What is acupuncture? Acupuncture is a 5,000 year old Chinese system of natural healing (no drugs...no surgery), which is concerned with restoring proper energy flow to the various organs, glands and tissues of the body on the premise that most diseases are the result of malfunction due to disrupted energies.
Explanations: The Chinese definition of health is “All parts of the body functioning normally,” all 400 trillion parts. If there is an interruption in the transmission of energy flow or life force (called ch’i in Chinese), then the organ malfunction, disease, pain and suffering are inevitable.
Where does the interruption of energy flow occur? In either of both locations: 1) In the channels of energy flow, which are located throughout the body, just beneath the skin surface 2) In the spinal column where vertebrae may become misaligned, thereby compressing vital nerve trunks.
Are there other causes of disease besides those associated with the interference of the transmission of energy flow? Yes, of course. Psychosomatic states, hereditary factors, poisons, adverse environmental conditions, injury, germs, malnutrition, etc. All these are disease producing.
How do you detect the disturbance in energy flow within a patient? There are many methods, including certain signs, symptoms, pain spots, organ reflex points, and by pulse or instrumental findings.
Assuming I am going to take acupuncture treatments, how are they performed? First, the related skin points are determined. Then they are appropriately treated by one of over thirty methods of stimulation , some of which are:
- Long needle insertion (especially done in acupuncture anesthesia for surgery);
- Short needle penetration;
- Non-piercing needles;
- Metallic balls taped to the points;
- Electrical stimulation;
- Moxabustion (the burning of herbs over the points).
Out of 10 patients accepted for acupuncture health care, how many usually respond favorably? On the average, 8. Two out of ten fail to respond favorably for a variety of reasons. Advanced age, severity of the condition, irreversible tissue damage, etc., are deterrents to recovery.
In America, what kind of doctor should one go for this type of health care? Any doctor (chiropractor, medical, or osteopath) who has had the proper training. Any doctor who has not had the proper training is pretending to know something he/she does not, and by definition is a quack. Just because a doctor happens to have a chiropractic, medical or osteopathic degree does not mean he/she is qualified to do acupuncture. If he/she engages in practice, he/she is guilty of acupuncture malpractice. They must receive qualified training and pass exams to certify competence. This protects the public.
Are spinal adjusting treatments necessary with acupuncture? Absolutely. Spinal adjusting is part of the acupuncture health care. World authorities, including Felix Mann, M.D., of France; and Kunzo Nagayama, M.D. of Japan are very emphatic on this aspect of “getting well.” Dr. Mann states that many internal diseases are cured by the spinal adjustment alone. Leaving the adjustment (chiropractic) out of the treatment invites failure.
What are some of the conditions commonly treated by acupuncture? Textbook listed conditions run in the hundreds. Typical ailments usually responding to acupuncture health care includes: neuralgias, headaches, trigeminal neuralgia, tics, spasms, rheumatism, neuralgia of the shoulders and arms, tennis elbow, osteoarthritis, muscular rheumatism, ulcers, stomach problems, diarrhea, hepatitis, asthma, bronchitis, shortness of breath, coughs, certain types of heart trouble, abnormal blood pressure, hemorrhoids, lumbago, bladder irritation, bed wetting, certain kidney problems, female disorders, impotence, glaucoma, weak eyesight, hay fever, loss of smell, tonsillitis, loss of hearing, skin conditions, and even nervous or psychiatric factors based on the fact that mental problems arise from physical disorders.
The above list may seem long as though acupuncture were a panacea. The truth is that most textbooks list over two hundred diseases. Please be mindful of the fact that acupuncture is not like one drug used for one condition, but on the contrary, it is a complete healing art within itself, concerned with the systems of the body such as nervous, circulatory, digestive, respiratory, eliminatory, reproductive, hormonal, musculoskeletal, etc., and seeks to correct health problems within those systems.
In Acupuncture,(Meridian Therapy) are there other significant factors besides skin point stimulation and vertebral adjusting? Yes, There are four laws to obey for those who desire health and longevity:
- Proper nutrition
- Adequate rest
- Moderate exercise
- A positive mental attitude
Does Acupuncture have another name? Yes, In fact, the word acupuncture is incorrect because it implies needles only. The proper wording is "Meridian Therapy," or Ching Lo Chi Liao in Chinese. It was named "acupuncture" in the 16th Century by Portuguese sailors who knew no better. The wrong name stuck.
Has any research, other than empirical, been conducted?Meridian therapy is natural healing based on knowledge of another biological principal new only to the western world. Soviet scientists Novinski and Vorobiev have proven the premise of ancient Chinese healing by localizing meridian points with a Wheatstone bridge, using an alternating current to prevent polarization. This was fed by a generator of sonic frequency and recorded on a cathode ray oscillograph. When the electrode touched an active acupuncture point the amplitude of the wave on the oscillograph diminished. Best results were derived from frequencies of a few kilohertz and voltage from several millivolts to 4 volts.
Research? The Russians have already done it.
The research needed concerns results in this country on the sick American. We are doing it here. How? We are one of many doctors from all over this nation who are sending in testimonials from our patients to Dallas, TX.
We should welcome new knowledge as it is found... that’s what science is all about. Acupuncture won’t swallow us up... it’ll strengthen our medical professions.