Did You Know this - about Acupuncture?

WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?

Acupuncture is a technique whereby diseases can be either cured or alleviated - or put in other words – an extra tool in a doctors toolbox.

THE BASIS OF ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture has been known in China for the last 3-4000 years and the technique has been able to demonstrate results that even today are surprising.

The old Chinese were excellent observers and they managed to bring all these observations into a practical model, which is still working today. Many, in particular non-doctors, still use these theories and the philosophy behind them. They operate with concepts such as; The Five Elements, Yin and Yang, all concepts that are difficult to include in modern science.

Therefore, a number of doctors and dentists prefer today to explain acupuncture on the basis of modern science.

Our current knowledge regarding the mode of action of acupuncture is far from fully understood. However, the last 10-15 years research has given enough information so we today are able, at least partially, to explain how acupuncture works.

Obviously, there seems to be a great discrepancy between the Chinese and the scientific explanation. However, let’s try and understand how the Chinese developed their hypothesis.

In acupuncture several concepts are essential for the understanding, such as meridians, De-qui, energy, Yin and Yang, Qi, etc.

According to the Chinese, meridians are channels that run all over the body.

Acupuncture points are distributed on these channels, some more important than others.

A life energy called the Qi circulates around the body, through the meridians, taking a well-described pattern. This energy is vital for the existence of life.

If there is a blockage of the meridian that obstructs the free flow of the energy, the patient suffers pain or illness.

By doing acupuncture, the doctor unlocks the obstruction, restoring the normal flow of the Qi, and the patient’s health improves.

This hypothesis does not make much sense in a modern scientific world but never the less let’s try and understand how the old Chinese developed these ideas.

A triggerpoint is a well-defined anatomical structure, mainly located in muscles. One characteristic for a triggerpoint is that stimulation, e.g. pressure, on the triggerpoint, will initiate a pain and a radiation after a specific pattern unique for the individual triggerpoint.

For example, by squeezing a triggerpoint in the shoulder muscle, the patient might feel a sensation from the shoulder region radiating down to the little finger. Interestingly all patients with an active triggerpoint in this region will have the same sensation. Even more interesting, is the fact, that this referral pattern is similar to the location of the meridian.

It is probably this information, which has leaded the Chinese to their understanding of meridians and energy. We do not have any explanation for the phenomenon of the Qi energy, but it is likely that the Chinese have interpreted the radiation of sensation as an energy that was transported in the meridians.

WHERE CAN ACUPUNCTURE BE USED?

Acupuncture is not a miracle cure and the technique has limitations like conventional medicine. Today we have a substantial amount of research to support the effects of acupuncture. It is not possible to give a full list of the conditions where acupuncture might be appropriate, but I will allow the reader to get a fairly good idea.

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WHAT HAPPEND DURING AN ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT?

During the consultation a medical history will be taken in the same way as with your own doctor. If it is decided that acupuncture might be appropriate. fine needles will be inserted in different parts of the body, depending on the problem.

After the needles have been inserted, they will be stimulated manually for a few seconds and left in situ for a while. Thereafter the needles will be removed without further stimulation.

All needles used in the clinic are sterilised, pre-packed disposable needles, so there are no risks of transmitting hepatitis or AIDS.

HOW WILL I FEEL AFTER THE TREATMENT?

In most cases you will feel better straight after the treatment to give you a few examples. You might experience a more relaxed feeling, feeling relief in the shoulder or less blocked in the nose.

Few patents fell tired after acupuncture, which is something to be aware of if you are driving home yourself. Generally this tiered or light-headed feeling will normally disappear after a few minutes.

It is normally recommended that you take it easy on the day of treatment, it is generally not recommended to carry out ay sports activities on the day of the treatment.

WHEN CAN ONE SEE AN EFFECT?

In most cases there will be an instant effect and you will e.g. feel less stiffness or pains in the lower back. In some cases, in particular in diseases you have been suffering with for a long time, the effect might be delayed and a few treatments might be necessary before an assessment can be made. As a rule of thumb, it should be possible to see at least a temporarily effect after three treatments. If no improvement has occurred after three treatments, I will in most cases advice you to stop the treatment. If possible I will advice you what to do next.

DOES ACUPUNCTURE ALWAYS WORK?

No – acupuncture is like all other techniques in medicine not 100%. As mentioned above, one would expect to see some improvement after three treatments. If no improvement has been noticed, the treatment will be terminated.

HOW MANY TREATMENTS ARE NEEDED?

Of course it depends on the disease. If it is an acute injury, one treatment might be sufficient. If it concerns a longstanding problem, more treatments are required. In some chronic conditions a top up every three months might be recommended.

FOR WHICH CONDITIONS SHOULD ACUPUNCTURE NOT BE USED?

As mentioned, acupuncture is not a miracle cure and there are conditions where I do not find acupuncture appropriate. In those cases I will inform you either by phone or at the consultation – i this is the case there will be no charge.

Below a few examples of conditions, where acupuncture should not be used.

· Diabetes should be treated with insulin – not acupuncture.
· Hypertension should be treated with beta blockers, calcium antagonists, AIDS inhibitors or diuretics – not acupuncture. · Deafness can not be treated by acupuncture.
· Cancer should not be treated with acupuncture, however some of the symptoms associated with the cancer or its treatment might respond to acupuncture. · Acupuncture should not be used during pregnancy, except for morning sickness.
· Infections – a tonsillitis requires antibiotics – not acupuncture.

HOW IS ACUPUNCTURE WORKING?

The complete understanding of acupuncture’s mode of action is still not fully understood. However, it is generally accepted that acupuncture activates small nerve fibres in muscle, which send impulses to the spinal cord and then activate the mid brain and pituitary-hypothalamus. It has been shown that neurotransmitters like enkephalin, beta-endorphin, dynorphin, serotonin and noradrenalin are involved in this process. It is well known that a painful stimulation will activate two types of nerve fibres in the peripheral nervous system; A-d-fibres and C-fibres which primarily will terminate at the second layer of the back horn. From the second layer of the back horn, the pain sensation is via interneurons transmitted to the brain and we will experience a pain. Today it is generally accepted that insertion of a needle in an acupuncture point will create a small local inflammatory process with the release of neurotransmitters such as bradykinin, histamine, etc. and subsequent stimulate A-d-fibres located in the skin and muscles. The A-d-fibres terminate in the second layer of the back horn of the spine and inhibits the incoming painful sensations mediated via the C-fibres by release of enkephaline. From the second layer of the back horn, the A-d-fibre continues to the fifth layer of the back horn in the spine, cross over to the opposite side and ascend via the Spinothalamic Tract to the mid brain where the Raphe Magnus Nucleus is stimulated. Raphe Magnus Nucleus is the main producer of Serotonin on the brain and is believed to play a key role in acupuncture’s mode of action. Thus, it has been demonstrated that Serotonin is a pro-drug for endorphin which probably accounts for the central (extrasegmental) effect of acupuncture. Moreover, it has been shown that Serotonin is a pro-drug for ACTH, which probably via the pituitary gland accounts for the increase in cortisol which has been shown after acupuncture and thus improves the immune system. Finally, Serotonin has a direct effect on the cortex and it is likely that the beneficial effect of acupuncture on stress and anxiety is because of this direct effect on the cortex. It has been suggested that the pituitary gland takes part in the production of endorphin but our knowledge at this level is very scanty.

CAN CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT AND ACUPUNCTURE BE GIVEN AT THE SAME TIME?

Acupuncture can without problems be combined with conventional treatment. In many cases acupuncture can take over where conventional treatment have to give in and vise versa.

DOES ACUPUNCTURE HAVE ADVERSE EFFECTS?

It is a public belief in the public that acupuncture is without side effects compared to conventional medicine. This is not the case. Adverse effects have been described after acupuncture, some of them serious. In general the reason for adverse effects is due to lack of knowledge of the practitioner. A recent review paper was able to show that serious side effects was five time more frequent if acupuncture was given by a non medical qualified practitioner compared to a medical qualified practitioner. The same study was able to show that the reason for these adverse effects was due to a general lack of basic medical knowledge, such as anatomy, physiology and basic sterilising procedures. However, a recent study involving 32.000,000 acupuncture treatment demonstrated that minor side effects was observed in 13 out of 10,000 treatments. No serious side effects was observed. There are few conditions where acupuncture should not be used. In pregnancy there is a tradition for only treating for morning sickness. Patients with a history rheumatic fever can receive normal acupuncture but not ear acupuncture. The same rules apply for other high risk patients. Warfarin treatment is not a contraindication for acupuncture.

DO I NEED A REFFERAL LETTER FROM MY OWN DOCTOR?

If you are not a member of a Private Health Scheme, no referral is necessary. If you are; a referral letter might be required in order to claim for the treatment. Please inquire with your Private Health Scheme.

WHICH HEALTH SCHEMES COVER ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT?

To the best of my knowledge I am registered with the following Private Health Schemes at present.

· AXA Corporate Solution
· BHSF
· BCWA
· BUPA
· Clinicare
· CS Healthcare
· Exeter Friendly Society
· Healthsfield
· HAS
· Legal and General Assurance Society
· Norwich Union
· Pinnacle
· PPP
· PHS
· Standard Life
· Westfield
· WPA

HOW CAN I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

Appointments are easiest made by telephone, but appointment by fax is possible or – E-mail is possible as well.

If you are in doubt if acupuncture is appropriate for your condition, I will be happy to have a chat over the phone.

Telephone: 0114 2360077

Fax: 01142 620491

E-mail: Prosted@aol.com

HOW CAN YOU FIND US?

The clinic is located on 200 Abbey Lane, Sheffield, S8 OBU, on the corner of Abbey Lane and Hutcliffe Wood Road by the round about.

The clinic can be reached by Bus number 76 and Bus number 38.

Free parking is provided in front of the clinic.

ACCESS FOR HANDICAPED?

As mentioned you can park in front of the clinic and there are a few steps only to the clinic. Moreover there is a ramp, so access by wheelchair is possible.

BLOOD DONATION AND ACUPUNCTURE

As I am medical qualified GMC number 3436820, you are allowed to donate blood.