Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

Until he was diagnosed two years ago with rheumatoid arthritis, Marlon suffered with achiness and swelling of most of his joints, but managed to resist taking any medication other than aspirin. His wrists, knuckles, and ankles frequently felt warm and puffy, a condition that tended to worsen whenever the weather was rainy or damp. Although he had tried a few natural approaches on his own, he remained frustrated and upset as his condition continued to limit his life. Finally, someone referred him to a local acupuncturist and practitioner of Chinese medicine.

At his first appointment, the acupuncturist asked Marlon many questions, not only about his arthritis, but also about other symptoms and about his sleep patterns, his bowel regularity, fluid intake, and diet. He also asked Marlon about what factors affected his arthritis symptoms, such as whether the pain seemed to move (no), was it sharp or dull (dull), whether warm baths helped (sometimes), and whether rubbing the joints felt good or bad (usually bad). He then diagnosed Marlon has having a "damp bi" syndrome in Chinese medicine, which is one way that painful swelling is described.

The treatment involved putting acupuncture needles near the sites of the swelling, very superficially under the skin. Previously nervous around needles, Marlon was amazed at how little pain was associated with the acupuncture procedure. After a few treatments, the acupuncturist began to concentrate on what he described as the underlying deficiency of spleen energy, which he believed led to Marlon's symptoms. He put needles in points on the legs and abdomen after first warming up the areas with a burning herb called moxa or mugwort. The needle sites bore no anatomical relationship to Marlon's swelling, but were points on channels called meridians, which formed pathways of energy through the body. Marlon also began taking herbs, in a powdered form, twice a day. The herbs were designed to move the "dampness" out of the joints. He was also given a stick of moxa and taught how to use it to warm up his joints every night before bed.

After just a few weeks, Marlon noticed less swelling in the wrists and ankles. As long as he continued to take his herbs and see the acupuncturist twice a month, he felt terrific and no longer needed to take even aspirin to relieve the pain.

Like Marlon, you may find that acupuncture will help to resolve your arthritis pain. It may interest you to know that acupuncture is part of a rich and multilayered approach to health and healing, one that encompasses every aspect of your being—mind, soul, and body.

The Philosophy of Chinese Medicine

At its heart, the Chinese philosophy of health is based on the view that humanity, and each individual human, is part of a larger creation—the universe itself. Each of us is subject to the same laws that govern all of nature. In fact, Chinese medicine refers to the flow of bodily fluid and energy as channels and rivers, and the state of the body as a whole in terms of the natural elements. Don't be surprised if your condition is referred to as "damp" or "dry" or connected to the "water" or "wood" element.

In Chinese medicine, your health is determined by your ability to maintain a balanced and harmonious internal environment. Internal harmony is expressed through the principle of yin-yang, in which two opposing forces have united to create everything in the universe. Yin has connotations of cold, dark, and wet, while yang is bright, warm, and dry. Yin is quiet, static, and inactive while yang is dynamic, active, and expansive.

In humans, parts of the body are ascribed more yin or more yang qualities, as are all physiological processes and disease. To diagnose and treat arthritis, for instance, a Chinese practitioner might focus on determining the yin or the yang nature of the pain as described by the patient.

QI: THE LIFE FORCE

According to Chinese philosophy, all pain is caused when the yin-yang balance in the body is disturbed. Yin-yang becomes disturbed when the flow of energy through the body—energy known as qi (pronounced "chee")—is interrupted or blocked in some way. In Chinese medicine, qi is the energy essential for life. All of your body's functions are manifestations of qi, and your health is determined by your having a sufficient, balanced, and unimpeded flow of qi. Qi ensures bodily function by keeping blood and body fluids circulating to warm the body, fight disease, and protect the body against negative forces from the external environment.

Chinese medicine holds that qi circulates through the body along a continuous circuit of pathways known as meridians. These meridians flow along the surface of the body and through the internal organs. When you are healthy, you have an abundance of qi flowing smoothly through the meridians and organs, which allows your body to function in balance and harmony.

If qi becomes blocked along one of your meridians, however, the organ or tissue meant to be nourished by this energy will not receive enough qi to perform its functions. By locating where in the body qi is blocked, and by releasing it through acupuncture, acupressure, herbs, and exercises, Chinese therapists attempt to restore proper energy flow to the body.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF ARTHRITIS

Like most other branches of natural medicine, Chinese medicine provides no standard diagnostic signs or treatment plans. Instead, you'll be evaluated based on your own unique constitution and energy level. In traditional Chinese medicine, both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are know as bi (or blockage) syndromes. Qi energy becomes blocked at the joints by cold, damp, heat, or wind or a combination thereof. During the diagnostic procedure, the practitioner of Chinese medicine will attempt to determine your particular pattern of internal disharmony.

Like most of us used to a more mainstream approach to the medical exam, you might find a visit to a Chinese medical office to be a bit on the exotic side. You may pick up the slightly sweet smell of burning moxa, the herb frequently used as part of acupuncture treatments. Even after you sit down with the practitioner, you might be surprised by the course the appointment takes. First, far more time than usual is spent discussing the symptoms that brought you to visit in the first place. The practitioner will ask you to be very specific about your symptoms, asking you when pain occurs, what it feels like (hot or cold, sharp or dull), and what makes it feel better.

She may also ask you more general questions about how you feel or react to heat or cold, dampness or dryness, seasonal variations, and day to night changes in mood and feelings of well-being. Other questions might concern bowel movements, menstruation, and eating and drinking habits. Your answers to these questions will give the doctor an idea of what part of your system might be affecting your joints and what kind of treatment you might require to bring your body back into harmony.

The physical examination that follows may also be a bit different from what you might be used to. A healer trained in Chinese medicine places a great deal of importance on listening to your pulse. In fact, she will feel twelve different pulses, six on each side, and each related to a different organ in the body. The pulses also relate to meridians, the energy pathways through the body, which may result in disease or pain if blocked. Your practitioner may also spend time looking at your tongue. According to the tenets of Chinese medicine, the tongue's coating, color, and shape reveal much about your body. By examining your tongue, the doctor is also attempting to locate where in your body qi flow has been disrupted.

After performing these exams, as well as observing your demeanor, way of moving, and mood, the practitioner will attempt to devise a treatment plan that will help unblock your "stuck" qi and bring your body back into balance. Generally speaking, such a plan will include acupuncture. It might also involve herbal therapy, acupressure and some other massage techniques, and qi-gong exercises. Sometimes practitioners specialize in using one or two of these modalities. And, at the same time, they will help you to find a diet, exercise, and stress-relieving routine to maintain that balance once you've achieved it.

Acupuncture, Acupressure, and Shiatsu

There are over one thousand "acupoints" located throughout the body. These points can be stimulated with needles or with one's own hands to enhance the flow of qi through the body and thus restore health. Your Chinese doctor will show you, on a chart and on your body, exactly where along these channels your difficulty is located.

Acupuncture needles are very long and very thin. Their insertion should be nearly painless, although there is often a mild pinprick and tingling sensation as the needle makes contact with the qi within the tissue. Often, moxibustion is used to warm and tone the body's qi before the needles are inserted. Moxa consists of special herbs derived from the mugwort plant and is gently heated either above or on a specific acupoint.

Acupuncture needles may be inserted to a depth of about a quarter to two inches or more, depending on a variety of factors, including your size and the way that the practitioner wishes to influence the flow of qi. The practitioner always takes care to avoid blood vessels and major organs. The needles are left in place anywhere from a few seconds up to an hour; the average time is about 20 minutes. The type, extent, and location of your arthritis symptoms, as well as the area of blocked qi, will determine how often and for how long you visit your acupuncturist. The average schedule is about once a week for several months, then once a month or so for maintenance.

Acupressure is different from acupuncture in that it uses finger pressure rather than needle insertion to stimulate acupoints. This method is especially helpful for those people who dislike or are afraid of needles, and it has the added comfort of physical, human touch. However, since the meridians and points are below the surface of the skin, it takes a skilled acupressurist to achieve the same level of efficacy as an acupuncturist. In fact, Chinese medical theory holds that a practitioner can transfer her own qi, or energy, to you through her hands, thus helping to heal you with touch. With a little training and guidance, you can learn to stimulate acupoints yourself and perform acupressure at home on your own.

Shiatsu, a massage technique developed in Japan, is another method of stimulating the flow of qi, which in Japan is known as ki (pronounced "key"). The shiatsu therapist may use a combination of fingers, thumbs, elbows, knees, and feet to press acupoints, usually in a rhythmic pattern. She may also stroke your body as well as gently twist your spine and other joints to further relax you.

Acupuncture, acupressure, and shiatsu all have the same goal in mind: to ensure that the life-giving energy is moving unimpeded through your body. Qi-gong exercises, described a little later in this chapter, offer another way to stimulate qi and bring your body back into balance. In addition to these methods, Chinese medicine also uses herbs to nourish the body, mind, and spirit.

Acupuncture Points Traditional Chinese medicine postulates that energy flows through the body in twelve major pathways called meridians, each linked to specific internal organs and organ systems. Within the meridian system, there are over a thousand acupoints that can be stimulated to enhance the flow of energy.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

The use of herbs is an essential part of traditional Chinese medicine. They are used to help reorganize the body constituents (qi, blood, and body fluids) within the meridians and the internal organs, as well as help the body to cope with stress and other external forces. In general, Chinese herbal medicine involves using multiple herbs in combinations that have specific effects. Herbs are dispensed and can be used in many different forms, including pills, tinctures (alcohol-based solutions), or capsules. Fresh herbs may also be given. They are to be boiled in water to make teas or used in food.

The doctor of Chinese medicine you visit may suggest certain herbs for you based on your particular problem and constitution. Although it would be counterproductive to attempt to prescribe herbs for you in this text, the following two combinations are known to help relieve arthritis symptoms:

Guan Jie Yan Wan (arthritis combination). This formula is for damp wind pain, that is, for swollen joints. It should not be taken during pregnancy.

Zhui Feng Huo Xue Pian (expel wind and move blood tablet): This is used for painful joints which get better with warmth, are stiff, and might be in the upper part of the body. It is also contraindicated in pregnancy.

Qi-Gong: Chinese Physical Fitness

A fourth form of Chinese therapy is qi-gong, a literal translation of which is "energy exercises." Qi-gong builds qi and helps to move it freely around the body. The exercises work to cultivate inner strength, calm the mind, and help maintain the body's natural state of internal balance and harmony or, if upset, restore the balance.

There are several types of qi-gong. Some exercises are similar to calisthenics or isometric movements, others are like meditative stances, and still others involve the stimulation of acupressure points through massage. Breathing exercises, similar to those described in Chapter 6, are designed to bring the body into a state of relaxation and harmony.

The basic qi-gong posture involves standing with the feet apart, with knees slightly bent, back straight, and the arms held in front of the body. You are then to imagine that you are holding an imaginary "ball of qi" in front of you. This posture is maintained for a few minutes to a half hour, and will improve your circulation, warm your hands, and relax you.

Chinese medicine, with its emphasis on internal harmony and self-care, is appealing to more and more Americans every day. Anxious to avoid the often painful, usually expensive, and almost always futile mainstream treatments for arthritis, millions of men and women find the ultimate goal of Chinese medicine—to bring internal harmony and balance to the body and spirit—both immediately soothing and ultimately motivating.

In Chapter 8 you'll learn about another system of medicine, one developed in India that also looks at health and healing from a holistic and natural perspective.