world. It originated in China more than 2,000 years ago, but it became better known to the United States in 1971.
In the past 20 years, acupuncture has grown in popularity in the United States and it is practiced by thousands of physicians, dentists and other practitioners for relief or prevention of pain and for a variety of other health conditions. Metallic, solid and hair-thin needles are inserted at specific points in the body to help facilitate the flow of energy, thus reducing and preventing pain.
In traditional Chinese medicine, imbalances in the basic energetic flow of life are believed to cause illnesses. These imbalances are referred to as "chee" or "qi." It is believed that "chee" flows through channels in our bodies called meridians. By inserting fine needles into these meridians acupuncture practitioners believe that the energy flow will rebalance and the natural healing mechanisms in the body will take over.
Mayo Clinic concluded that it is hard to create a definitive list of conditions for which acupuncture might be beneficial. Studies indicate that it might be helpful for numerous diseases and conditions which include migraines, headaches, lower back pain, osteoarthritis, stroke rehabilitation, carpal tunnel syndrome and asthma.
Some doctors combine acupuncture and medications to manage pain during and after surgery. Research also shows that acupuncture can help control postoperative dental pain and lessen chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. It also appears as though it offers a reprieve from tennis elbow and constant menstrual cramps. In recent years, Yale researchers concluded that acupuncture is promising treatment for cocaine addiction.
Licensed acupuncturist Jack Gorfien said that he does not believe curative claims can be made regarding acupuncture, although he said that numerous studies show definite benefits. Gorfien, who owns Guilford Acupuncture in Madison, further stated that there are a lot of unknowns in acupuncture because people can see the results but they are hard to explain in terms of Western science. He further raised the question of how to conduct a placebo acupuncture.
In the past 20 years, acupuncture has grown in popularity in the United States and it is practiced by thousands of physicians, dentists and other practitioners for relief or prevention of pain and for a variety of other health conditions. Metallic, solid and hair-thin needles are inserted at specific points in the body to help facilitate the flow of energy, thus reducing and preventing pain.
In traditional Chinese medicine, imbalances in the basic energetic flow of life are believed to cause illnesses. These imbalances are referred to as "chee" or "qi." It is believed that "chee" flows through channels in our bodies called meridians. By inserting fine needles into these meridians acupuncture practitioners believe that the energy flow will rebalance and the natural healing mechanisms in the body will take over.
Mayo Clinic concluded that it is hard to create a definitive list of conditions for which acupuncture might be beneficial. Studies indicate that it might be helpful for numerous diseases and conditions which include migraines, headaches, lower back pain, osteoarthritis, stroke rehabilitation, carpal tunnel syndrome and asthma.
Some doctors combine acupuncture and medications to manage pain during and after surgery. Research also shows that acupuncture can help control postoperative dental pain and lessen chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. It also appears as though it offers a reprieve from tennis elbow and constant menstrual cramps. In recent years, Yale researchers concluded that acupuncture is promising treatment for cocaine addiction.
Licensed acupuncturist Jack Gorfien said that he does not believe curative claims can be made regarding acupuncture, although he said that numerous studies show definite benefits. Gorfien, who owns Guilford Acupuncture in Madison, further stated that there are a lot of unknowns in acupuncture because people can see the results but they are hard to explain in terms of Western science. He further raised the question of how to conduct a placebo acupuncture.
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