TAO SUN O.M.D.& L.Ac.
Acupuncture is an important component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with a history of over 5 thousand years. However, most Americans didn't know TCM until the diplomatic relationship with China was reestablished in 1970's. Many Americans including businessmen, politicians, newsmen and medical people visited China during the post-Nixon era to see this big country for themselves. There they saw TCM concurrently practiced with western medicine to keep one billion of Chinese people fit. When a TV documentary showed a Chinese surgeon using acupuncture for anesthesia while performing a open-heart surgery, Americans were astounded--the man's chest was wide open and he was awake and smiling !
During the twenty plus years since then, acupuncture has been accepted by more and
more Americans. U.S.News & World Report says, "Over 12 million Americans have turned to
acupuncture and many more may try-especially if its leap toward the mainstream inspires
insurers to cover treatments." Many magazines and books about alternative treatments have
provided reassurance about its use. Life of September 1996 cover title read, "Surgery or
acupuncture ? Antibiotics or herbs ? Both are better." Time's Fall 1996 Special issue had a
whole page reporting acupuncture as "Challenging the Mainstream". In March of 1996, FDA
approved acupuncture needles as a "Medical device", which was a major step into the
American health-care system. Now in America there are 34 states (including Utah )holding the
jurisdiction to license acupuncturists, with similar legislation pending in the others.
People are concerned about what acupuncture can do ? For many years, FDA examined
five petitions: antiemesis, substance detoxification, relief of pain, neurologic and pulmonary
disorders. And < A Controlled Clinical Studies of Acupuncture Efficacy > demonstrated that
acupuncture can help Acute and Chronic Pain: headache & migraine, facial pain, dental pain,
neck pain, low-back pain, Tennis elbow, Osteoarthritis, rental colic, Dysmenorrhea,
Fibromyalgia, athletic injury, endoscopy-associated pain, post-operative pain; Emesis:
Anesthesia, Chemotherapy, morning sickness and motion sickness; Stoke; Respiratory disease;
Substance abuse; and other miscellaneous conditions: female infertility, childbirth (breech
presentation), Menopause, depression, physical performance, peripheral nerve injury, urinary
dysfunction, Xerostomia (dry mouth). The World Health Organization (WHO) lists 104
different conditions that can legitimately be treated by acupuncture.
Why can acupuncture treat so many ailments ? To answer this question we should refer to the basic theory of TCM. When we were born or say created by God, a system, connected mainly by 14 meridians, is set up in the body to keep us healthy. Any pain or ailment is caused by stagnation and weakness of this system. But acupuncture can reinforce this system, by the stimulation, needling, of 399 points along the 14 meridians, which are distributed all over the body--thus a-- restoration of health. The human body is a creature of Nature and should be healthy in natural ways. We should be healthy if the system in our body is strong enough and functions properly.
Acupuncture is not only able to relieve pains from acute injuries and chronic disease, but also to reinforce the immune system to prevent ailments.
For a qualified acupuncture practitoner, the important thing is not only knowing how to use the needles, but also having an exact diagnosis based on the differentiation of symptoms, so as to provide a combined prescription of the essential points to stimulate.
Acupuncture as one component of TCM has been taught and handed down through ages
in the form of ancient medical Chinese, a very difficult language to be understood. Some of it
can't be translated from word to word, but can only be realized gradually in the later practice.
In subsequent articles, I'll talk more details about some of the principles, and how they are used
in the treatment of various ailments.
When people talk about the needles, they think of shots, which definitely causes pain.
But the needles used in acupuncture are much different from those used for injections.
Sterilized for one-time use, they are so tiny and thin that an experienced acupuncturist can
insert into the special points in your body without any sensation. However, stimulation of the
points can cause some kind of feeling: soreness, numbness, distention and electric shock. There
are no adverse reactions in acupuncture treatment.
Unfortunately, there are very few medical insurers (e.g. PHEP, Prudential, Mail
Handlers, Deseret Mutual, Aetna with limited times and all Auto insurers) can cover
acupuncture treatment and Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act of 1997 (HR 1038 ) is struggling
its way in the 105th Congress. If it is passed , acupuncture treatment provided by a qualified
acupuncturist, can be covered under Part B of Medicare and The Federal Employees Health
Benefits Program. If you support this Bill, write to your congressmen. The cost of each session
of acupuncture treatment currently ranges from $ 40-$100. The difficult and chronic disease
that have to be treated with acupuncture usually need many sessions-- without insurers' support,
it would be difficult for most patients to keep up the treatment. To provide this service to more
people, acupuncture needs to be mainstreamed into the health-care system, which means
understanding and support from the community.
There are several other alternative treatments-- acupuncture is only one of them. Before
you decide which one you're going to try, consult a few resources, such as the book, Dr.
Rosenfeld's Guide to Alternative Medicine. Any question about acupuncture may be directed to
Dr. Sun or Sean Chang :(801)355-8668 or Email: sunrise_clinic@hotmail.com