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Acupuncture - Does It Work?

In Ancient China strange things occasionally happened to soldiers who had been in battle. They were sometimes relieved of long-standing ailments such as headaches or arthritis and it was discovered that wounds inflicted by arrows or spears healed rapidly - All in response to a method of treatment that was to become known as "Acupuncture."

With centuries of history behind it acupuncture only recently came under the doubting scrutiny of scientific investigators of the Western World. Some of the reports of what the "healing needles" can do seemed amazing and own impossible to us in the West particularly when the needles were used to anestheize patients undergoing major operations including open heart surgery.

the Chinese also use acupuncture for treatment of many different illnesses. Their theory - try as to why it works is that all of us have an inner life force of positive and negative energy (yin and yang) running though us called Ch'i (pronounced 'kee'). The needles originally of gold silver or copper BUT now usually of stainless steel specific care inserted at specific points along meridians the pathways of the life force.

These meridians direct energy to, or drain energy from, a specific organ to correct any imbalance which might be present.

Unfortunately, the more impressive the claims (even of just a needle being inserted into a toe to relieve arthritis), the less likely are they to gain the confidence of people accustomed to more conventional methods of healing.

There is no black and white with acupuncture since it does not work on everyone nor does it work on the same people every time.

Most important of all, no one really knows how or why it works! The theory favored by many skeptics is that the needles act as a distraction and that the numbing and healing effects are purely psychological. Orthodox doctors argue that acupuncture works as an anesthetic only after long periods of indoctrination on carefully chosen patients who have been given small doses of barbituates, such as morphine. I personally, do not believe that barbituates are given routinely to acupuncture patients, but I do agree that acupuncture is not the answer to all ills. For example other factors such as faulty nutrition must also he corrected to obtain optimum health.

The insertion of needles by a trained acupuncturist is not a random procedure. The depth of insertion varies considerably and depends upon which of the hundreds of acupuncture points is being used. Most needles are inserted just below the surface of the skin hut some may go to a depth of three inches depending on the weight of the patient and the layer of fat that has to be penetrated. Length of needles also varies from one and a half to four inches again depending upon the patient and the desired effect.

The precise point of insertion is determined by the findings of a prior examination of the wrist pulse. According to. Chinese medicine there are 14 radial pulses (on the inside of the wrist) which the acupuncturist palpates or feels for at different depths using three fingers rather than the two fingers used by Western doctors. By checking the various pulses an acupuncturist is usually able to tell which organ is at fault and accordingly where to insert the needles.

The main controversy between various members of the medical profession exists because acupuncture cannot be explained scientifically, although a seemingly endless list of ailments, from migraine headaches to ulcers and arthritis, have responded to acupuncture. In some cases the results have been noteworthy and even spectacular.

Medical scientists at the Natural Institute of Medical Science and Research at Montpelier France (France's historic and medical center) have rejected the view that the benefits of acupuncture are "all in the mind." Their experiments on animals led to the conclusion that the effects are definitely physical. Acupuncture points were located in animals, needles were inserted and an electric current passed through them. In 30 minutes most of the animals showed no signs of being able to feel pain. The blood of these "painless" animals was than injected into other animals that had not received acupuncture treatment, and the animals of the second group also showed immunity from pain!

In China it is claimed that acupuncture works for 50 per cent of the patients who accept it. However, I think that the level of pain tolerated by most Chinese could not he tolerated here so the 50 per cent figure would have to he scaled down to apply to acupuncture patients in this country.

Experiments are now being carried out all over the world to uncover facts relating to acupuncture. Most Western minds would feel better if there were a more scientific explanation to back up this oriental therapy. Such serious interest and investigation shows that acupuncture can no longer be considered just quack medicine but that it holds definite potential for healing and health.

Summarizing: Regardless of the findings of scientists and researchers, if acupuncture works only on some patients and not on others is that a rational reason to reject it? Today when many doctors and pharmacologists are greatly concerned with our national dependence upon high powered drugs and medication, can we reject any form of therapy that has shown empirical worth?

In 430 A.D., St. Augustine is quoted as having said "There are no miracles only unknown laws."

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