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Acupuncture is an essential part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It has been practiced in China and other Asian countries for over thousands of years. Acupuncture is usually done by inserting hair-size refined needles into the skin at certain Acupuncture points on the body to stimulate energy flow along the body’s energy pathways called Meridians.

TCM believes that Acupuncture helps cure diseases, prevent illnesses, and restore harmony by regulating and redirecting the energy flow. So, what exactly can Acupuncture do for you? In the Unites States, the effectiveness of acupuncture for relieving pain has been long recognized and practiced, and most people seek acupuncture treatments when they experience some kind of pain.

However, in China and in other Asian countries, Acupuncture is used for varieties of health conditions. Based on the studies and the clinical experience in different parts of the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) also provides a list of over 43 common disorders acupuncture can treat.

Here is a list of some of the conditions Acupuncture can help. This is based on recent Chinese clinical studies and experiences. I am listing them on the order of how effective Acupuncture can be.

1. Skeletal, Muscular, and Neurological Pain

   For this group of conditions, Acupuncture works very well, and may be used alone. Acupuncture sometimes could be an alternative treatment to surgical procedures.

   The conditions include Migraine, Headache, Frozen shoulder, Tennis elbow, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Trigeminal Pain, acute and chronic lower back pain, Sciatica pain, Arthritis pain, and etc.

2. Rehabilitation after Stroke, Surgery, and Auto or Sport Injures.

   In China, Acupuncture department is a part of services offered at Rehabilitation centers at most of the hospitals and usually works together with physical therapy, and occupational therapy. For stroke patients, Acupuncture treatment will start at bedside soon after the patient’s vital signs stabilize. The research shows acupuncture could not only accelerate the time of recovery but improve the quality of life of the survivors.

3. Other Chronic Medical Conditions: Asthma, Allergy, Sinusitis, Digestion problems, Hypertension, Menstrual disorder, Side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and etc.

   The studies show that acupuncture has optimal regulating function for the respiratory, urinary, digestive, cardiac, and vascular systems. It also exerts regulatory action on the function of the neuroendocrine systems, thus improving the immune system.

   For example, acupuncture applied at the acupoint, Qu chi (LI 11), which is located at the elbow area can lower the blood pressure. Acupuncture at the point, Zusanli (St36), which is located below the knee can both promote gastrointestinal peristalsis and stop the abdominal pain by relieve the spasm of the gastrointestinal smooth muscles.

   However, for this group of conditions, in many circumstances, western medicine and natural herb medicine work more effectively. In this case, acupuncture would help a person achieve the optimal results when it is used as an adjunctive therapy.

4. Analgesic effect of Acupuncture for operations, dental procedure, and labor and delivery

   The effectiveness of acupuncture for relieving the pain has been long proven by the use of acupuncture in place of anesthetics in a wide variety of operations, from minor procedures to open heart surgery in China and European countries. Witnessing of this acupuncture anesthesia by American doctors played a key role for the introduction of the Chinese Traditional Medicine into the United States.

   Finally, in recent years, the use of Acupuncture for smoking cessation, weight control, and facial rejuvenation is widely recognized and is gaining popularity.

(Editor’s Note: Dr. Ting Zhang, Lac can be reached at 360) 692-7000 or zt729@hotmail.com.).