Medical Acupuncture

Acupuncture - like techniques have been used independently in different parts of the world for at least 3,000 years. As a systemised form of therapy, acupuncture developed within various forms of traditional East Asian medicine.

The origin and principles of Acupuncture

Traditional acupuncturists use the concept of a vital force called Qi that circulates through the organs along channels called meridians. Acupuncture points are located along the meridians and theoretically provide one means of altering the flow of Qi. Traditional acupuncture relies on diagnosis mainly by palpating peripheral pulses, the appearance of tongue.

Medical Acupuncture

Western Medical Acupuncture (WMA) is a therapeutic modality involving the insertion of fine needles; it is an adaptation of Chinese acupuncture using current knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology, and the principles of evidence based medicine. Whilst WMA has evolved from Chinese acupuncture, its practitioners no longer adhere to concepts such as Yin/Yang and circulation of Qi, and regard acupuncture as part of conventional medicine rather than a complete “alternative medical system”.

Conventional healthcare practitioners, mostly GPs, Pain Specialists, Rheumatologists and others trained in this, usually practise WMA.

It is mainly used to treat musculoskeletal pain, including myofascial trigger point pain. The design and interpretation of clinical studies is constrained by the likelihood that any form of needling used, as a usual control procedure in “placebo controlled” studies may be active.

How does Acupuncture work?

The main therapeutic effects of acupuncture needling are achieved through stimulation of the nervous system (sensory stimulation) and its known modes of action include local antidromic axon reflexes, segmental and extra segmental neuromodulation, and other central nervous system effects.

Imaging studies with functional MRI and positron emission tomography have provided good evidence of effects on various brain centres involved in pain control, notably the limbic structures, including the insula.

Numerous studies have shown that acupuncture treatment releases endorphins and serotonin in the brain and spinal cord. These modify the pain signals in the pain pathways of the spinal cord and brain, which helps with pain relief and the ability of the body to heal.

Another clinical area in which acupuncture is widely used is myofascial pain, a condition that can cause chronic debilitating pain due to muscular trigger points.

Evidence shows that, for several conditions, acupuncture is as effective or more effective than standard conventional care. Systematic reviews combining all the studies show that acupuncture is significantly superior to sham for nausea, low back pain, postoperative pain, knee pain and tension-type headaches.

WMA is a form of treatment based on sound neurophysiological principles and for this reason justifies an unbiased evaluation of its place in a modern healthcare service.

Is acupuncture safe?

Any treatment modality carries risk and with acupuncture serious adverse events are rare (approximately 1 in 200,000 treatments, and 1 in 20,000 patients).

Of the minor adverse events, the most common is bruising, which occurs in about 3 in 100 treatments. Sedation (helpful for some patients) following treatment is also described and can be marked in 1 in 100 patients; hence it is not advisable to drive after the first treatment. You may experience a temporary mild exacerbation of the pain being treated, which may last for around 24 hours.

Common conditions treated

(List is by no means exhaustive)

Pain relief for a wide range of painful conditions.

  • Musculoskeletal pain - back, shoulder, neck and leg pain
  • Successfully used to treat headaches and migraines.
  • Chronic muscle strains, sports injuries & trapped nerves
  • Arthritic and rheumatic pain
  • Functional bowel problems such as IBS
  • Overactive bladder syndrome
  • Period pains and hot flushes
  • Allergies such as hay fever, allergic rhinitis and rashes
  • Skin problems such as chronic ulcers, itching
  • Sinus problems and chronic catarrh
  • Anxiety and insomnia
  • Dry mouth and eyes

Acupuncture treatment – brief overview

The first session involves detailed assessment and tailored treatment using a few needles especially in acupuncture naïve patients. Subsequent sessions include acupuncture needling and addition of electro-acupuncture if indicated (mostly patients treated for pain).

The needles used are sterile and single use. A ‘no-touch’ technique is used which means that the acupuncturist’s hand will at no time come into direct contact with the needle because of the use of a sterile insertion tube.

The needles used for acupuncture are very fine, like a hair; hence almost no pain is felt as they pass through the skin. However, occasionally when treating extremely sensitive trigger points a slight pain may be associated with the needling, but this is usually very brief.

Treatment is usually once a week to begin with and then at longer intervals as the condition responds. Most patients need 5-8 sessions and may then need top ups as the condition dictates.

Electro-acupuncture

Electro-acupuncture is a specialised therapeutic method in which a small electrical charge is applied to needles using a battery- operated machine. The needles are connected to machine using clips (as shown below) and the stimulation is gradually increased to optimal levels. The current levels chosen are based on the amount the patient can handle and treatment lasts 15-20 minutes.

Sign up to our newsletter