Acupuncture by Traci Moore
bodybuilder, Devin Dearth, who had a debilitating stroke during his morning workout. Devin, despite secure health insurance, exhausted his rehabilitative health benefi ts; he began to regress af- ter returning home. His family, despite their dedication, was unable to offer Devin the intensive care he required. Filmmaker Doug Dearth, Devin’s brother, began a desperate search for affordable treatment options. Doug eventually located a hospital in China that offered a promising stroke rehabilitative program that integrated Western and traditional Chinese medi- cine. Devin’s family were skeptical; they had no previous experience with acupuncture or alternative medicine but decided to give it a try. The Dearth’s small Kentucky town
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raised $20,000 for Devin’s treatment and travel expenses, and the fam- ily fl ew to Tianjian, China, cameras rolling and suitcases fi lled with hope. The 12-week program, consisting of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medi- cine, physical therapy, and large doses of compassion, helped Devin regain
18 Tucson
he award-winning 2009 docu- mentary, 9000 Needles, tells the story of a former 40-year-old
strength, the capacity for communi- cation, and the ability to walk with assistance.
An inspiring story of family bond- ing and human survival, 9000 Needles spreads awareness about stroke rehabilitation and presents information about the innumerable benefi ts of acu- puncture, a system of therapy millions of Americans have learned to value.
Acupuncture Travels Westward Acupuncture has long been regarded by people around the world as a safe, affordable, and effective method of treating health conditions. But, though it originated in China some 3,500 years ago, acupuncture did not capture the attention of Americans until 1972. In that year President Nixon’s advisor underwent success- ful emergency surgery in China, and acupuncture was used as the sole form of anesthesia. Soon afterward, the President organized a cultural exchange between American and Chi- nese medical practitioners. This event fueled many Americans’ interest in the ancient healing art of acupuncture. Acupuncture is one segment of tradi- tional Chinese medicine (TCM), which
Ancient Healing Art for a Modern Age
consists of herbal medicine, nutrition, tui na massage, (pronounced twee- nah), and the meditative movement practice, qigong (chee-kung). Accord- ing to the principles of Chinese medi- cine, there are 2,000 acupuncture points throughout the body. The points are connected to twenty pathways, or meridians, which conduct energy or Qi (chee) between the surface of the skin and the body’s internal organs. It is believed that when fi ne needles are inserted along these points and path-
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