Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine: Ancient medicine for the modern world
Acupuncture, practiced for over 2,000 years, has the potential to improve one's health and well-being. Acupuncture along with other forms of traditional medicine are widely utilized around the world as standalone medicine where modern western medicine is unavailable as well as adjunctly with other modern western medical interventions.
Many American's first heard about acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in a 1971 article by New York Times columnist/editor, James Reston, detailing his experience with acupuncture following his emergency appendectomy in Bejing, China. On the second night after his surgery, Reston complained of intense abdominal pain. The doctor on duty, also an acupuncturist, treated Reston with 3 acupuncture needles in the elbow, 1 acupuncture point below the knee, and with moxa heat therapy around the abdomen. Within 20 minutes, the pain and spasms began to subside. After 1 hour, Reston said he was pain free and did not suffer any further recurrences.
Since the 1970s, acupuncture and traditional medicine have been slowly working their way into mainstream western medicine. Acupuncturists and TCM practitioners are seeing more demand for their services as traditional interventions for illness and disease shift due to emerging research. Thanks to an increase in acupuncture clinical trials and research, we are gaining a better understanding at the various mechanisms at work in a typical acupuncture treatment. We now know that during acupuncture the body releases endogenous opioids that help to alleviate pain and elevate mood. Acupuncture can regulate autonomic nervous system functions related to our stress response, digestion, sleep, cardiovascular health, and pain. Research has shown that auricular acupuncture can be a useful adjunct therapy for anxiety, PTSD, and withdrawal symptoms associated with substance abuse.
In fact, as recently as February 2017 a journal article published in the Annals of Internal Medicine by the American College of Physicians recommended acupuncture as a first-line intervention (treatment) for acute, subacute and chronic low back pain, while bumping NSAIDs (acetphetomin, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.) to second-line intervention, and opiod pharmaceuticals to intervention of last resort.
Here are the ACP recommendations for Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain:
Recommendation 1:
Given that most patients with acute or subacute low back pain improve over time regardless of treatment, clinicians and patients should select nonpharmacologic treatment with superficial heat (moderate-quality evidence), massage, acupuncture, or spinal manipulation (low-quality evidence). If pharmacologic treatment is desired, clinicians and patients should select nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or skeletal muscle relaxants (moderate-quality evidence). (Grade: strong recommendation)
Recommendation 2:
For patients with chronic low back pain, clinicians and patients should initially select nonpharmacologic treatment with exercise, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, acupuncture, mindfulness-based stress reduction (moderate-quality evidence), tai chi, yoga, motor control exercise, progressive relaxation, electromyography biofeedback, low-level laser therapy, operant therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or spinal manipulation (low-quality evidence). (Grade: strong recommendation)
Recommendation 3:
In patients with chronic low back pain who have had an inadequate response to nonpharmacologic therapy, clinicians and patients should consider pharmacologic treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as first-line therapy, or tramadol or duloxetine as second-line therapy. Clinicians should only consider opioids as an option in patients who have failed the aforementioned treatments and only if the potential benefits outweigh the risks for individual patients and after a discussion of known risks and realistic benefits with patients. (Grade: weak recommendation, moderate-quality evidence)
Back pain is one of the most frequents complains for any patient visiting an acupuncturist. With an array of non-pharmcuetical, non-surgical interventions for pain, the Chinese medicine practitioner can treat symptoms of back pain with acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, massage, cupping, moxa heat therapy, herbal NSAIDs, exercise (taiji or qigong) and nutrition. While back pain may seem like a simple enough condition to treat, the root of the problem is usually complex and multifactorial. The skill set of the TCM practitioner is such that he or she may address the problem from many angles and at many levels. How we feel about our pain affects our perception of pain and vice versa. By looking at and treating the patient holistically, the TCM practitioner treats both the root and branch of the problem.
The recommendations and guidelines above highlight the increasingly supportive role that acupuncture and TCM can play in mainstream western medicine. While TCM is a robust and complete system of medicine, it can be easily and seamlessly integrated into western medicine practice. The integration of eastern and western medicine gives patients access to healthcare that treats the whole person- body, mind and spirit.
If you'd like to learn more about how acupuncture and TCM can benefit your health and well-being or treat your condition, contact me via email at danielrolalac@gmail.com.
Be well and thrive!
Daniel Rola, L.Ac.
