What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of treatment that involves inserting very thin dissecting needles through a person’s skin at specific points in the body, to various depths, with various inputs such as low-grade electrical stimulation. The word “acupuncture” comes from the Latin words arcus (needle) and punctura (to puncture).
The first written evidence of acupuncture is from 100BC entitled The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine by Huangdi Neijing. Historians also believe that there is substantial evidence that acupuncture may have begun around 600 BC based on hieroglyphic and pictographic evidence.
French doctors were early adopters of acupuncture in the west due to the influence of Jesuit missionaries who brought the practice of acupuncture back to France from their eastward travels. In 1929 George Soulie De Morant began translating Chinese texts into French. Dr. Paul Nogier began mapping ear acupuncture points in the 1950’s which is now known as “Battlefield” acupuncture, utilized by the US military today. In America, Acupuncture began to gain popularity in the 1970’s due to a popular New York Times article entitled “Now, About My Operation in Peking…” by James Reston. In this article, he recounted his emergency appendectomy while on a trip in China, where the doctors utilized acupuncture as part of his anesthesia and recovery regimen.
Acupuncture points are areas of high electrical conductance in the body. This correlates anatomically to areas with high densities of “gap junctions” along fascial planes where there is high amounts of cellular and tissue communication. Meridians are made up of multiple acupuncture points along a specific anatomically based trajectory, which can correspond with various organ systems and functions. These points and meridians have been taught clinically for thousands of years, and are continually being explored today. Modern advancements in acupuncture have slightly changed to include electrical acupuncture, for example. In the US, most acupuncture practitioners are entitled LAc, or Licensed Acupuncturist, who have attended 4 years of schooling based in Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM. Physicians, both MD and DO, also have the opportunity to take extra coursework to learn different acupuncture techniques, which include TCM, French energetic acupuncture, or Neuro-puncture, to name a few.
Acupuncture needles are extremely safe when used by a trained practitioner. There is an extremely low risk of infection, since the needles are not hollow like a typical hypodermic needle. The needles are typically made of stainless steel, and occasionally are coated with silicon for easier insertion. The ultimate goal of acupuncture is to create electron flow within ionic fluid channels within the body. These channels are located with the fascial network of connective tissue, that contains all muscles, organs, and tissues of the body. Acupuncture is nervous system medicine, and can help with pain, neuropathy, and functional organ problems. It is a relaxing treatment and can help with psychological stress, anxiety, and sleep as well.
If you are interested in trying acupuncture in South Jersey please call our office at (856) 270-6800, or visit our website home page, to schedule an appointment with one of our medical acupuncture certified expert physicians today!