Acupuncture 101
A DISCUSSION AROUND THE ART OF ACUPUNCTURE
So what is acupuncture?
Acupuncture has been an integral part of the Chinese Medical Tradition for over 2500 years. The earliest medical text that mention’s its use is the “Huang Di Nei Jing” or the “Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor” written in the Han Dynasty and is still one of the core texts studied to this day . Chinese Medicine believes that when we experience pain, poor health or mental/emotional imbalance it is due to disharmony amongst the channel networks and the organs of the body. Once free movement and balance is re-established optimal health and vitality returns.
Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine single use needles into specific points in the body. Rational for the choice of points is built from a combination of classical meridian and constitutional theory with modern functional anatomy and sports medicine assessment. All treatments in the classical model need to be individualized not just by dysfunctional or injured tissues but also by constitutional imbalance. Correct assessment and treatment of individual constitutional type enhances the repair of injured tissue and facilitates a return to balance in the body’s homeostatic mechanisms.
How does it differ from dry needling?
“Dry needling” as it is now known, involves the insertion of a needle directly into a painful band in a muscle. Dry needling generally involves very strong manipulation of the needle to try to obtain a muscle twitch or fasciculation and is often quite uncomfortable. The needle is not retained as is the practice of traditional acupuncture. Dry needling is not considered a part of the acupuncture tradition springing from the work of Travell and Simons who brought to the attention of the west the awareness of trigger points ( hypersensitive nodules found along taught bands in muscle that refer pain in specific patterns). In the early days treatment involved the use of hypodermic syringes with anaesthetic or saline solution but this was found to have a comparative effective without the liquid so the term “dry needle” is used today.
Does it hurt and how long does it take?
Acupuncture needles are extremely fine with 35-40 needles being able to fit inside a traditional hypodermic needle. All most people feel is a slight prick felt with the insertion of the needle which may be followed by a sensation of heaviness or an achy pressure spreading out from the point. Acupuncture is very calming and regulating to the nervous system and during the 15-25 minutes whilst the needles are retained it is not uncommon for patients to doze off or fall asleep. You should allow 40-50minutes for a treatment and inform your therapist if you need to be out by a specific time as sometimes needles are retained for slightly longer if the nervous system is particularly worked up and tense. While some patients have incredible results in only 1-2 treatments it is more common to require a course of treatment.
Will my health fund cover it?
Chinese Medical practice (of which acupuncture is one branch) is now regulated under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. As such registration with AHPRA is the base standard for acupuncture practice in Australia and will allow rebates from all the major health funds. As always you should check your level of cover before booking for treatment as levels of cover vary between health funds.
What is the Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification Program?
The SMAC program was created by Matt Callison to bridge the gap between tradition Chinese acupuncture and modern sports medicine. It aims to utilize the strengths of both systems to assist patients back to activity as soon as possible. The system makes use of modern clinical assessment methods, functional anatomy and understanding of injury mechanisms and then combines this with traditional channel theory and an appreciation of the effects of a person’s constitution on their ability to heal quickly, and as a contributing factor to postural habits and injury mechanisms.
It is considered an advanced course as it relies on the practitioner already understanding both Chinese medicine and having a thorough grounding in Western anatomy and assessment methods. It utilizes acupuncture, stretching and massage, rehabilitation exercises and taping techniques as well as Chinese herbal formulas and liniments to speed recovery.
Do you use electro-acupuncture?
Electro acupuncture is a commonly used technique in Chinese acupuncture particularly in their hospital system. It is mainly used for pain conditions involving inflamed tissues but some practitioners will use the technique in all of their treatments. Localised pain, inflammation especially of tendons and bursa’s and swelling of joints are the primary conditions targeted by electro acupuncture. This choice is made on a patient by patient basis as it is seen as being a stronger treatment and may not be suitable for weaker patients with small frames.
How does acupuncture help with pain?
The mechanisms behind acupuncture are still being heavily researched but there are 3 main mechanisms that are involved in the treatment of pain.
1: Target tissue needling: acupuncture increases blood flow to the site of injury and interacts with the local inflammatory process’s that are involved with the healing response. Target tissue needling also refers to the deactivation of painful trigger points that may be causing referred or local pain in the muscular system.
2: Segmental effects of needling: The spinal cord relays information from the periphery of the body to the brain. Needling of tissue along the pathway of the involved spinal segment can cause inhibition of pain signal to the brain.
3: Central regulating effects: Acupuncture has been shown to exert generalized and specific effects in the brain itself. It has been shown that the traditional distal channel points on the limbs from elbow to fingers or knee to toes are needed to stimulate this change and the traditional retention of the needle must be applied. Local needling does not cause this central change.