Acupuncture

Encyclopedia of Medicine by Kathleen Dredge Wright

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Preparation

Before the first treatment, the acupuncturist will obtain a thorough medical history and study the patient carefully. Since a disturbance in qi can be caused by external influence, like cold, excess anger or poor diet, all aspects of the individual are considered. The practitioner will observe the person's tone of voice and body language, as well as discussing many aspects of health, including eating habits, sensitivity to temperature, emotional distress, and urine color.

The focus of treatment is on balancing the qi energy in the body.

Aftercare

Since acupuncture treatment is individualized to each patient, care afterwards will depend on the condition being treated and the patient's response. The acupuncturist may recommend changes in diet, exercise, and lifestyle to improve the patient's condition.

Risks

Serious side effects are unusual, but localized congestion is frequently reported after needle insertion. Less commonly reported adverse effects may include fainting, black and blue marks (hematoma formation), and a collapsed lung.

One of the advantages of acupuncture is that the incidence of negative side effects is lower than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures that can be used as treatment for the same conditions.

Key Terms

Chi

Pronounced , and also known as , in Chinese medicine, this energy flows through pathways that link together the entire body. The precise location of the acupuncture needle in the body removes obstructions in the energy flow and promotes healthy functioning of the body organs. By cultivating and building the Chi, the body is strengthened, the immune system is stronger, and there is a greater sense of well-being.

Meridians

According to the Chinese, a network of pathways running throughout the body, carrying energy from organ to organ, and connecting every cell of the body.

Moxibustion

A component of traditional Chinese medicine that involves the burning of an herb at or near certain sites on the body.

Placebo

An inactive substance used as a test in controlled experiments.

Further Reading

For Your Information

Books

• The Burton Goldberg Group. Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide. Fife, WA: Future Medicine Publishing, 1995.
• DeLisa, Joel A. and Bruce M. Gans. Rehabilitation Medicine: Principles and Practice. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1993.
• Fugh-Berman, A. Alternative Medicine: What Works. Tucson: Odonian Press, 1996.
• Gordon, J. S. Manifesto for a New Medicine: Your Guide to Healing Partnerships and the Wise Use of Alternative Therapies. Reading, Mass: Addison - Wesley, 1996.
• Gottlieb, Bill. New Choices in Natural Healing. Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Rodale Press, Inc., 1995.
• Weatherall, D. J., et. al. Oxford Textbook of Medicine. New York: Oxford University Press, 1987.

  Organizations

• American Holistic Medical Association. 2727 Fairview Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98102.
• Health Action Network Society. 202-5262 Rumble Street, Burnaby, B. C., Canada V53256. (604)435-0512.
• National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists. 1424 16th Street NW, Suite 601, Washington, DC 20036. (202) 232-1404.
• NW Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. 1307 N. 13th Street, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98103. (206)633-2419.

  Other

• Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health. "Acupuncture Effective for Certain Medical Conditions, Panel Says." January, 1998. http://altmed.od.nih.gov/oam/cam/1998/jan/full.html

Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Gale Research, 1999.