acupuncture
by Barbara Millar
Acupuncture is a system of healing which has been practised in China and other Eastern countries for thousands of years. It is used to treat people with a wide range of problems, the main focus being improving overall well-being. It is often used to relieve stress-related health problems and research shows it can also be effective as a means of pain relief.
the basics
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According to traditional Chinese philosophy, health is dependent on the body's motivating energy, known as Qi (pronounced 'chee'), moving in a smooth and balanced way through a series of meridians or channels beneath the skin. Qi consists of equal and opposite qualities – Yin and Yang, and when these become unbalanced, illness may result. Practitioners believe the flow of Qi can be disturbed by emotional states, such as stress, anger or grief, by poor nutrition, infections, trauma, hereditary factors and even by weather conditions. The principal aim of acupuncture is to treat the whole person in order to recover the equilibrium between the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the individual.
how does it work?
By inserting fine needles into the channels of energy, an acupuncturist aims to stimulate the body's own healing response and restore its natural balance. Many people come to acupuncture for help with specific conditions, such as stress, anxiety, asthma, back pain, depression, migraines, rheumatism, skin conditions and ulcers. Others choose to have acupuncture as a preventive measure, to strengthen their constitution. It can also be used alongside conventional medicine in the treatment of both acute and chronic disease.
how does it relieve stress?
Acupuncture is an holistic approach to the management of disease and the maintenance of health so there is no single way of treating stress. Acupuncturist Linda Miller points out: 'The reason one person is stressed will not be the same for another person. Stress indicates that part of your life is not in balance. I need to assess someone's general state of health in order to identify the underlying pattern of disharmony and to give the most effective treatment.'
The first consultation usually takes longer than subsequent sessions as the acupuncturist needs to ask questions about current symptoms, what treatment you have received so far, your medical history and that of your close family, diet, digestive system, sleeping patterns and emotional state. To discover how the energies are flowing in your body, the acupuncturist feels the pulses on both wrists and looks at the colour and coating of the tongue, as a guide to physical health.
'Once enough information has been gathered to determine the likely causes of the problems, I can select the most appropriate treatment,' says Linda Miller. 'The aim is to discover which energy channels need adjusting to enable an individual's specific complaint to improve and which require treatment to boost overall energy and vitality.'
where's the evidence?
According to Professor Edzard Ernst at Exeter University's Department of Complementary Medicine, there have been too few studies carried out to draw any firm conclusions about the value of acupuncture in treating stress. But he says: 'Anecdotally, however, many patients have felt the therapy useful in dealing with stress and we know that it is effective, beyond doubt, in treating migraine, low back pain, dental pain and nausea and vomiting.'
risks to watch out for
Acupuncture is thought to be acceptably safe in trained hands but should normally be avoided in the first three months of pregnancy. Mild side-effects, like drowsiness, are quite common and bleeding or bruising from needles happens occasionally.
we test the therapy
I visited acupuncturist Linda Miller at her private practice near Stirling. At the first consultation, Linda asked lots of questions about my childhood, background, medical history, lifestyle, sleep patterns and dreams and how I felt about my general state of health and energy levels. A physical examination involved taking my pulses – not just once but frequently – and looking at my tongue. She also felt my abdomen and tested the temperature of various parts of my body.
On the second visit, a week later, Linda again checked my energy levels by taking the pulses and then began to insert the needles at specific points on my body, having made a diagnosis from the information I supplied in the first session. There are around 500 recognised acupuncture sites on the body, of which 100 are most commonly used. However the areas may not be close to the parts of the body where the problem is experienced. I arrived with a thumping, work-induced, stress headache and, to relieve this, Linda inserted needles into my hands and feet. The needles are small and fine and, when inserted, produce a dull, slightly achy sensation rather than a yelp of pain. Some needles were inserted and removed very quickly, others left in place for 10 minutes or longer. The acupuncturist may also supplement the needle treatment with moxa, a smouldering herb, which is used to warm acupuncture points to encourage the body's energy to flow.
verdict: Once the needles had been inserted and left in place my stress headache started to clear up. Later that evening, despite having done a full day at work and a two-hour round-trip drive to Linda's practice, I felt an uncustomary burst of energy.
practitioners: Members of the British Acupuncture Council have completed a thorough training of at least three years in traditional acupuncture and western medical sciences, such as anatomy and physiology. They have the letters MBAcC after their name and are covered by full medical malpractice insurance. All members observe a code of ethics and a code of practice which lays down stringent standards of hygiene. Acupuncture is not generally available on the NHS although some hospitals may have a pain clinic or physiotherapy department where acupuncture is used and some GPs also treat patients with acupuncture.
costs: There is no fixed fee for acupuncture as practitioners' overheads vary, but the cost of a first consultation can be in the region of £40, with follow-up sessions around £25-£30 for an hour's treatment.
it works for me
Aileen Ross, 56, runs a decorating supplies shop in Girvan, Ayrshire, and has been visiting an acupuncturist for over four years. She first tried acupuncture because the conventional medical approach to her condition of psoriatic arthritis was disappointing. 'I was in a great deal of pain and had very little movement in my hands until I started to have acupuncture, which keeps me mobile and pain free' says Aileen. She now also visits for help with stress since, last year, she was diagnosed with a tumour in the bowel and had to face major surgery.
'Acupuncture has definitely assisted me through this whole stressful experience,' says Aileen. 'It helps me relax and also gives me a boost of energy. I am still running my busy shop and walking my dogs every day.'
53-year-old Wilma Potts (not her real name) sought help from an acupuncturist when she realised she had become an alcoholic. 'My drinking was completely out of control,' Wilma recalls. 'I drank because I was under a great deal of stress and I didn't know how to give it up.'
Living in a small village in rural Scotland, Wilma was also keen not to publicise her problem by going to a local Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. 'I wanted to deal with the problem privately so I went to an acupuncturist with experience of drink and drug addictions. Even after just one session I felt a weight lift off me and I stopped drinking completely after a few weeks,' she says. 'Stress and drinking were interfering with my life far too much. I now feel fine, stress-free, and I never crave a drink at all.'
help and info
Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of third party sites.
Channel 4's complementary medicine site has a section on acupuncture.
organisations
Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP)
Portcullis
Castle Street
Mere BA12 6JE.
Tel: 01747 861151 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
E-mail: sec@aacp.uk.com
Website: www.aacp.uk.com
Aims to promote the value of acupuncture when used by chartered physiotherapists in a variety of conditions.
The British Acupuncture Council
63 Jeddo Road
London W12 9HQ
Tel: 020 8735 0400
E-mail: info@acupuncture.org.uk
Website: www.acupuncture.org.uk
Represents professional acupuncturists with an extensive training in acupuncture and the biomedical sciences appropriate to the practice of this therapy.
The British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS)
3 Winnington Court
Northwich CW8 1AQ
Tel: 01606 786782
E-mail: Admin@medical-acupuncture.org.uk
Website: www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk
Promotes the use of acupuncture as a therapy following orthodox medical diagnosis by suitably trained practitioners.
The British Complementary Medicine Association
P.O. Box 5122
Bournemouth BH8 0WG
Tel : 0845 345 5977
Website: www.bcma.co.uk
Umbrella organisation that promotes complementary medicine and represents over 40 associations, 30 schools and 20,000 practitioners across the UK, with a common code of conduct.
websites
Acupuncture
www.therapy-world.co.uk/acupun.htm
Contains a brief description of acupuncture, plus links to acupuncture organisations and a list of British acupuncturists.
Acupuncture.com
www.acupuncture.com
American-based website, containing information for patients, students and practitioners. Answers frequently asked questions, and features a list of UK-based practitioners.
The Institute for Complementary Medicine (ICM)
www.icmedicine.co.uk
Contains information on complementary medicine, a glossary, plus details of courses and practitioners.
reading
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A Guide to Acupuncture by Peter Firebrace, Sandra Hill (Constable Robinson, 1994) |
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Acupuncture by Peter Mole (Element Books Ltd, 1997) |
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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Acupuncture and Acupressure by David Sollars (Alpha Books, 2000) |
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Principles of Acupuncture by Angela Hicks (Thorsons, 2000) |
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Simple Guide to Using Acupuncture. The Five Elements by Nora Franglen (Global Books 2001) |
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(updated November 2002, resources updated May 2005)
