ACUPUNCTURE
by Sarah West, L. Ac.

Acupuncture points are located along “meridians“ or lines of energy flow which directly irrigate and influence the internal organs. Each of the 365 traditional points have a very specific energetic effect on organ function and regulation. Because the internal organs are traditionally associated with emotional states and moods, it is not uncommon for disharmony of the organ functions to be accompanied by symptoms such as irritability, depression, or anxiety.

Although this healing system is very ancient, the theoretical foundations of Chinese medicine are quite sophisticated. As with western medicine, the importance of an accurate diagnosis is essential. The two most important methods of diagnosis in this medical system are pulse and tongue diagnosis. In pulse diagnosis, the radial artery is palpated in 12 different locations, each representative of the 12 internal organ systems. These 12 pulses can exhibit any number of 28 different qualities, revealing important diagnostic information. Needless to say, the art of pulse diagnosis requires skill and experience. The tongue is then examined for spots, color, coating, shape, and several other features, as it also reveals internal organ functioning and the general state of the body’s internal terrain.

In the treatment of internal organ disorders, a practitioner does not choose acupuncture points or herbal prescriptions based solely on a western medical diagnosis. For example, if one were to examine five patients with ulcers, it is possible that all five might receive a different traditional diagnosis. The treatment approach would address the symptom of the ulcer in consideration of the individual underlying energetic configuration represented through pulse and tongue diagnosis.

The energetic root cause of the ulcer is considered to be the “pattern of disharmony“ unique to each individual case. Even in the treatment of chronic pain with acupuncture, it is important to consider the root, or the underlying pattern of energetic disharmony, as well as the branch, which is the outward manifestation of pain.

The most common question I am asked is “does acupuncture hurt ?” The answer is generally, no. However, it depends on the practitioner, the type of needles used, and the patient sensitivity. People are extremely different in their threshold of pain and sensitivity. In my practice, I have a great variety of needle sizes, ranging from extremely thin to thick. During the first session, I find the needle gauge that is right for that person, by starting thin, and going thicker if I feel I need to. If I use too thin of a needle, I don’t get an adequate therapeutic result. If I go too thick, it hurts. I avoid causing discomfort because I feel that I get less of a therapeutic result if the patient feels pain or stress. On the other hand, many western acupuncturists tend to use excessively thin needles with every patient, and the treatment may have no significant effect, particularly in the case of chronic pain. My needling technique is very much geared to the individual.

Most people feel extremely relaxed after a session. It is not uncommon to fall asleep during treatment. Often patients will feel an obvious and marked improvement of symptoms during or immediately following treatment, although it may take up to 36 hours to experience the full effect.

For the treatment of chronic pain, acupuncture works by moving stagnation and restoring the flow of “Qi”. It does not simply “block” pain. The cumulative effect of treatments gradually regulate the blood and energy flow, and heal tissue trauma. In cases of severe pain, I recommend 2 sessions per week for 2-4 weeks, then reduce the treatment frequency as the pain decreases.