Acupuncture



AcupunctureBy: Jordan EngelcentercenterSenior Project Mr. Copeland Fall 2014700000Senior Project Mr. Copeland Fall 2014Jordan EngelMr. CopelandSenior ProjectFall 2014 Medicine is a broad subject that integrates science and art in the method of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Health and medicine have existed since ancient times and has had connections to religion and cultural beliefs, as well as the science of medicine. There are a variety of health care practices in society today, health practices achieve to maintain and restore health in human beings and animals. Major health care practices in civilization today include, Western medicine and Alternative/Holistic medicine that both use science and art to improve one’s health. The use of Western vs. Alternative medicine is a controversial subject about which is more beneficial. Acupuncture is a type of holistic medicine that has been used since ancient times, and is healing for both humans and animals. Acupuncture is a form of medicine that treats the whole human/animal including body, mind, and spirit. To better understand acupuncture and its history it is important to understand the debate between Western and Alternative medicine. Western and Alternative medicine are two very different tactics in the health care system that share similarities, but also contrast. The debate between the two ways of healing is a controversial topic that focuses on the dispute as to which medical method is more beneficial. Alternative medicine, also known as Holistic medicine, “is a form of healing that considers the whole person -- body, mind, spirit, and emotions -- in the quest for optimal health and wellness” (webmd). While Holistic medicine has a more spiritual and natural approach and is about achieving proper balance in life Western medicine is more science based (webmd). Western medicine, also known as conventional medicine, is a science and researched based form of healing, it typically attempts to treat the symptoms alone, and this could encompass the use of drugs or surgery (realizehealth).Holistic medicine is very different from Western medicine, where the doctor typically tries to just treat the symptom(s) and does not get to the root of the problem. Holistic medicine does a good job of treating the whole body and trying to find and fix the root of the problem while preventing other issues and keeping a healthy lifestyle (Toh).“The accepted belief among holistic practitioners with regard to interrater reliability is that holistic methods have the intention to affect not just one system, but all body systems, by influencing the patient's vital life force in a positive way through the manipulation of the body's energy system. Holistic practitioners believe that once the bio electromagnetic field is altered by one therapist, another therapist with his or her own energy field will be able to locate the same energy field response from the patient, as it has already been affected by the first researcher.” (Davis). Patients involved in holistic healing believe that treating all body systems is more consistent with their ideas about health and the body. However, public acceptance for the health care system is not as enthusiastic about alternative medicine due to little credible published research on the effectiveness of the healing strategies. This is mainly “because these therapies and their mechanisms of action do not lend themselves for study by way of the gold standard of medical research-the randomized controlled trial. As a result, one may hear the option that alternative therapies should not be used because they are not science based.” (Davis). Western medicine is the right health choice if a person is severely ill and is a good form of medicine to use for treating very sick people. However, Alternative medicine is the superior choice when it comes to good health and finding the underlying health deficiencies. Alternative medicine is going to get to the root of the problem instead of just treating the symptoms alone and creating a short term solution, holistic practitioners are going to have a more long term approach to an individual’s health (Toh). AHMA members recognize that both conventional and alternative therapies have their place and combine both in order to offer their patients a full range of treatment options tailored to each patient's specific needs. At the same time, holistic physicians emphasize personal responsibility and educate their patients about how to take care of themselves at all levels of their being. (Trivieri). To better understand Alternative medicine the history of acupuncture provides background for how Alternative medicine became more acceptable. Acupuncture has existed for many years, it was first mentioned in documents dating from a few hundred years leading up to the Common Era (White and Ernst). Acupuncture originated in China where people would use sharpened stones and bones that from about 6000 BCE as instrument tools to for acupuncture treatment (White and Ernst). The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine was the first document from about 100 BCE that described an organized system of diagnosis, treatment, and systems that are closely related with acupuncture “The text is likely to be a compilation of traditions handed down over centuries and shows the concepts of channels (meridians or conduits) in which the Qi (vital energy or life force) flowed are well established by this time, though the precise anatomical locations of acupuncture points developed later” (White and Ernst). Acupuncture spread around the world at various times increasing the growth of alternative medicine. In the sixth century, Korea and Japan integrated Chinese acupuncture and herbs into their medical health care system (White and Ernst). Acupuncture then arrived in Vietnam when commercial routes opened up between the eighth and tenth centuries (White and Ernst).Years later the Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion was published during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) (White and Ernst). This book basically formed the basics and standards of modern acupuncture. The book had detailed descriptions of the entire 365 points that represent openings to channels through which needles could be inserted to modify and control the movement of Qi energy in the body (White and Ernst). Acupuncture continued to be developed and organize in texts over the following centuries and gradually became one of the standard therapies used in China, alongside herbs, massage, diet and moxibustion (heat) (History of Acupuncture).Interest in acupuncture in China declined in the seventeenth century because it became to be regarded as superstitious and irrational. The Emperor excluded acupuncture from the Imperial Medical Institute in 1822 (White and Ernst). However, the knowledge and skills were still retained and practiced in private. As Western medicine seemed to take over Chinese medicine, western trained doctors attempted to ban traditional Chinese medicine (History of Acupuncture). Nevertheless their attempt was rejected by the National Medical Assembly in Shanghai on March 17, 1929 (History of Acupuncture). March 1929 is a day still celebrated every year due to this event, known as Chinese Doctors’ Day (History of Acupuncture). A member of the US Press Corps was given acupuncture during recovery from an emergency appendectomy in China in 1971 in preparation for President Nixon’s visit (White and Ernst). It worked as a pain reliever and the benefits of acupuncture were wrote about upon his return to U.S in the New York Times (White and Ernst). Acupuncture finally reached its present level of acceptability in the USA when it was reported that there was positive evidence for its effectiveness, at least in a limited range of conditions (White and Ernst). “In 1997, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) recognized acupuncture as a mainstream medicine healing option with a statement documenting the procedure’s safety and efficacy for treating a range of health conditions.” (Ehrlich). This incident increased the spread of acupuncture around the globe, especially in the United States. This event significantly increased the acceptance and recognition of holistic medicine, particularly acupuncture. Acupuncture is one of the most common forms of Holistic medicine in modern society besides homeopathic. The strict dictionary definition for acupuncture is, “an originally Chinese practice of inserting fine needles through the skin at specific points especially to cure disease or relieve pain” (Merriam-Webster). Acupuncture, same as Alternative medicine treats the whole human/animal including body, mind, and spirit and has a purpose to get to the root of the problem (Trivieri). Acupuncture practitioners embrace a variety of safe and effective diagnostic and treatment choices (HealthCMi). When undergoing acupuncture treatments most practitioners will include education for lifestyle changes and self-care in order to boost the patients’ health (HealthCMi). Lots of acupuncture practitioners also suggest the use of herbs alongside receiving acupuncture treatment to speed up the healing process (Acupuncture Million). Acupuncture increasingly became one of the excepted normal therapies used in China, alongside herbs, massage, diet, and moxibustion (heat) (White and Ernst). There are 365 points in the human body that can be reached through acupuncture (White and Ernst). These points represent openings to the channels through which needles could be inserted to adjust the flow of qi or energy (White and Ernst). Acupuncture points are located in areas where there is a high density of nerve endings, mast cells, small blood vessels and lymphatic vessels (Veterinary Acupuncture). In Chinese acupuncture anatomy, the internal organs of the body are all interconnected with one another by pathways called meridians, which are located throughout the body (White and Ernst). Meridians are pathways in which the energy or qi is circulated throughout the body and are also mentioned as vessels, chings, or channels (White and Ernst). The 12 meridians are, stomach (yang organ), spleen (yin organ), heart (yin organ), small intestine (yang organ), bladder (yang organ), kidney (yin organ), pericardium (yin organ), triple Burner (yang organ), gallbladder (yang organ), liver (yin organ), lung (yin organ), and the large intestine (yang organ) (Twelve Primary Channels). The 12 main meridians in the human body are categorized into five elemental energies: fire, earth, metal, water, and wood, along with these energies the meridians can be broke down into different elements such as, seasons, emotions, colors, etc (Twelve Primary Channels). These elements are known to be the basics for understanding the interconnection between the balance of the natural environment, yin and yan, and the human body (Twelve Primary Channels).The concepts of yin and yang and the Five Agents provided the intellectual framework of much of Chinese scientific thinking (Twelve Primary Channels). In acupuncture it is a common rule that everything in the human body as well as in nature is balanced and connected and can be controlled. Illnesses in Chinese medicine, is seen as a disturbance in the balance of yin and yang, the source of the imbalance occurs in at least one of the twelve primary channels (Sena). In “The Legend the Yellow Emperor” yin and yan is described as, "The principle of Yin and Yang is the foundation of the entire universe. It underlies everything in creation. It brings about the development of parenthood; it is the root and source of life and death it is found with the temples of the gods. In order to treat and cure diseases one must search for their origins” (Sena). Yin and yang symbolizes the balance of everything in universe. Yin can be translated into female, passive, and the negative principle in nature while yang would be translated into positive, active, and the male principle in nature (Sena). By identifying what yin and yang, the meridian organs, and the five elemental energies are it is easier to understand and appreciate how acupuncture actually works (Diamond). In acupuncture the flow of qi (energy) and the balance of yin and yang can be disturbed in the human body which is what an illnesses is in Chinese medicine (Diamond). In order to maintain good health a person’s qi must be regulated throughout the body. “If the qi in the meridian becomes blocked, the condition of the body becomes disordered if one could remove the blockage from the flow of qi within a meridian, the natural flow could be restored” (Dharmananda). To remove the blockage, so qi can flow through the body normally a needle can be inserted into certain points which will have a significant impact on the flow pattern (Dharmananda). However, modern studies for a more scientific approach have revealed that acupuncture stimulates one or more of the signaling systems in the human body (Dharamanada). By stimulated the signaling systems in the body a person can increase the rate of healing and also alleviate some symptoms or pain (Dharmananda). Acupuncture can help with an extensive amount of diseases, symptoms or conditions in the human body. Case-controlled clinical studies have been able to prove and show what conditions acupuncture can successful treat (University of California). Due to the case studies acupuncture has been proven to help with over 30 and counting conditions. Acupuncture can help improve musculoskeletal problems such as, back and neck pain as well as nausea, migraine headache, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and infertility (University of California). In order for a patient to benefit from acupuncture treatment, the patient must go at least once a week for four weeks unless a patient wants an on-going treatment plan (Mentor: Peter Shea). Acupuncture results depends on the patient but typically each treatment would be equal to a year of the problem the patient has been having (Mentor: Peter Shea). For example if a person had back pain for 4 years it would probably take four treatments (about 4 weeks) for a patient to start seeing results (Mentor: Peter Shea). Acupuncture is very beneficial for humans and can improve many issues, however acupuncture is also helpful for animals. Clinical research has been conducted showing positive results in the treatment of both animals and humans either in conjunction with Western medicine or alone (IVAS). Acupuncture has been used in veterinary practices for thousands of years starting in China and moving to the U.S. (IVAS). There are 173?acupuncture points in animals that can be accessed (Veterinary Acupuncture). Acupuncture performed on animals is typically only used for functional problems such as those that involve paralysis, noninfectious inflammation (such as allergies), and pain (IVAS). Different needles and treatments are used depending on the size of the animal (IVAS). For small animals acupuncture treatments are virtually painless however, when dealing with larger animals the bigger needle that must be used, may cause a little tension or pain (IVAS). Acupuncture is very safe and beneficial for all types of animals and is a great way to improve an animal’s heath (IVAS). In conclusion, the use of Western vs. Alternative medicine is a controversial subject about which is more beneficial. Acupuncture is a type of holistic medicine that has been used since ancient times, and is healing for both humans and animals. It has been found that it is most effective to undergo both Western and Alternative medical healing, because they both assist with different health issues and have different treatment options. Since acupuncture was first created in 6000 BCE in China it has become a more versatile, accepted, and growing health care option for all people and animals. Work CitedAcupuncture Million. "Interesting Facts about Acupuncture Resources." Welcome to Acupuncture. Acupuncture Million Inc., 2006-2014. Web. 03 Dec. 2014. <, Carol M. Complementary Therapies in Rehabilitation. SLACK Incorporated, 2009.Dharmananda, Subhuti. "TRADITIONAL VIEW." An Introduction to Acupuncture and How It Works. Institute for Traditional Medicine, Nov. 1996. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. <, John W. The Clinical Practice of Complementary, Alternative, and Western Medicine. CRC Press LLC, 2011.Ehrlich, Steven D. "Acupuncture." University of Maryland Medical Center. A.D.A.M., Inc, 14 Dec. 2011. Web. 06 Nov. 2014. <;."Holistic Medicine: What It Is, Treatments, Philosophy, and More." WebMD. WebMD, 2005-2014. Web. 21 Oct. 2014. <;."History of Acupuncture." History of Acupuncture. BAcC, 2014. Web. 31 Oct. 2014. <. "What Is Veterinary Acupuncture?" IVAS. International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, 2000 - 2014. Web. 01 Dec. 2014. <;."Merriam-Webster." Acupuncture. Merriam-Webster, 2014. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. <;."Naturopathic Medicine vs Conventional Medicine." Realize Health. RealizeHealth, 2014. Web. 20 Oct. 2014. <;. N.A. "WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?" Veterinary Acupuncture. Animal Veterinary Center, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2014. <, Taty. "." The Meaning of Yin-Yang. Beholders, 11 July 2010. Web. 20 Nov. 2014. <, Ken J. "Western Medicine Vs Traditional Chinese Medicine." Ezinearticles. SparkNET, 12 June 2008. Web. 24 Oct. 2014. <http%3A%2F%%2F%3FWestern-Medicine-Vs-Traditional-Chinese-Medicine%26id%3D1243105>. "Twelve Primary Channels." Twelve Primary Meridians. Lieske, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2014. <, Larry. Guide to Holistic Heath. John Wiley and Sons, INC, 2001.University of California. "How Acupuncture Can Relieve Pain." UC San Diego - Center for Integrative Medicine. Regents of the University of California, 2014. Web. 01 Dec. 2014. <, A., and E. Ernst. "Rheumatology." A Brief History of Acupuncture. British Society for Rheumatology, 2004. Web. 31 Oct. 2014. < "Your Premier Source for Acupuncture PDAs & CEUs." Acupuncture Continuing Education Online. HealthCMi, 2014. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. ................
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