The Half an Inch Pinch

A little pain for a lot of relief? Anzel van der Mescht finds out if acupuncture is worth it.

Acupuncture is an ancient healing system which originated in the East, more specifically, China. The treatment is thousands of years old and involves the insertion of extremely thin needles up to 1.3 centimetres (0.5 inches) into the skin. It works on the principle that the stimulation of specific areas under the skin affects the functioning of different organs.

Chinese theory explains that acupuncture balances the flow of energy (known as Qi or Chi) through pathways in your body known as meridians. According to Western theories, acupuncture stimulates nerves, muscles as well as tissue, increasing the flow of blood and boosting the body’s immunity.

To increase the effectiveness of the practice, moxibustion is often used as a supplement. Moxibustion refers to warming the acupuncture points with smouldering herbs, but the needles can also be stimulated using a small electric current.

Acupuncture is believed to remedy many ailments and illnesses. Symptomatic relief can be found from respiratory problems, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal disorders, menstrual and labour pains, chemo-induced nausea and vomiting, neurological disorders, allergies, vascular problems as well as bladder and skin problems to name only a few. On the other hand, since many scientists cannot explain why acupuncture works, they say it is simply a sham and has little or no effect.

Acupuncture and AIDS

Together with herbal therapy and acupressure (a form of touch therapy), acupuncture is one of the most popular alternative or complementary therapies, even for HIV patients. Acupuncture can help patients with HIV boost their immunity, relieve symptoms of the disease and side-effects from the medication, manage pain and cope with stress. Some patients believe alternative treatment such as acupuncture slows the progression of AIDS. Since acupuncture is not a drug (free of side-effects), it has the potential to enrich the quality of HIV-sufferers’ lives.

Sarah , a registered acupuncturist from Cape Town, says “with any discussion of HIV/AIDS, a distinction has to be made between those people diagnosed HIV positive that are symptom-free and those who are considered to have full-blown AIDS, with all the opportunistic infections that go along with that diagnosis.”

“When we treat symptom-free HIV positive people, the emphasis is on building up the immune system and their whole health with herbs, acupuncture and lifestyle advice including diet, rest, exercise, etc. When we treat a person with AIDS whose immune system is severely compromised and who is facing a variety of infections, herbs are even more important to help fight off these infections,” says Hewland.

“In these cases, while we always wish to strengthen the patient, we need to carefully balance each treatment, bearing in mind the relative strengths of the patient and the pathogens that are invading him or her, before devising a herbal or acupuncture point prescription.”

Acupuncture isn’t limited to any one disease and can be effective against numerous illnesses. “At the first signs of a disease, acupuncture could be of great help. It could help the body expel the viruses at a superficial level which is causing the problem, rather than leaping toward antibiotics,” say sarah. “It can also be used when the pathogen has penetrated to deeper levels, for example when there is coughing and phlegm. Acupuncture – often used in conjunction with herbs – can work powerfully to resolve phlegm without the need for antibiotics.”

Depression and Neurological Disorders

Many patients with HIV suffer from anxiety and depression, these patients can also receive acupuncture to relieve the negative neurological symptoms they may be experiencing. Treating depression with acupuncture could have a positive effect, especially when used in conjunction with psychotherapy and herbal treatments.

Sarah adds that “you cannot fix someone emotionally, they have to do it themselves, but you [as an acupuncturist] can act as the catalyst in facilitating that person to do so.”

Acupuncture alone won’t work if you suffer from a neurological disorder, but it can help restore the balance within a person. “When they feel they are drowning, we help them to get to a place where they are treading water,”  she says.

Diabetes Dilemma

Type-two diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, has been effectively treated by acupuncture in the past. By targeting twenty identified points in the body, acupuncturists can effectively treat diabetes.

Chinese medicine and acupuncture has shown results in reducing the primary effects of diabetes, such as high blood pressure, as well as secondary effects like impaired circulation, thereby reducing the risk of heart attacks, damage to the eyes and peripheral neuropathy.

Hewland says that “treating diabetes would require herbs as well as acupuncture. If it's late onset and diet dependent, there is much you can do to avoid medicating and help the patient significantly to improve their health. If the patient is insulin dependant, you will have to work in conjunction with their GP or healthcare provider.”

Infertility Problems

Many women with infertility problems seek acupuncture as treatment, but researchers claim that acupuncture is ineffective in helping women with falling pregnant. Others say it can be effective against hypo- and hyperthyroidism, common causes of infertility. It is believed that herbs and acupuncture increases blood flow to the endometrium of the womb, ensuring a thick and ‘fruitful’ uterus.

While acupuncture could possibly help with functional problems such as irregular ovulation, it isn’t effective against structural problems like blocked sperm ducts. For functional problems,Sarah says she would definitely use it. “I recommend that women start long before IVF or any other assisted reproductive technology, in order to optimise their health as much as possible.”

“Acupuncture can help women who have a tendency to miscarry,” . “I see women who fall pregnant and [with the use of acupuncture] I support them through the first trimester of pregnancy.”Says Sarah

Acupuncturists stay involved throughout the pregnancy and often assist with the delivery itself. “Acupuncturists are not just concerned with maximising the chances of conception and pregnancy for women with fertility issues; we are also concerned to support the health of the woman and the baby up until birth.”

Acupuncture and Addiction

Acupuncture can treat various addictions, from cigarettes and coffee to serious drug and alcohol addictions. Treating addictions with acupuncture involves putting the needles into certain points of the ear, also known as auricular acupuncture. The treatment can curb cravings and help detoxify your body from substance abuse and when combined with psychological treatment, it proves to be even more effective.

Risks of the therapy

The risks relating to acupuncture therapy are relatively low, unless you have a pre-existing condition that increases the potential risk of complication. Possible side-effects include soreness and bleeding, internal organ injury and contracting an infectious disease from re-used needles. Do not attempt acupuncture if you have one of the following conditions: bleeding disorders, open/broken skin or a pacemaker.

Choose your practitioner wisely – use legitimate recommendations, check their credentials, interview the practitioner and find out about the costs involved. “There is no risk from treatment by a fully qualified acupuncturist who will be completely aware of all underlying structures when needling, and will know the correct needling technique for each acupuncture point. He/she will also know which points are contraindicated in pregnancy. For obvious reasons, haemophiliacs should not choose acupuncture as a therapy,” Sarah adds.

 Results of Acupuncture

The effects of acupuncture are often difficult to measure, but normal results include pain relief and improvements in the treated condition. Acupuncture has been shown to work better in people who expect it to work. Some feel relaxed after acupuncture treatment, while others feel full of energy.

Not everyone responds to acupuncture in the same way. If your symptoms do not improve after a few weeks, this might not be the right treatment for you. “Everyone is unique,” . “We treat the person, not the ailment.”

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