Acupuncture: Pins and Needles By Clare Bertolus
From Kate Moss, to Gwyneth Paltrow and even Oprah,
it seems that celebrities are wanting to be stuck with needles these
days. No, not the hypodermic kind. All of the stars mentioned above
are, in fact, well known acupuncture patients. But is this just another celebrity craze, or does it actually work? Acupuncture
treatment is credited with many benefits, from relieving back pain, to
banishing headaches and even helping the patient quit smoking.
Practitioners of Chinese Medicine claim that a few sessions of
needling, so to speak, could set you on your way. On the
other hand, thourough medical research has failed to conclusively prove
any scientific link between acupuncture and the health benefits it
claims. The practise of acupuncture has been around for several
thousand years. It is most commonly recognised as Chinese Traditional
Medicine, but is also present in Korean and Japanese medical traditions. Acupuncture
requires the patient to take a fresh look at their ailments. Instead of
focusing on organs, joints, viruses and bacteria as the source of pain
and illness, acupuncture treatment asks you to have a look at your chi
(energy). Practitioners believe that the health of the body
is intrisically tied to the flow of chi. Sickness or pain occurs when
the chi is blocked or altered. A typical consultation will
involve the practitioner giving your body a thorough looking over. They
will ask for your conventional medical history, they will also take
your pulse and examine the inside of your mouth. The final two
procedures are in order to gauge chi levels and flow. So make sure you
brush before you go.... Now here's the stick. To unblock the chi
the an acupuncturist will place tiny sterilised needles between three
and five milimeters into your skin. This won't necessarily occur where
the pain or sickness is actually located, but on one of the many points
around the body that are linked by the energy flows. The
good news is it doesn't hurt. The most common reaction is a tingling
sensation in the targeted area., and results vary from immediate pain
relief to no tangible benefit at all. Conventional medicine has
no response to those who claim that accupuncture has cured them.
Various studies have found that whilst acupuncture can be effective in
reducing pain and illness there is little scientific link between
acupuncture and results. Some have suggested that the needles may
stimulate nerve endings or hormone production in order to relieve pain.
Others have claimed that acupuncture can provide nothing more than a
placebo effect. However, traditional therapies such as
acupuncture have their benefits when compared to conventional medical
treatment. Acupuncture treatment has none of the harsh side effects of
drug or pharmaceutical usage. It can also be much less expensive in
conquering long term pain (pricing ranges between $25 and $80 a
session). But doctors warn patients that they should not shun
conventional medicine in favour of alternative therapies. Acupuncturists
and Medical Doctors alike agree that illnesses and pain are best
diagnosed by modern medicine, with patients using alternative therapies
to compliment and enhance normal treatment. So if you're ill, but
still want to be like your favourite celebrity - acupuncture could be
for you. Whilst it defies scientific explanation, acupuncture certainly
works for some people. After all, Kate Moss doesn't smoke anymore,
right? |
