Posted on: August 4, 2008
On Pins and Needles
Acupuncture isn’t limited to the crunchy-granola set any more. From menstrual cramps to infertility to wrinkles, find out how and why some well-placed needles could be just what you need to get the power flowing
By Dana Carman
CTW Features
Simply saying the word “needle” may be enough to elicit repulsion from some people. And the practice of inserting many small needles into the body? It probably sends them right over the edge. But acupuncture, once considered a fringe therapy – something to try when nothing else worked, or something that only those “crunchy, hippie” folk use – has increased in popularity and is sought not only as its own form of treatment but as a complement to conventional Western medicine.
How does it work?
Acupuncture is rooted in the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. According to this practice, within each of us flows an energy or life force called the “chi.” The chi is balanced between the yin and yang – opposite yet complementary extremes. It’s believed that health issues result from a lack of balance or harmony in the chi. The chi flows throughout the body through pathways, or meridians, accessible via more than 360 acupuncture points. To rebalance the chi, needles are inserted into these points in various combinations. “Each pathway is associated with an organ, and the pathways interconnect,” says Virginia Burns, licensed acupuncturist with Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group, Chicago. “The potential for impacting the body is tremendous.”
In Treatment
Because acupuncture is so versatile, it’s used to treat a variety of ailments from depression to infertility, and virtually everything in between. Burns sees patients for sinus problems, menstrual dysfunction, hypertension, arthritis, back pain, headaches and more. For some, it’s the last line of offense when previous treatments have failed to provide relief. But more and more Burns is seeing people come in who are interested in “healing on a deeper level” and taking a more natural path to healing.
For others, acupuncture works in conjunction with conventional Western treatments. One area seeing a lot of teamwork, or a “handshake” as Robert Yauckoes, licensed acupuncturist with the Natural Wellness Clinic in Framingham, Mass., refers to it as, is in the treatment of infertility.
A recent scientific review of several studies involving acupuncture and in vitro fertilization (IVF) showed acupuncture might improve the odds of conception when administered within a day of embryo transfer into the womb. While some are quick to point out that more research is needed before a conclusion on its effectiveness in infertility treatment can be reached, its benefits have not escaped the attention of fertility centers – many are now partnering with acupuncturists. Beverly Tarbell, also a licensed acupuncturist with the Natural Wellness Clinic, Sun City, Calif., points out that one of the unique aspects of Chinese medicine is that it works to undermine the root cause of an issue. “It looks at the interplay of the organs,” she says. “Each one affects the other one. Sometimes the organs have a deficiency or excess. We strengthen where there’s weakness and move where there’s excess. It unblocks areas that are blocked.”
It makes sense to Alison McKinzie, 35, of Berwyn, Ill. Migraines are what first led her to the acupuncturist, but in time she was relying on him to help her avoid surgically removing uterine fibroids, which her doctor suggested needed removal if she wanted to get pregnant. While the acupuncture did relieve her of extremely painful menstrual cycles, McKinzie discovered one of its limitations – diagnostic ability. Without any radiological evidence, she couldn’t know for sure the fibroids were gone, even if the symptoms were. After surgery she continued with acupuncture, despite her doctor’s advice that drugs were necessary to achieve conception. After a few months, she became somewhat discouraged and decided to take a break and a trip to Prague. She didn’t feel well – and guess why not?
Now the mother of a healthy baby boy, McKinzie found in acupuncture what she feels Western medicine lacks – alternatives.
Pay As You Go
Swearing off Western medicine altogether can be an expensive way to go since insurance coverage for acupuncture can be tough to find. “Insurance is either covering it or it doesn’t,” Burns says. “Oftentimes, people pay for it out of pocket.” Prices vary, but generally a patient receives treatment at least once a week, so any out-of-wallet costs can add up quickly. Jasmin Shah, 32, of Chicago, sees her acupuncturist for carpal tunnel in her wrist, back pain and recently found relief for a sinus infection and kidney infection. In an ideal world, she would go every week – her job as a freelance photographer requires a lot of both her wrist and back – but at $65 an hour, the expense is too much. For Shah, the biggest drawback of acupuncture is the cost. But when in need, the benefits outweigh the costs. “Acupuncture makes a big difference,” she says. “He notices stuff without me even saying it. One time my back was more off than normal because I fell. I didn’t even think of it, but he noticed the difference. A Western doctor would never ever notice.”
Needle What?
Regardless of what particular problem you may be experiencing – heck, you could just hate your wrinkles (see sidebar) – acupuncture might provide relief. At the very least, it’s a non-invasive form of treatment that works with your body’s natural energies rather than manipulating them. Before you get needled, seek out a licensed acupuncturist with expertise in the area you need treatment. You should also feel comfortable with your practitioner. “You have to have a repertoire with the person you’re working with,” Tarbell says. And finally, don’t worry too much about being stuck. “Sometimes I don’t even feel it,” Shah says.
