For over 5000 years, acupuncture was used successfully by the Chinese as a primary method of healing for physical and mental ailments. It's been in the U.S. for about 30 years.
In 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) reviewed randomized controlled acupuncture studies and put their stamp of approval on acupuncture.
They reported that:
- Acupuncture is undoubtedly effective for 28 diseases, including headaches, post-operative surgical pain, post-operative dental pain and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting.
- Acupuncture is effective for 63 diseases but more proof is needed. This category includes stroke rehabilitation, chronic back pain, neck pain, sciatica, gastrointestinal disorders, lung conditions, tennis elbow, arthritis, and gynecological issues menstrual cramps, carpal tunnel syndrome, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, some sports injuries, anxiety, depression, allergies, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome and jaw pain. Nervous conditions and disorders of the eyes, nose and throat also fall under this category.
- Western medicine cannot treat 9 diseases very well at all so acupuncture is worth trying in those cases. Fibromyalgia and pain from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome are included in this category.
Acupuncture is also used for those recovering from motor vehicle injuries, bladder infection, stress-related disorders, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, smoking addictions, constipation, diarrhea, Meniere's disease, obesity and weight control and infertility. Acupuncture does not interfere with conventional medical treatment and many physicians are referring their patients to licensed acupuncturists to assist their patients on their healing journey. Other physicians are learning acupuncture in their medical school curriculum.
To find out whether acupuncture is effective for your illness, call our Los Angeles Acupuncture office at 1-323-936-3737.
What exactly is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a component of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Its goal is to alleviate pain and suffering and promote health and vitality. The art involves inserting thin needles into the body at strategic points which are thought to activate or de-stimulate one of the 14 energy channels in the body. Each energy channel has a specific function in the body, and most of them are connected directly to one of the body's organs. For example, several points on the Lung energy channel may be stimulated when someone has a cough or pneumonia.
Acupuncture is performed only by a highly trained acupuncturist who has received training in anatomy, physiology, Eastern healing principles, herbology, and the art of acupuncture as a complementary healing modality. An acupuncturist receives certification after successful coursework, and applies to the state to be licensed in acupuncture.
What Happens During an Acupuncture Office Visit?
The first step to schedule an acupuncture session is to call the acupuncture office and find out whether or not acupuncture is most likely to offer you some type of relief. At FBE Spa Holistic Health & Fitness, our acupuncture is well known for her work in using acupuncture to impact many illnesses. Dr. Yasmin Harounian, L.Ac. has even taken acupuncture a step farther than the original Chinese methods and uses it to obtain results for those seeking facial rejuvenation and / or weight loss. This is a new application for acupuncture in the U.S. and many are surprised with their great results.
The initial visit will take about an hour and includes an extensive medical history, exam and treatment. Treatment usually lasts about 30 minutes. During the treatment, very thin disposable needles are inserted into several very specific points on your body while you are lying on a comfortable table. The needles may be twirled during treatment. The needles are so thin that they do not cause pain; however, you may feel a sensation of a hair being plucked (although no hairs are plucked) or tingling or numbness.
The needles are left in the body for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the type of treatment that is offered.
Many people report that they feel more and more relaxed during treatment. This is a common benefit received after treatment. According to a 2001 study by the British Acupuncture Council of 132 acupuncture patients, researchers reported that:
- Physical symptoms were relieved 75% of the time
- Emotional and mental symptoms were relieved 67% of the time.
- "Inner life changes" were experienced by 54%, and 27% felt major life changes.
- During the course of their treatment, 42% of the patients decided to use acupuncture to treat another illness.
The needles are not meant to draw blood, and only occasionally you will see a tiny drop of blood when they are removed. Acupuncture treatments are usually performed over the course of a few weeks or months, depending on the condition treated.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on the theory that every living person (or animal) has life force called chi, which circulates through the body and accesses over 300 "switching points" along the way. These acupuncture switching points can be switched on or switched off, affecting the total vitality of the body and thus your energy levels and health. Illness is the result of an imbalance of the chi on one or more of the 14 different meridians that connect these points. When needles are inserted into these switching points in a particular manner, the energy flow can return to normal. Health and vitality is the result of balancing the chi on the meridians.
Although no one has ever been able to identify the chi as a fluid or measure it in the body persay, science has discovered that acupuncture may affect several of the body's signaling systems. These systems are responsible for health, disease and recovery. Signaling systems are complex and involve small proteins and chemicals such as neurotransmitters that are released at one site and travel to other locations to affect metabolism, hormone production, physiology, and brain chemistry. Acupuncture stimulates one or more of these signaling systems, bringing increased healing and improved vitality. When the signaling systems are restored, health becomes an automatic response.
Acupuncture releases endorphins that eliminate or lessen pain. Endorphins are the same chemicals released in runners that experience a runner's high. When acupuncture points are needled, scientists found that neurotransmitters appeared at the site. These were produced from the brain. Acupuncture is believed to be a stimulus to the nervous system, which controls pain, the perception of pain, healing, and the extensive cell signaling systems by releasing chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord and brain. However, additional research will provide more details into the exact mechanism that makes it so effective.
Is Acupuncture Safe?
Studies have proven that acupuncture is very safe. In one study, the treatments of 76 acupuncturists were followed for five years. With a total of 55,291 treatments, there were only 11 adverse events (99.8% success rate). The most frequent was failure to remove a needle after treatment; however, no problems occurred when the needle was finally removed. The second most common adverse effect was dizziness, perspiration or discomfort after the treatment, most likely due to low blood pressure. These symptoms resolved on their own.
Acupuncture is not recommended for those with bleeding disorders or those on anticoagulants (blood thinners).
