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Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine • Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Acupuncture is an essential part of Oriental Medicine, a comprehensive system of health care with a continuous clinical history of over 3000 years. Oriental medicine includes acupuncture, Chinese herbology, bodywork, dietary therapy and exercise based on Traditional Oriental Medicine principles. Oriental medicine is based on an energetic model rather than the biochemical model of Western medicine. The ancient Chinese recognized a vital energy behind all life forms and life processes. They called this energy Qi or Chi (pronounced chee). In developing an understanding of the prevention and cure of disease, these healing practitioners discovered that this energy flows along specific pathways called 'meridians'. Each pathway is associated with a particular physiological system and internal organ. Disease is considered to arise due to a deficiency or imbalance of energy in the meridians and their associated physiological systems. Traditional Oriental Medicine uses an intricate system of pulse and tongue diagnosis, palpation of points and meridians, medical history and other signs and symptoms to create a composite Oriental medical diagnosis. A treatment plan is then formulated to return the body to a balanced state of health. The first publicized use of acupuncture in the United States was in 1826 when Ben Franklin's grandson, Franklin Bache, MD, published a paper on the beneficial effects of acupuncture. Acupuncture and electro-acupuncture were used in the 1860's, 70's and 80's for lumbago, fractures and anesthesia. In the early 1900's, however, with the rise of Western allopathic medicine, the use of acupuncture became less known in the US except in Chinatowns. It was not until 1971, during the Nixon Adminstration, that acupuncture was revived for Americans. James Reston, a NY Times reporter, was travelling in China with Henry Kissinger when he developed acute appendicitis. Chinese Physicians successfully treated him for post-operative pain using acupuncture. Reston wrote an article entitled "Now, Let Me Tell You About My Appendectomy in Peking..." This piqued the interest of Americans everywhere. A resurgence of acupuncture practice commenced. The State of Florida was one of the first to start licensing Acupuncture Physicians starting in 1982. According to Florida Law, Acupuncture Physicians may stimulate acupoints with needles, moxibustion, cupping, thermal methods, magnets, gua sha, scraping, acupatches, acuform, acupoint injection, massage, acupressure, reflexology, shiatsu, tui na, electrical stimulation and laser biostimulation. They may use nutritional counseling, recommend non-prescription dietary supplements, recommend breathing techniques and therapeutic exercises, give lifestyle and stress counseling, recommend homeopathic preparations, and prescribe herbal formulas. The World Health Organization has set training standards at 2500 hours for acupuncture training programs plus basic biosciences prerequisites. Acupuncture Physicians in the state of Florida must complete a four-year program of intensive study of 2700 hours of training. This is similar to the number of hours required of other medical professionals: MD/DO 2756 hours (plus 3 years of residency) and DC 2887 hours. The course of study includes training and supervision in the use of Oriental Medicine diagnosis and techniques, herbal studies, western biomedical terminology, anatomy and physiology, laboratory and diagnostic testing. In the state of Florida Acupuncture Physicians or Doctors of Oriental Medicine are considered Primary Care Physicians. The ear is an upside down fetus and mirrors the entire body. is the application of suction cups to muscular regions of the body. Cupping helps move blood in the muscles and tissues, breaking up stagnation of blood and energy. Gua Sha which means "scrape toxins" in Chinese is a healing technique used throughout Asia. Gua means to rub or friction. Sha is the term used to describe congestion of blood at the surface of the body. When friction is applied in repeated even strokes, the sha surfaces as small red petechiae. In minutes the petechiae fade into echymotic patches. The sha disappears totally in two to four days. The color and rate of fading are both diagnostic and prognostic indicators. The benefits of Gua Sha are numerous. It moves stuck blood, promoting normal circulation to the muscles, tissues, and organs directly beneath the surface treated. The patient experiences immediate changes in stiffness, pain and mobility. Normal metabolic processes are restored by the movement of fluids as nutrients are carried to the tissues and metabolic wastes are carried away. Because Gua Sha mimics sweating, it resolves fever. Gua Sha cools the patient who is overheated, warms the patient who is chilled, nourishes the patient who is deficient, and clears the patient who is excess. Gua Sha is therefore considered an adaptogenic technique. A care provider considers Gua Sha in any case of pain or discomfort, for upper respiratory or digestive problems, and for any condition where palpation indicates there is sha. After Gua Sha, the patient is instructed to cover the area, avoiding wind and exposure to the sun or sudden change in temperature. Stretching is recommended but not a heavy workout on the day of treatment. The use of magnets has been around for centuries. Is the burning of a Chinese herb over acupuncture points to help relieve inflammation, warm cold areas, and promote healing. Refers to the various forms of Chinese massage. |
