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An Introduction to Acupuncture
By: Valerie Brinkman, L.Ac.
TX Lic. #AC00323

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy, also known as Oriental medicine, are gaining greater recognition from mainstream society in the United States. However, misconceptions remain: Acupuncture is only good for controlling pain; It is a way of applying mind over matter; It is an ancient form of folk medicine with no real future or relevance to our health in these times. These misconceptions are due to a lack of understanding the ideology, philosophy, treatments and goals of Oriental Medicine. The following information may help explain something of the medical paradigm in which Oriental Medicine operates.

Oriental Medicine is based on the ideology that the human is an inseparable spirit-mind-body whose health is dependent upon the transformation of Qi, pronounced "chee." Qi is the most difficult concept in Oriental Medicine for Westerners to understand because we have no reference to it in our medicine. Qi is a difficult word to translate. It can mean energy but it can also mean matter. "Life force" or "vital energy" are popular translation, but these do not acknowledge Qi's material forms. Qi is in a constant state of flux that ranges from the immaterial - our minds are Qi in energetic form - to the material - our bodies are Qi in condensed form. (Think of material food being transformed into energy available calories and you can begin to grasp the idea of Qi as energy/matter.)

The flux of Qi is what regulates our well being. When Qi is plentiful and moves freely, we are in a state of harmony. The immune system is strong and we are in good health. When Qi is restricted or deficient, our mind-body is in disharmony and we are unable to function at our optimal level.

The focus of Oriental Medicine is on an individual's disharmony, not on a disease or illness. Two people may have the same disease, the flu, for example, but their pattern of disharmony, how they are reacting to the flu, may be different. The individual's response to a "dis-ease" is of value to the practitioner, not the disease itself. A person's response indicates the imbalance of his/her Qi's ability to transform. Thus, two people may have the same disease, but receive different treatments.

Acupuncture treatments consist of the placement of very thin sterilized needles in specific locations on the hands, feet, arms, legs, torso and head. The needles are used to help regulate the Qi through the body's 12 meridians. This procedure may sedate, invigorate or release stagnation of the Qi. The number and placement of needles will vary, but usually no more than 15 needles are used. As a needle-phobic patient myself, I sympathize with anyone who is thinking "I hate needles; there's no way I could do that." For two years I avoided acupuncture. Not until I faced drug treatments that seemed worse than being stuck with needles did I have the courage to go to an acupuncturist. The experience was very different than what I expected. The insertion of needles was almost painless. For twenty minutes I lay on a comfortable table while soft music lulled me into relaxation. During many treatments I would fall into sleep. About 80% of the patients I treat experience the same form of deep relaxation. This relaxation can be important as it allows the acupuncture to help the body heal itself.

Length of treatment will depend upon the condition of the patient and whether the problem is acute or chronic. Often practitioners will be able to give patients an estimated time frame and number of treatments necessary to relieve acute symptoms. However, understand that relieving symptoms is not the final goal.

Symptoms are used as a diagnostic tool to help the practitioner identify a person's disharmony, and it is the disharmony that practitioner is aiming to resolve. The goal of Oriental Medicine is to bring the mind-body back to a state of harmony and balance. When the flow of Qi is restored, the patient's symptoms will simply go away.

Strengthening your immune system and your body's response-ability is always important and Oriental Medicine can be a very valuable tool. Depending on what disease or symptoms a person may have, the best option is to utilize the strengths of different forms of medicine and discuss the limitations with a qualified practitioner involved in your health care.

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