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Acupuncture makes use of very thin, hair-like needles, which are gently inserted into specific points on the body to promote a natural healing response.
There are two ways of explaining how acupuncture works, the Western scientific approach and the traditional Oriental view.
The science shows that needling works by influencing blood flow and biochemistry locally, as well as affecting the central nervous system and brain chemistry via the nerves that are stimulated during treatment.
The Oriental explanation states that health is maintained by the smooth flow of ‘Chi’ and the balanced interaction of all bodily functions. ‘Chi’ translates as ‘changing energy’ or ‘vitality’ and is manipulated and rebalanced by the needles to harmonise bodily functions and restore health.
Together these actions can generate powerful and far reaching affects on the tissues, organs and systems of the body.
These traditions can be traced back to medical books written 2500 years ago in ancient China and further back to the shamanic customs of earlier times. Acupuncture has been practiced continuously since those times and on into the 21st century, when it continues to evolve as a modern form of medicine. Presently, it is used by at least one third of the worlds population.
Over the last forty years science has taken a keen interest in acupuncture. Ever since the first doctors visited China and observed acupuncture being used for anaesthesia during major surgery, they were intrigued to discover how this could work. Today, the pain relieving effects of acupuncture are the best understood of all it’s benefits. As our research methods improve, an increasing number of studies are demonstrating acupuncture’s effectiveness in treating a wide range of other health problems too.
Everyone responds differently to acupuncture, but commonly people describe a sense of relaxation, a subtle sense of well being and calmness. Others feel energised and focussed with improved concentration and clarity of mind. Occasionally, people experience tiredness and a desire to sleep, in fact, improved sleep the night after treatment is often the first affect that people notice. Rarely, people will feel slightly disorientated or ‘spaced out’ immediately afterwards, but this will usually pass following a brief rest. A delayed response is also common, where no change is noticed until hours or even days after treatment.
To maximise the effects of treatment it is best to avoid certain activities for a few hours afterwards:
Don’t: Eat large meals or sugary snacks; drink too much caffeine or alcohol; engage in strenuous physical or intense mental activity or stressful situations.
Do: Relax; sleep; drink water or dilute fruit juice; eat light meals; pay attention to the ways in which your body and mind have changed.
It is helpful if you keep a simple record of what you experience after treatment. These details can help the acupuncturist to assess the effects of treatment and will influence the pattern of any ongoing treatment that you may require. As well as changes to the problem you have been treated for, look out for anything unusual for you, even it does not seem relevant. For example, changes in sleep patterns, appetite or mood are all common reactions and give invaluable clues to the acupuncturist. Keep a few simple notes in your diary or on a piece of paper so you remember the details at your next treatment.
The number of treatments required varies from person to person. As a general rule, the longer a problem had been around and the more complex it is, the more treatments will be required. Younger, healthier people tend to respond more quickly and therefore need less treatment. However, there are always exceptions to these rules.
You can help reduce the number of treatments you require by complying with the advice on diet or lifestyle changes that your acupuncturist may suggest.
The following diagram is useful in describing the usual response to treatment. It clearly shows that early on in the course of treatment, improvements in symptoms are often minimal. Again, this is not always the case and some lucky individuals will get complete relief after the first treatment, however this is rare. Usually, in cases that are not very chronic or complex, effects begin to be felt after the third or fourth treatment, as the cumulative effects of acupuncture build up. There follows a period of regular improvement, followed by a plateaux, when improvement progresses more slowly and treatments can be less frequent.
(Diagram from: Acupuncture by Dr. Paul Marcus. 1984. Thorsons Publishers Ltd.)
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