The word Acupuncture is derived from Latin. In Latin, Acus refers to ‘needle’ and Pungra means ‘to prick’. So, Acupuncture literally means ‘to prick a needle for treatment’! The combination of acupuncture and moxibustion is known in Chinese as Chen Chiu [needle & heat therapy]. Acupuncture treatment is usually carried out by inserting very fine needles at acupuncture points. An Acupuncture point means a specific spot on the body surface where needling is done to get a particular therapeutic response. The practice of cauterizing a part of the ear or body with a hot metal probe is very common in rural India and in many Asian countries even today. Well, this is nothing but a rudimentary form of acupuncture.
It is believed that acupuncture developed in both India and China, independently of each other. Indian medical scriptures, known as ‘Vedas’, dated to have been written about 7000 years ago, mention "needle therapy" .
The oldest known Chinese book on acupuncture, Nei Ching, was probably written in the 2nd or 3rd century B. C. A volume of the Vedas, known as Suchi Veda, translated as the "art of piercing with a needle," was written approximately 3,000 years ago and dealt entirely with acupuncture. This volume described 180 points known as "MARMA", which are said to heal or kill. The entire knowledge of Shalya Chikitsa or acupuncture was arranged in an orderly manner in the eight volumes of the famous ancient classic ‘SUSHRUTA SAMHITA’. Nevertheless, though it can be successfully argued that the Indians may have been begun the art of acupuncture, but it was the Chinese who stole the show by developing this art into science and presenting it to the World as “Chinese Acupuncture”.
Symptomatic acupuncture is mainly practiced by ‘BARE FOOT DOCTORS’ as first line symptomatic treatment for non specific short lived illnesses in rural setup.
Classical Acupuncture OR Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is based on a Holistic approach. The entire body is evaluated prior to therapy, regardless of the particular symptom. Acupuncture not only treats active disease but the cause of the disease as well. It is important to treat the cause because symptoms are just signals of a problem in the body. Chinese herbs may also be used in combination.
Acupuncture Anesthesia is one of the most impressive developments (1958) of Chinese medicine. The term ‘acupuncture anesthesia’ is really a misnomer. Although pain impulses are cut off by raising the pain threshold, other sensations like temperature, balance and vibration are found to remain intact. Hence it would be more accurate to use the term ‘Acupuncture Analgesia’. Acupuncture anaesthesia {analgesia} has been tried in over 100 different types of operations in over 2 million cases with a success rate of about 90% in China. Generally, it is thought to be more effective in head, neck and chest surgery. In India too, few major surgical operations have been performed under acupuncture analgesia and the results are encouraging.
“Medical acupuncture” is the term used to describe acupuncture performed by a doctor trained and licensed in Western medicine, one who has also thorough training in acupuncture as a specialty practice. Such a doctor can use one or the other approach, or a combination of both, as the need arises to treat an illness. He is someone who provides a patient with the ‘Best of both Worlds’.
Considerable controversy has surrounded Acupuncture. Some propagate it with extravagant claims of its efficacy while others shun it for its lack of scientific standing. To complicate matters further, there are fake training centres as well as fake acupuncturists.
So what exactly is a “Scientific Method?” At the end of the last century, T. H. Huxley defined science as “organized common sense” and the method of organization came to be known as “Scientific method”. The scientific method consists of observations, inference and experiment, followed by the formulation of hypothesis, theories and laws which in turn are subject to verification or otherwise by further experiments. Acupuncture was born from keen observations of clinical facts. For instance, when Edward Jenner on the advice of a dairy maid introduced SMALL POX vaccination, it was as effective then, as it is now, even though no scientific / immunological explanation was available. The exact mechanism of one of the oldest & commonly used drug, ASPIRIN, is unknown but it is still used extensively, rather its use is constantly increasing.
Acupuncture is not like a drug, it is in fact a COMPLETE SCIENCE or HEALING SYSTEM by itself, having several effects to regulate the function of the human body and to increase its resistance by enhancing the immune system and the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-spastic, anti-shock and anti-paralytic abilities of the body. Therefore, acupuncture effects cannot be explained by a single theory.
Nor is acupuncture simply a trigger for releasing endorphins to create a temporary anesthetic effect by blocking nerves that transmit pain message, as currently maintained in medical circles. It is far more than that. Acupuncture was born out of experience of thousands of years. The most fundamental biologic expression of this harmony or disharmony is the relative balance or imbalance of that primordial energy which the Chinese called Qi {pronounced Chi }. A free and balanced flow of Qi in the body expresses harmony and health while a blockage of this energy indicates illness. Qi travels along certain pathways called meridians. There are TWELVE PAIRED & TWO UNPAIRED meridians, named pertaining to a particular organ.
The Yin & Yang Theory, Theory of Five Elements, Organ Clock and many more traditional theories not only explain Chinese Philosophy but dictate the rules to practice the art of acupuncture. Some of these theories are being proved to be very close to Modern Medicine, for example the Organ Clock theory & the Circadian Rhythm.
Research based on Modern Medicine started in & outside China, only after Mr. Nixon’s visit to China in 1971. Recent research for the mechanism of action of acupuncture has primarily focused on analgesic effect of Acupuncture and most of the work has confirmed the efficacy of Acupuncture. This is well supported by the Gate control theory which offers peripheral analgesia and Endorphin theory which induces central analgesia.
According to recent studies, acupuncture points are believed to stimulate the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) to release chemicals (medicines) .These chemicals either change the experience of pain or release other chemicals, such as hormones, that influence the body’s self-regulating systems. The biochemical changes may stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being. The “Mind” is the biggest pharmaceutical industry in the World and it needs proper STIMULUS and WILL.
Yesteryears we believed that the brain stopped developing after the first few years of life. If a particular area of the adult brain was damaged, the nerve cells could not form new connections or regenerate, and the functions controlled by that area of the brain would be permanently lost. Today we recognize that the brain continues to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. This phenomenon is known as neuroplasticity. It allows the neurons in the brain to compensate for injury and adjust their activity in response to new situations or changes in their environment. Acupuncture is a potent stimulus to enhance neuroplasticity.
In spite of all these shortcomings, our understanding of the mechanism of action of acupuncture for the treatment of pain is superior to our understanding of the mechanism of action for many drugs in widespread use today.
Theoretically it is possible to help or cure by acupuncture any disease that can be affected by a physiological process. So, acupuncture can be used in many conditions. The W. H. O. at the Interregional Seminar, Beijing, China in 1979, drew up a provisional list of disorders that lend themselves to acupuncture treatment. The list is based on clinical experience {not necessarily based on controlled clinical research}. The list is not provided here as it would be difficult to comprehend for laymen.
However, a cure depends upon how well the cause of the disease is understood and in consequences to what extent it can be eliminated. Acupuncture should be used where it can give better & long lasting results compared to modern medicine, for example, one should treat Malaria with modern drugs and treat chronic painful conditions with Acupuncture. Many people assume they must live with pain, but this is simply untrue. Pain can be managed or greatly eased with proper pain management. Most cases of pain go untreated or are inadequately treated. With proper management of overall health, the well-being, and quality of life of millions can be improved”. One should remember that acupuncture is neither panacea for all the diseases nor it is alternative to modern medicine, but it is complementary to modern medicine. A Doctor who is trained both in modern medicine & acupuncture is in a better position to choose indications wherein
The W.H.O. recognized Acupuncture in 1979 and strongly recommended integration with western medicine and to include acupuncture in the medical curricula.
In recognition of the increasing worldwide interest in the subject, the World Health Organization (WHO) is seriously working on acupuncture. The past two decades have seen extensive studies on acupuncture, and great efforts have been made to conduct controlled clinical trials that include the use of “sham” acupuncture or “placebo” acupuncture controls. Some keys formulated by the WHO are
The World Health Organization (WHO) whose authority concerning health related matters internationally cannot be challenged, has compiled a list of indications. Should a patient, insurance company or curious patient or colleague require proof of acupuncture’s effectiveness, the following list is something you will want to keep on file. Its use will be inevitable. In an officially released report titled “Acupuncture review and analysis of reports on controlled clinical trials”, The World Health Organization (WHO) lists the following symptoms, diseases and conditions as below:
| CATEGORY | DISEASE |
|---|---|
| Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which acupuncture has been proved through controlled trials to be an effective treatment | Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, Allergic rhinitis, Dysmenorrhoea, primary Facial pain, Headache, Hypotension, primary Induction of labour, Knee pain, Leukopenia, Low back pain, malposition of fetus, correction of Morning sickness, Nausea and vomiting, Neckpain, Pain in dentistry (including dental pain and temporomandibular dysfunction), Periarthritis of shoulder, Postoperative pain, Rheumatoid arthritis, Sciatica, Sprain, , Stroke, Tennis elbow |
| Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which the therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been shown but for which further proof is needed | Acne vulgaris, Alcohol dependence and detoxification, Bell’s palsy, Bronchial asthma, Cancer pain, Cardiac neurosis, Competition stress syndrome, Facial spasm, Female urethral syndrome Fibromyalgia and fasciitis, Gastrokinetic disturbance, Gouty arthritis Herpes zoster induced post neuralgia, Insomnia, Labour pain, Lactation, deficiency, Male sexual dysfunction, non-organic Ménière disease, Neuralgia, post-herpetic, Neurodermatitis, Obesity, Osteoarthritis, Pain due to endoscopic examination, Pain in thromboangiitis obliterans Polycystic ovary syndrome (Stein–Leventhal syndrome), Post extubation in children, Postoperative convalescence, Premenstrual syndrome, Radicular and pseudoradicular pain syndrome, Recurrent lower urinary-tract infection, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, Schizophrenia, Spine pain, acute stiff neck, Ulcerative colitis, chronic Vascular dementia |
| Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which there are only individual controlled trials reporting some therapeutic effects, but for which acupuncture is worth trying because treatment by conventional and other therapies is difficult | Chloasma, Choroidopathy, central serous Colour blindness, Deafness, Pulmonary heart disease, chronic Hypophrenia, Irritable colon syndrome, Neuropathic bladder in spinal cord injury, Small airway obstruction |
| Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which acupuncture may be tried provided the practitioner has special modern medical knowledge and adequate monitoring equipment | Breathlessness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Coma Convulsions in infants, Coronary heart disease (angina pectoris), diarrhoea in infants and young children, Encephalitis, viral, in children, late stage Paralysis, progressive bulbar and pseudobulbar palsy |
(For details on WHO Indications please refer the link below http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/pdf/s4926e/s4926e.pdf )
The greatest advantages of acupuncture are its availability, practicability and safety. It is simple, convenient and has few contraindications. It is safe if performed properly by a well qualified and trained practitioner. Unlike drugs, it is non-toxic, and adverse reactions are minimal. This is probably one of the main reasons why acupuncture is so popular in the treatment of chronic pain in many countries.
In developing countries, where medical personnel and medicines are still lacking, the need for acupuncture may be considerable and urgent; proper use of this simple and economic therapy could benefit a large number of patients. On the other hand, in developed countries, where the health system is well established, with sophisticated technology, adequate personnel and a well-equipped infrastructure, acupuncture might be considered to be of great value in only a limited number of conditions. It could still serve as a valuable alternative or complementary or ‘add on’ treatment for many diseases or conditions for which modern conventional treatments are unsuccessful.
There are no known side effects of acupuncture but occasionally complications of acupuncture (acupuncture accidents) can occur from improper technique, lack of skill, or failure to observe clinical guidelines etc. These, however, are preventable, if acupuncture therapy is taken from a well qualified & experienced acupuncture specialist.
The fear of transmission of diseases such as AIDS and Hepatitis B is largely misplaced due to excellent sterilization techniques available and the use of ‘PERSONAL SET OF NEEDLES’ or ‘DISPOSABLE NEEDLES’.
There are no absolute contraindications for Acupuncture Therapy. Patients with Diabetes Mellitus may be safely treated, provided the disease is under control. Few relative contraindications include the following
A common myth regarding acupuncture therapy is that it is the last chance at relief. This is completely false. On the contrary, if Acupuncture Therapy is given EARLY , results are faster, better and long lasting.
But, according to most leading practitioners, traditional use of “needles” is the best.
In CHINA, 800 DISEASES are being treated with ACUPUNCTURE THERAPY today and is also being successfully practised in at least 140 countries in the world. Many prestigious hospitals, universities, and medical schools around the world have now established departments for acupuncture research, therapy and analgesia. The Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden for instance, the Ivory tower which awards Nobel Prizes annually in Western medicine and allied sciences, established a renowned Pain Clinic in association with acupuncture in 1982. SRI LANKA was one of the best training Centres outside China during yesteryears. The US Government has opened The Office of Alternative Medicine at the National Institute of Health and found that Acupuncture can help relieve nausea caused by chemotherapy in addition to providing analgesia. Food & Drug administration (FDA) approved Acupuncture needles for use by licensed practitioners became available in 1996. Acupuncture is emerging as a branch of Medicine all over the world after getting a boost from Evidence Based Medicine (EBM). General Practitioners, Rheumatologists, Anaesthetists, Pain Specialists, Orthopaedic Surgeons, Dentists & Veterinary Surgeons are either providing Acupuncture Therapy or referring to patients to Acupuncture Specialists.
It is no surprise that Acupuncture has become a fad in Europe. The Italian law, states that acupuncture therapy must be performed only by medical doctors. This has also been the case in France, Belgium, Denmark, and the Scandinavian countries.
The total number of Italian MDs trained in acupuncture is likely to be about 10,000. As in France, this represents one of the highest densities of Chinese medical practitioners outside East Asia. Holland, which does not restrict acupuncture to medical doctors, has the highest density, with an estimated one practitioner for every 3,200 people. The population of Italy is about 56 million, or less than one-fifth that of the U.S., which has a more liberal legal status for acupuncture yet has only about 15,000 licensed acupuncturists and about 5,000 medical acupuncturists.
British Medical Association (B M A) has recognized acupuncture for their National Health services and opined that acupuncture should become more widely available on the National Health Services and family doctors should be trained in some of its techniques. There are more than 2000 doctors using acupuncture.
Acupuncture in India originated more than 3000 years ago with several detailed mentions made in ancient Indian medical scriptures such as the ‘Vedas’, ‘Sushrutha Samhita’ etc. However, for some reason it remained more in the scriptures and its practice lacked behind in the coming years.
Following its successful use by the Chinese, acupuncture in India has been growing at a study pace. The growth of Acupuncture in India has been plagued by several major hindrances such as the lack of ‘acupuncture awareness’ among Indians, mushrooming of fake acupuncturists due to lack of standard institutions and poorly designed syllabi and training centres.
Few institutions and centres that have been successful in propagating acupuncture to a suitable stage are
Preventive Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been practised for centuries on an essentially pragmatic basis. To the western-trained mind this is a situation difficult to reconcile with. Preventive medicine is not new. In the bygone era doctors were provided with all amenities and comforts by their clientele as long as the latter remained in good health. If anyone was afflicted by ill-health, the doctor was considered to have been remiss in his duties, and had to give free treatment. Thus preventive medicine was given the highest importance. Treating illness was considered to be like digging a well after one got thirsty or like forging the weapons of war after the battle had begun. One of the chief methods of detecting disease even before symptoms manifested was pulse diagnosis and the best way of preventing disease was found to be acupuncture.
Acupuncture and Endorphin connection is well established. Endorphins not only relieve pain, they also enhance the immune system, reduce stress, and postpone the aging process. Numerous preclinical and clinical reports now describe the effects of acupuncture on cellular and humoral immunity, which may have far-reaching implications in the treatment and prevention of many diseases, including immune-mediated disorders. It has been shown to produce global changes in immunological function including stimulation of circulating cytokine concentrations. Here, I must confess “I don’t know how it works”. Mysteries of unfathomable nature continue to remain mysteries. The solution is addition of a bit more philosophy. Preventative Acupuncture Saves You Time, Money and More in the long run and adds life to years. It improves also improves overall performance. Preventive Acupuncture has numerous positive effects. A humble effort towards this is introduction of “Preventive Acupuncture”. We are confident of the success of this effort in view of our past experience and unblemished documentation. Our aim is to improve quality of life and keep you healthier without side effects. For details please contact us or mail to drvinayvarma@gmail.com .
"I do not desire for a kingdom, or for heaven, or for rebirth. I only desire the destruction of suffering of beings agonized by pain."
We live in a culture where we just want to take a pill and feel better. But, that's not always possible. We should look at the recent medical findings as an opportunity to search out other things. Drugless approaches are also gaining popularity as people look for long-lasting solutions to their health problems.
Unlike many other traditional methods of treatment, which tend to be specific to their national or cultural context, acupuncture has been used throughout the world, particularly since the 1970s. During the past 30 years, however, attitudes towards acupuncture in the West have been changing since research into the mechanisms of pain has provided a certain amount of insight as to how possibly it achieves its effect on pain. A wealth of clinical data exists to show that acupuncture is effective.
As early as 1892, Sir William Osler described the use of acupuncture in the first edition of The Principles and Practice of Medicine (which was considered authoritative for more than 30 years). "For lumbago," he wrote, "acupuncture is, in acute cases, the most efficient treatment." Many standard textbooks of modern medicine have added sections on acupuncture in the text, probably signifying its growing acceptance.
In a short time, acupuncture has been transported to the West and has become a visible component of the health delivery system. The training and provision of acupuncture care in the United States, U.K and other European countries is rapidly expanding. The FDA approved Acupuncture needles in 1996. About 17,000 licensed acupuncturists and about 8,000 medical acupuncturists are integrating acupuncture with conventional medical line of treatment in USA.
In Australian general practice - Acupuncture is used by about one in seven general practitioners. 60,000 doctors in Japan use acupuncture along with drugs, nerve blocks and other approaches to treat patients with chronic pain. British Medical Association recognized acupuncture for National Health Services as complementary treatment in 2000. More than 2500 doctors use medical acupuncture in National Health Services. Most of Medical Universities abroad have acupuncture departments, conduct & publish Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) in medical journals e.g. BMJ, JAMA, The New England Journal of Medicine, Post Graduate Medicine Journal and list is endless in addition to acupuncture journals. The BMJ group started ‘Acupuncture in Medicine’ for physicians by physicians themselves.
Any qualified doctor who has taken appropriate training in acupuncture can add acupuncture to practice.
Dr Vinay Varma, the founder of Anand pain relief and Rehabilitation Institute, not only runs a successful healing centre but is often wondered upon by those who know him. If there’s one question that he is always asked is, ‘Why Acupuncture?’ Here’s what Dr Varma has to say
“You may be surprised to know that I had a very strong desire to become an engineer during my schooling years. The day I was to fill the engineering college application form, my father asked me to join medicine. I agreed and passed my MBBS in 1974, with 3rd rank and a Gold medal in the subject of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT). I immediately began practicing medicine in 1975 by choice instead of heading for post graduation. Financial restraints were a limiting factor though. However, I was doing well and was proud of my knowledge and diagnostic skills.
One day, I was called for consultation to see a bedridden old lady aged 50 yrs. I examined her and easily diagnosed the case as that of ‘Post Stroke Hemiplegia’ with loss of speech (Aphasia). As a proud student of my teachers, I wrote the standard prescription. Her son saw it and said that this is nothing great, I have such prescriptions from six leading doctors of Hubli but she is not recovering. He then shocked me by offering me a hefty price for arranging mercy killing, as he could not see her suffering. I was stunned, mercy killing in 1977! I refused and sent them back after trying to counsel them.
Next I came across a child with paralysis of all limbs paralysis (polio). The pitiable condition of the parents shook me. Several such cases began to surface as days went by where the limitations of my medical knowledge and my inability to help such patients began hitting me hard.
A few days later an old friend of mine lent me an issue of book, ‘Science Today’, July 1974 with an article on “Acupuncture – cure with Needles” by Dr B K Bashu (Father of Acupuncture in India). The article instantly caught my attention and the thinking wheels in my head began churning wildly. Could this be the solution to the problems of all those patients whom modern medicine had failed?
I immediately started searching for Institutes with Acupuncture training. Soon, I enrolled myself in an Indian Institute and then went abroad (Sri Lanka). I began acupuncture practice on 15th August 1979.
Throughout the excitement of making this new beginning, never once did I realize that I will be frowned upon by my medical colleagues! Keeping all the negativity aside, I started my acupuncture practice and very soon realized that acupuncture offered something that my conventional medical approaches lacked in. Moreover, all of this without the use of medicines and side effects.
Between then and now, Acupuncture has come around by leaps and bounds. Not only is it is entering mainstream modern medicine in many countries, it is also generating considerable interest the world over. Every year new indications are being rediscovered, tested, confirmed and being applied in practice. Closer home, in the past 31 years of practice, I have proven to several critics with extensive documentation (EBM), that acupuncture really works! I humbly accept that my knowledge may still be very limited but the blessings i have received from the almighty through these years are unlimited! Trust me; Acupuncture is not just an unconventional healing science, it is the art and science of Happiness”.
The practice of acupuncture in combination with modern medicine has been a very blessed journey for our entire team. Not only have I experienced the joy of healing several cases that were termed as ‘medical failures’ or ‘hopeless’ but along way I experienced the ‘marvel’ that acupuncture offers in terms of treatment. This led me to sharing some of my success stories here