Acupuncture is the strategic insertion of fine needles into
specific points on the body's surface for the purpose of stimulating
healing. It is part of an ancient system of health care developed
in China over 3000 years ago. Acupuncture is based on the concept
that energy (called chi) flows through the body in certain patterns
(meridians). The free flow of these energies ensures good health.
Change in the free flow of this energy, such as stuckness, blockages,
or imbalances, are believed to lead to pain, congestion and eventually
disease conditions in the body.
Recent research has elucidated some of the physiologic and biochemical
bases of acupuncture. Acupuncture stimulation has been shown to
release central nervous system endorphins and spinal cord dynorphins,
explaining part of its mechanism of action. It has also been shown
to promote the release of the chemical that activates the adrenal
glands (adrenocorticotrophic hormone or ACTH), affect chemicals
that are known to be involved in mood and pain perception (serotonin,
GABA, catecholamines, dopamine, etc), and influence one of the body's
pain-generating messengers (substance P). While its effects have
traditionally been explained in terms of energy flow dynamics
(Qi or Chi), science has shown that acupuncture may work at least
partly by directly affecting the function of the nervous system
(Han, 1986; Kaptchuk, 2002; Wu, 1999).
More recent studies and reviews have supported the use of
acupuncture for migraine and tension headaches (Melchart, 2001),
chronic neck pain (Irnich, 2001), and low back pain, neck pain
and soft-tissue injuries of the peripheral joints (Kerr, 2001).
According to a recent National Institutes of Health study,
acupuncture is most frequently used in both China and the U.S.
for musculoskeletal pain relief, with other common uses for pain
including migraine and peripheral nerve neuralgia (Xu X, 2001).
In a 2001 review of nine surveys on the safety of acupuncture,
it was found that minor adverse events were common, but serious
adverse events were rare. The most commonly reported were needle
pain (1% to 45%), tiredness (2% to 41%), nausea or vomiting (0.01% to 0.2%)
and slight bleeding, most often bruising (0.03% to 38%). Feelings of
faintness were very rare (0% to 0.3%). Pneumothorax, which is a
complication that may occur if a needle accidentally is placed into
the chest cavity, is also very rare, occurring only twice in nearly
250,000 treatments. There were no reported cases of infection or
transmission of disease through acupuncture (Ernst, 2001).
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