- Bian Stone Needles (dating to New Stone Age 4,000 to 10,000 years ago)
- First needles used as healing instruments
- Over time stone needles replaced by bamboo, animal bone slivers, Copper and other metals
- Current Needles
- Rounded-tips with gauge of a human hair
- Sterile, single-use surgical steel needles
- Inserted either free-hand or with plastic guide tube
- Designed to push tissue to the side as opposed to standard needles which cut the skin
- Basis
- Health is maintained by remaining in balanced state
- Qi energy flows through the body along Meridians and this is disturbed by illness
- Acupuncture is postulated to Restore normal energy flow (Qi)
- Body is traversed by 12 main and 8 extra Meridians
- Meridians contain >400 Acupuncture points in which the Qi flows closer to the surface
- Meridians are analogous to highways
- Acupuncture points are analogous to on and off ramps to the highways (Meridians)
- Microsystems exist that map to broad regions (similar to homonculous)
- Auricular
- Scalp
- Palm
- Alimi (2002) Acupuncture [PubMed]
- Modern modifications
- Percutaneous nerve stimulation (electroacupuncture)
- Gate Control Theory of pain
- Spinal cord transmits pain signals to the brain through high-traffic gates
- Acupuncture generates faster signals that block slower pain signals from reaching the brain
- Electrical Theory
- Body generates very low level electrical discharges (these can be detected by monitoring)
- Cell maturation and function is affected by electrical fields
- Acupuncture points are concentrated in areas of low electrical resistance
- Stimulating Acupuncture points alters chemical Neurotransmitters
- Functional MRI demonstrates release of endogenous Opioids, Serotonin, Norepinephrine
- Released mediators affect Nociceptors, inflammatory Cytokines and pain Perception
- Neurohormonal theory
- Acupuncture stimulates natural endorphins from the brain and results in Analgesic effect
- Acupuncture practitioners have variable training and techniques making effects more difficult to study
- Pain appears to be better managed with more needles used and more treatment sessions attended
- MacPherson (2013) PLos One 8(12):e77438 +PMID:24146995 [PubMed]
- Adverse Effects
-
Severe and typically preventable reactions
- Infection
- Associated with non-sterile needle use
- In U.S., practitioners should use sterile, single-use needles
- Organ puncture (esp. lung, Bladder)
-
Allergic Reactions to needle
- Associated with use of needle materials other than surgical steel
- Localized inflammation at needle sites
- Localized bleeding at needle sites
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