Natural Muscle Holiday 2016 Natural Muscle | Page 38

DR Z ’ S CORNER

Mimi Zumwalt , MD Sports Medicine Specialist

ASIAN ACUPUNCTURE vs WESTERN NEEDLING Pins & Needles-Myth or Magic ?

Acupuncture is one of the earliest Traditional

Chinese Medicine ( TCM ) practices , dating back to about 100BC . This pseudoscience / alternative medicine method of treating bodily ailments started with
tury . It was speculated then that acu-needles allowed or prevented
���������� �������� ������ ������� ��� ����� ��� ��������� ���
�������� ������ ������ �� ����� �� ����� �� th century , but presented new ideas for acupuncture based on anatomical diagrams after
various belief systems , beginning with “ bloodletting ” then evolved
tapping needles into nerves . This “ trigger point ” method of needling
over time around 400-500BC to needle insertion at designated
was theorized and found to inhibit pain .
areas on the body . The basic concept centered around mapping of
In the Western world , acupuncture became very popular and
����������� �� �������� ��� ��� �� ���� ������ ���� ����� � ������� ��
the US began to dedicate research studies in the mid-50 ’ s . The
meridians ( channels ) - “ acutracts ”, lines drawn on the skin . Initially ,
next few decades , false claims of invasive procedures / surgeries
acupuncturists claimed that effectiveness of curing diseases
performed without anesthetics stemmed from patients ( including
depended on the timing / forces from celestial / heavenly ( thien )
President Nixon in early 1970 ’ s after being reinstated in China ),
and earthly ( ti ) bodies / elements as they rotate into alignment i . e .
��������� �� ��������� ������� ����� ���������� ���� ������� ����
Science of Yin-Yang Cycles ( lack of balance / correct rhythm causing
of nontraditional medical practice was eventually backed up by
disease ). These “ arbitrary predictions ” were illustrated using
the NIH ( National Institute of Health ) in 1999 by the creation of
special wording and complex charting . Subsequently , most of the
the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
����������� ����� �������� �� ������ ��� ��� ���� ��������� ���
( CAM ). This was done in order to help regulate and control types
named by 4 th century AD .
of medical conditions approved by insurance to be treated by
Acupuncture needles initially used in Asia were very thick and
acupuncturists , licensing requirements of which vary from state to
not sterilized thus caused a lot of infection . Later on , needles were
state . In the 21 st century , the World Health Organization ( WHO )
��������� �� � ��� ���� �� ������� ������ ���� �������� �����
along with the US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) also participate
still hot , providing cauterization at the injected site . By the 18 th
in approving types of needles utilized as well .
�������� ��������� ����������� ������ ���� ������� ��� ��� ������
A typical session of acupuncture in America involves lying still
traditional superstitious beliefs , naming acupuncture as a “ lost art ”.
��� �������� ���� ���� ������� ������� �������� ������������ �� ���
This technique became associated with lower class , illiterate practitioners
����� ��� ����������� ��������������� ��������������� �������
, and excluded from the Imperial Medical Institute by the
conditions in conjunction with conventional therapy . No standards
������� ������� ����� ��� �������������������� �� ��� ����� �� th
exist relating to the needle diameter , depth of needle insertion ,
century this practice was banned in China , but gained momentum
number of needles used or duration of treatment . Recent literature
internationally after it began to spread in Europe by mid-17 th cen-
reviews in the past couple of years reveal that this nontraditional
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Natural Muscle Magazine
Holiday 2016
method of attempted analgesia is only minimally to moderately ��������� ���� ����� ���� ������� ��������� ��� ��� ����� ����� �����der , elbow , and knee pain . So how does acupuncture compare with “ dry needling ”? This involves using hypodermic needles directed �� ������� �������� ���������������� ����� ����� �� ������ ������ �� ����� �� ���� ������� ��������� ����� ���� ������ ���� ��� enhance healing . The addition of steroids or other substances is ��� �� ��������� �� ������� ��������� �� �������� ������� ���� ������ sites as far as symptomatic relief is concerned .
Rare but serious adverse reactions have occurred in those undergoing acupuncture treatments . The majority of these involve ��������� ���� ���������������������� ��������� �� ����������������� and / or infection from the needle prickling sites . Potentially disabling events such as vessel or nerve damage causing excessive bleeding or paralysis are unusual and atypical . Finally , isolated cases of dizziness , fainting spells and / or loss of consciousness have been reported in English speaking countries as well .
In summary , acupuncture treatment for painful musculoskeletal ���������� �������� �������� ����� ���� ������ �� ����� ���������� in light of the associated risk of further injury to soft tissues , vessels , and nerves . However , if you have tight “ knots ” in your muscles which are stubborn to other noninvasive manual / mechanical methods such as deep tissue massage or myofascial release , ���� ���� ��� �� ������������� ���������������� ������������ ��� trigger point injections . This way , you can avoid conventional oral medications , which also can have negative side effects on your organs / body . So , stay away from this ancient practice , since poking pins / needles on the skin to rid of pain , is largely mystique and certainly not magic …