less. Sometimes there is a brief small pinch. The FDA requires use of sterilized, single-use acupuncture needles. Most people find the treatments highly relax- ing, energizing, or both. Treatments last about an hour, with the needles retained from 20-40 minutes. You remain clothed and lie comfortably on a massage table in a quiet room.
Misconception: I cannot get acu- puncture because I am pregnant/ a child/ a senior. Everyone from seniors to infants can receive benefits from acupuncture. Acupuncture is safe and effective for most people. As with all acupuncture treatments, the person's individual circumstances are taken into account. Special techniques are used on infants and children. Pregnant women can also get relief from many pregnancy related issues, such as morning sick- ness, back pain, and even turning breech babies. According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey conducted by the NIH, an estimated 3.1 million U.S. adults and 150,000 children had used acupuncture in the previous year. Misconception: Acupuncture cannot be explained. TCM describes acupuncture as the practice of insert- ing thin needles into specific body points to stimulate the flow of energy along pathways known as meridians or channels. This energy is known as qi or chi (pronounced “chee”). Illnesses are disruptions in the normal healthy func- tioning of the body caused by blockages or imbalances in the meridians. Western medical research suggests acupunc- ture may have several mechanisms of action. In general, Western medicine views the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and con- nective tissue. This stimulation appears to aid the activity of your body's natural pain-killing chemicals. Acupuncture also
affects how you release chemicals that regulate blood flow and blood pressure and stimulates tissue repair. Scientists are researching and using technology to document acupuncture's real effects on the human body, and reporting the results in mainstream media. As reported in The Wall Street Journal, neuroimaging studies show that acupuncture seems to calm areas of the brain that register pain and activate those involved in rest and recuperation; Doppler ultrasound shows that acupuncture increases blood flow in treated areas; and thermal imaging shows that it can make inflammation subside. In addition, scientists are also finding parallels between this 4,000 year old medical practice and Western anatomy. Some of the meridians follow major arteries and nerves, and many of the acupuncture points correspond to nerve bundles or muscle trigger points. Research will continue to explore acu- puncture's mechanisms of action and ways to apply acupuncture successfully to the health issues our culture faces today. To find out if acupuncture and TCM
are right for you, consult a Licensed Acupuncturist in your area.
Elaine M. Malin, MTCM,
L.Ac., is a Licensed Acupuncturist in Connecticut and California. She is Board Certified in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine as a Diplomate in Oriental Medicine by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Orien- tal Medicine. She has a private practice in Fairfield and Wilton and she provides acupuncture at Norwalk Hospital as part of their Integrated Medicine Program. Elaine is a member of Women of Well- ness™. Contact Elaine at 203.450.0230 or
elaine@malinacupuncture.com.
www.naturalnutmeg.com
January 2011
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