Weekly Wellness News

October 29, 2007

Feature: Another Alternative Approach

This week I would like to explore another alternative practice for treatment of disease and discomfort. While I have experience with chiropractic (discussed last week), I have no experience with acupuncture. Now that I am living in an area where acupuncture is common, I decided to start investigating.

Acupuncture has a long history in Chinese medicine, dating back nearly 5000 years by some accounts. Like most ancient treatments, much of the process that went in to developing it has been lost over the years. What we do know is that many, many people share anecdotal stories about the effectiveness of the treatments.

The basic premise behind acupuncture (and its relatives, acupressure and cupping) is that qi (pronounced roughly 'chee', translates roughly to 'vital energy') flows throughout the body, much like blood or nerve impulses. This energy travels through the inside and outsides of our bodies constantly, and the free flow of qi is essential to overall wellness. Sometimes, however, qi becomes 'blocked', and disease is the result. The desire, then, is to 'unblock' qi so that it can flow again.

Acupuncture attempts to unblock qi through the use of needles, heat, pressure, and other mechanism. Practitioners apply stimuli of various sorts to and through the skin, including needles (several different sizes), heat pads, and their hands and elbows. Once qi is unblocked, health is quickly restored in the patient.

Does qi exist? I think the current consensus is that it is more of a metaphor than a measurable or tangible thing. If it doesn't exist, then what's going on? Theories include boosting the immune system, endorphin levels, circulation, and neurotransmitter efficiency. No one really knows.

Is acupuncture effective? It's hard to tell. Unfortunately, traditional medicinal practices are inherently difficult to assess authoritatively. While many people swear by it, there may be just as many people who have seen little or no benefit. Acupuncture is basically safe when performed by a trained professional, so it might be best for you to try it for yourself and be your own judge.

While I question the ancient explanations, I believe acupuncture is effective for many people. I am looking for results at the moment. Who knows: maybe I'll be seeing an acupuncturist soon. I'm certainly curious.

Resources:

• Acupuncture [en.wikipedia.org]
• Acupuncture, A Brief Introduction [www.acupuncture.com]

Other news

• Don't forget to X-ray the apples: A Happy Halloween Means Safety First [healthday.com]
• The further we stray from raw and organic foods... Allergy-Induced Asthma More Common in Affluent Countries [healthday.com]
• When snack foods fight back: Popcorns workers stuck with painful legacy [www.msnbc.msn.com]

From the editor

Winter is rapidly approaching in northern South Korea. Today I collected leaves from a tree, and they ranged from bright green through yellow and orange all the way to deep crimson and purple. That was all on the same tree.

The hills are a rainbow of fall colors. It looks just like an oil painting in the afternoon sun. It is beautiful here right now.

I have the feedback link working again. Please send me your ideas for upcoming issues. Or just drop me a line... I'd love to hear from you!

Healthy thoughts,
Jeff

Copyright 2007, Jeffrey Eliasen.
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