Acupuncture: an introduction
About the author
Ron Piercy Lic. Ac. M.B.Ac.C gained his licentiate in August 1986 at the college of traditional Chinese acupuncture in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. In his practise, Ron uses acupuncture, Chinese patent herbal formulas and Reiki. He currently works in Fairfields clinic, Basingstoke, the therapy centre and the MS centre in Reading.
Ron can be contacted at the Fairfields Clinic, Skippets Lane West, Basingstoke, UK (tel: 01256 326980), or at the therapy centre:
The Therapy Centre, 6B Church Street, Reading, UK
0118 9391833
History of acupuncture
Acupuncture originated in China some 5,000 years ago, it spread to Tibet and Japan in ancient times, but today it is practised all over the world.There were a number of works written in ancient times, the most famous being The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine. It is said to have been written some 3,000 years ago, although no one can be sure, however there were references made to it in other works during the period 206 BC and 618 AD.
This work was written as a conversation between the Yellow Emperor and his physician Ch'i Po, it gives a deep understanding of the interaction of Yin and Yang and the Elements. This classic is the foundation of chinese medicine and is still used by students today.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is complex system of examination, diagnoses and treatment, using the theory of Ch'i energy of life force. The Ch'i energy flows within us, throughout our body, mind and spirit, if it is in balance and harmony then one is healthy. If, however the Ch'i is not flowing smoothly this will create disharmony and an imbalance and therefore disease will follow. What can effect our Ch'i? Mental and physical traumas, continual stress, invasion of wind, cold, damp, heat, diet, childbirth and operations are common causes.Chinese medicine recognises that Ch'i flows in pathways or meridians throughout the body. Each acupuncture meridian is associated with a pulse, there are twelve pulses, six in each wrist. The Practitioner will monitor these pulses which will inform him/her to the state of the patients Ch'i. It is said that past, present and possible future disease can be discerned here. Along these meridians there are points which can be needled to assist in rebalance - harmonising the flow of Ch'i energy, so acupuncture can improve your health and prevent disease.
The first session
When you go for your first acupuncture treatment, which takes from one and a half to two hours, the acupuncturist will ask you about your symptoms and any other minor problems you may have. He/she will wish to know about your past medical history and if there are any medical problems in your family.To assess the patient's Ch'i the acupuncturist will look at the condition of their nails, skin, hair, tongue and observe the hues coming from the face. The practitioner will also ask about the patient's sleep pattern, energy levels, appetite, bladder and bowel movements. Based on this information and of course, most importantly, the pulse diagnoses, the practitioner will formulate a treatment plan. The practitioner will choose from four to eight points to needle generally, but this is only a guide as treatment is based on the individual patient's needs. The needles are very fine, so when inserted the patient feels very little, however a sensation like a grabbing, pulling or Ch'i moving is desired; this is not unpleasant.
How many treatments?
Generally one would visit the acupuncturist on a weekly basis for four to five weeks, then once every two weeks for a while and so on, depending how well you respond to treatment. However, some conditions respond in a few treatments, remember everyone is unique, some need more, some need less treatments. As a rule, one expects the older the illness the longer the treatment.The cost of treatment
The cost of acupuncture treatment can vary from town to town, but as a general guide the first visit in the UK is between £30-35 and subsequent visits £20-25.Who can benefit from acupuncture?
As already stated everyone can benefit from acupuncture, however, traditionally the Chinese people would visit their practitioner just as the seasons change. This is preventative medicine, which some western patients feel is worthwhile. Due to their stressful lifestyle some patients find it beneficial to come every six to eight weeks.©2001 Ron Piercy. All rights reserved. Published with permission on 08-Jul-01.
