Acupuncture

with Karen Hogan, licensed acupuncturist with Columbia St. Mary’s Integrative Medicine Program

Last Updated: Sept. 1, 2003

Acupuncture is the insertion of fine needles into the body at specific points. It has been found to help decrease inflammation and reduce the pain and stiffness associated with chronic pain.

More than 90% of her chronic pain patients get some type of pain relief from acupuncture treatments, said Karen Hogan, a nurse practitioner and licensed acupuncturist with Columbia St. Mary’s.

Both the World Health Organization and the National Institute of Health have listed conditions for which acupuncture is beneficial in treatment. A few of these include sinus inflammation, digestive problems, dental pain, addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, asthma, PMS, stress/anxiety, osteoarthritis, addiction and pain.

Management of chronic pain has become more recognized as a vital component of providing health care. “The sooner that pain is dealt with, the easier it is to treat,” Hogan said.

Karen Hogan, nurse practitioner and licensed acupuncturist with Columbia St. Mary’s “Acupuncture is not going to change the underlying reason for the pain. For instance, it can’t correct a bulging disc or alter arthritic changes in the body, but acupuncture can help manage the pain.”

What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is part of a health care system called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and has been practiced for over 2,500 years. Sometimes referred to as “complementary medicine,” acupuncture is one of today’s best-known components of TCM. Massage therapy and chiropractic care are two other well-known procedures for dealing with chronic pain.

In most cases, patients experience noticeable improvement from acupuncture. It may take several treatments with success being dependent upon the nature, duration and severity of the pain.

What does acupuncture feel like?
The acupuncture needles, which are sterilized and disposable, are inserted at various points on the body. The insertion feels like a slight pinprick, similar to a mosquito bite, Hogan explained. There might also be some heaviness around the point or on the acupuncture channel.

Any discomfort is usually mild and doesn’t last long, she said. Many patients find acupuncture to be very relaxing, often falling asleep during the session. Typical sessions range from 30 to 60 minutes.

The acupuncture points chosen and the practitioner’s style of needling is what many consider to be the “art” of acupuncture.

How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture is based on a Chinese theory of the flow of Qi (pronounced “che”), which in the West is often described as energy, and Xue (pronounced “shee”) or blood. These substances circulate through channels or meridians throughout the body and are essential for health. Disruptions of this flow are believed to be responsible for disease.

In Chinese medicine, pain is the result of this disruption. This disruption can be blockage of Qi due to an injury, overuse or from the body’s autoimmune response.

TCM has mapped acupuncture points (a total of 361 regular points) on the human body and many have recently been confirmed by electromagnetic research. “The acupuncture points help to regulate and balance the circulation of Qi and other vital substances,” Hogan said.

Acupuncture in the state of Wisconsin is a licensed profession with licensure based upon successfully passing a national board examination. It is a good idea for a patient to inform their health care provider if they are receiving treatments from an acupuncturist.

For the treatment of chronic pain, acupuncture can be either used as a separate therapy or as part of a comprehensive management program. This way, both health care systems complement each other in the treatment of the whole person.

To learn more about acupuncture, visit these Web sites:
http://www.acupuncture.edu/

http://www.aaom.org/

http://www.acupuncture.com/

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