ACUPUNCTURE
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture involves placing very fine needles in specific points (acupuncture points) on the body. Developed by the Chinese over 4000 years ago, a considerable amount of reliable research in the last 40 years has established acupuncture as a modern and effective treatment for many medical problems, not just for pain relief.
What types of acupuncture are there?
There are two broad divisions in acupuncture, Western Medical Acupuncture (WMA) and Traditional Chinese Acupuncture (TCA), which includes Five Element Acupuncture. Dr Monk has practised Western Medical Acupuncture for more than 30 years. This is an adaptation of traditional acupuncture based on a modern scientific understanding of the working of the body and follows the principles of evidence-based medicine.
From the large amount of scientific research carried out in recent years, we can explain and understand many of the effects of acupuncture in terms of western medicine. This has helped to make it acceptable to western doctors, and many patients are reassured by this scientific basis. It leads to a rational and logical basis for using needles or electroacupuncture to produce largely predictable responses in the body.
Acupuncture involves placing very fine needles in specific points (acupuncture points) on the body. Developed by the Chinese over 4000 years ago, a considerable amount of reliable research in the last 40 years has established acupuncture as a modern and effective treatment for many medical problems, not just for pain relief.
What types of acupuncture are there?
There are two broad divisions in acupuncture, Western Medical Acupuncture (WMA) and Traditional Chinese Acupuncture (TCA), which includes Five Element Acupuncture. Dr Monk has practised Western Medical Acupuncture for more than 30 years. This is an adaptation of traditional acupuncture based on a modern scientific understanding of the working of the body and follows the principles of evidence-based medicine.
From the large amount of scientific research carried out in recent years, we can explain and understand many of the effects of acupuncture in terms of western medicine. This has helped to make it acceptable to western doctors, and many patients are reassured by this scientific basis. It leads to a rational and logical basis for using needles or electroacupuncture to produce largely predictable responses in the body.
How does Acupuncture produce an effect?
By stimulating acupuncture points or areas there are responses in the body, which fall into two main groups;
A. Local effects - these occur at or near the site of stimulation. These responses include increased blood flow, relaxation of tense muscle and release of pain-relieving and healing chemicals.
B. Central effects - stimulating an acupuncture point also sends signals through the nerves to the spinal cord and then the brain producing central effects by a process known as neuromodulation. These 'central responses' release chemicals involved in pain relief and mood stimulating and immune responses and so on.
By stimulating acupuncture points or areas there are responses in the body, which fall into two main groups;
A. Local effects - these occur at or near the site of stimulation. These responses include increased blood flow, relaxation of tense muscle and release of pain-relieving and healing chemicals.
B. Central effects - stimulating an acupuncture point also sends signals through the nerves to the spinal cord and then the brain producing central effects by a process known as neuromodulation. These 'central responses' release chemicals involved in pain relief and mood stimulating and immune responses and so on.
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fMRI brain scan showing different parts of the brain responding to acupuncture
http://deskarati.com/2010/11/30/acupuncture-changes-brains-perception-and-processing-of-pain/ |
What this means is that, as well as local responses, acupuncture can also produce widespread effects throughout the body which are largely predictable.This suggests why patients can report improvement in a wide range of conditions following treatment. Knowledge of these neurophysiological principles (in other words, the mechanism of action in the body) allows us to prescribe an effective and evidence-based way of treating your problem.
Electroacupuncture - no needle acupuncture
Dr Monk has used electroacupuncture in his clinic for more than 30 years, acquiring huge practical experience in techniques which do not involve needles or needling.
Some of these techniques are ideal for self treatment at home under guidance and this is the basis of our Guided Home Electroacupuncture Treatment or GHET.Tiny electrical impulses are applied to acupuncture points on the surface of the body through small pads which are attached to the skin; you feel only a slight tingling or buzzing sensation at these points during this treatment.
Certain areas on the ear can be treated relatively easily and can be helpful for a large number of problems, including certain types of pain, and chronic inflammation.
Dr Monk has used electroacupuncture in his clinic for more than 30 years, acquiring huge practical experience in techniques which do not involve needles or needling.
Some of these techniques are ideal for self treatment at home under guidance and this is the basis of our Guided Home Electroacupuncture Treatment or GHET.Tiny electrical impulses are applied to acupuncture points on the surface of the body through small pads which are attached to the skin; you feel only a slight tingling or buzzing sensation at these points during this treatment.
Certain areas on the ear can be treated relatively easily and can be helpful for a large number of problems, including certain types of pain, and chronic inflammation.
For an in-depth review of how acupuncture works, and the scientific evidence behind it, you might find the following references useful;
Bowsher D. Mechanisms of Acupuncture. In: Filshie J, White A, editors. Medical Acupuncture - A Western Scientific Approach. 1st ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 1998. p. 69-82.
Filshie J, Thompson JW. Acupuncture. In: Doyle D, Hanks G, Cherny N, Calman K, editors. Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2004. p. 410-24.
Cummings M. Acupuncture and trigger point needling. In: Hazelman B, Riley G, Speed C, editors. Soft Tissue Rheumatology. Cambridge: Oxford University Press; 2004. p. 275-82.
Barlas P, Lundeberg T. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and acupuncture. In: McMahon S, Koltzenburg M editors. Wall and Melzack's Textbook of Pain. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone; 2005. p. 583-90.
Lundeberg T. Effect of sensory stimulation (acupuncture) on circulatory and immune systems. In: Ernst E, White A, editors. Acupuncture - A Scientific Appraisal. 1 ed. Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann; 1999. p. 93-106.
White A, Cummings M, Filshie J. An Introduction to Western Medical Acupuncture. London: Churchill Livingstone; 2008.
Bowsher D. Mechanisms of Acupuncture. In: Filshie J, White A, editors. Medical Acupuncture - A Western Scientific Approach. 1st ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 1998. p. 69-82.
Filshie J, Thompson JW. Acupuncture. In: Doyle D, Hanks G, Cherny N, Calman K, editors. Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2004. p. 410-24.
Cummings M. Acupuncture and trigger point needling. In: Hazelman B, Riley G, Speed C, editors. Soft Tissue Rheumatology. Cambridge: Oxford University Press; 2004. p. 275-82.
Barlas P, Lundeberg T. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and acupuncture. In: McMahon S, Koltzenburg M editors. Wall and Melzack's Textbook of Pain. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone; 2005. p. 583-90.
Lundeberg T. Effect of sensory stimulation (acupuncture) on circulatory and immune systems. In: Ernst E, White A, editors. Acupuncture - A Scientific Appraisal. 1 ed. Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann; 1999. p. 93-106.
White A, Cummings M, Filshie J. An Introduction to Western Medical Acupuncture. London: Churchill Livingstone; 2008.