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Acupressure, a variant
in which the practitioner uses manipulation rather
than penetration to alleviate pain or other symptoms,
is in widespread use in Japan and has begun to find
adherents in the United States and elsewhere. Also
known as shiatsu, acupressure is administered by pressing
with the fingertips—and sometimes the elbows
or knees—along a complex network of trigger
points in the patient's body.
In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed an
energy called chi flows along invisible energy channels
called 'meridians' which are believed to be linked
to internal organs. Sticking needles at particular
points along those meridians is believed to increase
or decrease that flow of energy.
Chinese traditional medicine sees that a balance
has to be kept between two opposing yet complementary
natural forces called 'yin' (female) and 'yang' (male).
Yin force is seen as being passive, tranquil, and
represents darkness, coldness, moisture and swelling.
Yang force is seen a being aggressive and stimulating,
and represents light, heat, dryness and contraction.
History
Acupuncture needles dating from 4,000 years ago have
been found in China. The first needles were made of
stone; later, bronze, gold, or silver were used, and,
today, needles are usually made of steel. Initially,
needles were used only to prick boils and ulcers.
Acupuncture was developed in response to the theory
that there are special "meridian points"
on the body connected to the internal organs, and
that "vital energy" flows along the meridian
lines. According to this theory, diseases are caused
by interrupted energy flow, and inserting and twirling
needles restores normal flow.
Treatment
The primary use of acupuncture in China today is for
surgical analgesia (pain relief). Chinese surgeons
estimate that 30 per cent of surgical patients obtain
adequate analgesia with acupuncture, which is now
done by sending an electrical current through the
needles rather than by twirling them. American doctors
who have observed surgery done under acupuncture have
verified that it is effective in some patients, but
put the figure closer to 10 per cent. Brain surgery
is especially amenable to this form of analgesia.
Chinese surgeons claim that acupuncture is superior
to Western, drug-induced analgesia in that it does
not disturb normal body physiology, and, therefore,
does not make the patient vulnerable to shock (acute
fall in blood pressure).
Chinese doctors also treat some forms of heart disease
with acupuncture. As part of an attempt to put the
practice on a more scientific basis, they studied
the effects of acupuncture treatment on more than
600 people with chest pain caused by reduced blood
flow to the heart. They claimed that almost all the
patients greatly reduced their use of medicine, and
that most were able to resume work. Other physiological
conditions treated with acupuncture are peptic ulcers,
hypertension (high blood pressure), appendicitis,
and asthma.
In 1979, the World Health Organisation listed some
40 diseases that could be successfully treated with
acupuncture, including breathing difficulties, digestive
problems, disorders of the nervous system and painful
menstruation
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