Acupuncture Medical Model

Acupuncture is a medical model used both as a diagnostic assessment and as a treatment.

Acupuncture offers a map of channels covering the body illustrating connections based on the nervous system and blood vessels. The location of an ailment will show the channel involved, which becomes part of the diagnosis.

Once a channel has been identified for treatment, additional channels are considered based on organ systems involved, mixed pattern presentations, or for general effects such as calming down the autonomic nervous system (de-stressing heals the body).

Point locations on each channel have different effects on the channel. For example, some points can "drain" the channel for excess conditions such as a headache due to high blood pressure. Other points may "stabilize" the channel for support as with a degenerative condition. When the points being used are located away from the ailment, they are called "distal points." Points can also be used directly over the area being treated, called "local points."

Acupuncture stimulates the nervous system, blood flow patterns, and immune responses. Nervous system reactions are sometimes instantaneous. When a condition, such as a pain syndrome, is improved immediately it is a neurological effect. If the pain doesn't come back, then diagnostically it can be assumed that the condition itself was neurological. Generally, the more complicated the presentation, the more channels are being treated, the longer the treatment. Most of our patients need to de-stress their autonomic nervous system, which can take additional time.

The ability to manipulate these reactions within the body makes acupuncture a profound and elegant medical model. However, since there are hundreds of points to choose from it is not only a medical science but also an art.

Ideally, new patients come in for acupuncture treatments at least twice a week. This gives the team a chance to get to know what approach will work best for each individual patient. It is not uncommon for patients with severe "flare-ups" (especially autoimmune disordered) to come in daily until stable. Maintenance is typically once a week treatments.

"Dry Needling" is a term that practitioners use when they want to practice acupuncture without getting the acupuncture license. However, when an acupuncture needle (not hollow) is being used as the treatment (vs a hollow needle used for injection as the treatment) it is called "acupuncture." Under the acupuncture umbrella, there are many styles, theories, concepts, and treatment strategies.

Cupping may also be used on acupuncture points and channels. The effect of cupping is primarily blood movement, which explains why it is so popular with sports injuries. Similar to sports massage, cupping increases blood flow to a specific area which increases the rate of healing. Areas with stagnant blood flow can also cause pain.

Electric Stimulation, also called e-stim, allows for increased point function.

Gua Sha, or scraping, is a technique used on channels that is abrasive to the skin used to increase blood flow and release the exterior (vent the skin).

Meridians is term used to describe channels but instead of using anatomy and physiology, it is a concept based on energy. This term is not used in academic settings and is considered to be a mistranslation as acupuncture is not an energy medicine and is not based on mysticism.