1. What are Acupuncture Meridians?
Heavily used in physical therapy settings, E-Stim uses a small electric current, which is passed through various body tissues, in order to stimulate, sedate, or otherwise have a controlling effect on muscles, nerves, or other tissues. The type of E-Stim most frequently used in acupuncture is called Mcrocurrent, generally referred to as ElectroAcupuncture. Usually applied via moistened “Q-Tip” type applicators or sticky pads (like those used with TENS units), microcurrent is used to stimulate a carefully selected acupoint, just as Dr. Sweeney would with a traditional needle. The amount of electric current used is so small, that the patient generally can’t even feel it!…it’s known as “sub-threshold”. Microcurrent is a nearly perfect match to the body’s own electromagnetic current, and that is why it works so well. In our practice, Microcurrent is usually applied along with Color Light Therapy, and is Dr. Sweeney’s first line of therapy if a patient has a fear of needles, or if needles are contraindicated for a particular procedure.
Moxa is basically the dried herb Artemisia vulgaris, commonly known as mugwort. The most common form used in acupuncture, is as a compressed cigar-shaped roll. One end is lit on fire, and allowed to smolder, while the practitioner holds it near a patient’s carefully selected acupoint. The heat generated by the burning mugwort is the perfect temperature needed to activate the chemical compounds in the herb. By a convection process, which never touches the skin, the special chemical compounds are transferred to the patients acupoint, having a very special healing effect on the meridians. Like needle acupuncture, moxibustion tends to take anywhere from 10-30 minutes to have the greatest effect, depending on what effect is desired, and the doctor’s strategy.
A medical-grade low-level, or “cold” laser (a laser which generates no heat), is set at a specific wavelength (color) and frequency (flash rate), and is used to send photons of light directly into the body’s tissues. The light waves bounce around inside the cells, encouraging them to perform more efficiently; which in turn, causes a healing effect within the tissue. This technique can be used for many purposes other than acupuncture; however, for our purposes, the light is focused on a carefully selected acupoint, which has a stimulating effect on that point much like moxa or a needle; there is no pain, but this therapy is a little less potent.
The recorded use of light and color for healing purposes dates back to early Egyptian times, when crude prisms were used to break apart white sunlight into its various colors (the visible light spectrum or “rainbow”), which were then shined onto the patient. These colors were found to have remarkable healing effects on the body.
Within acupuncture, there exists what are called microsystems, specific areas on the body where a multitude of acupuncture points can be accessed within a very small space. In, and around the auricle of the ear, there are over 200 acupoints, which give access to just about all other areas of the body. Along with points for organs, muscles, bones, blood, Qi, nerves, and brain, there are also specific points for allergies, addiction, weight-loss, energy-balance, smoking, blood pressure, relaxation, fertility, and the list goes on. Auriculotherapy is best used as an adjunct therapy during, or after acupuncture; however, it is most certainly a therapy that can stand on its own.
Traditional acupuncture, usually based on the principals of Traditional Chinese or Japanese Medicine, utilizes small, disposable, sterile needles, about the thickness of a kitten’s whisker, to penetrate the skin in order to stimulate acu-points; this stimulation is a communication between the outside of the body, and the inside, and helps regulate muscle, bone, nerve, tissue, organ, blood, cell, Qi, and brain function.
Although needle acupuncture is basically painless, upon insertion of a needle, the patient may feel a slight “pinching” sensation. Unlike what one might expect to feel when having blood drawn, an acupuncture needle feels more like a mosquito bite…if it’s even felt at all. If performed correctly, the patient should feel nothing once the needles are in place.
For best results using needle acupuncture, the needles should remain in place for roughly 30 minutes, as it takes that length of time for the body’s Qi energy to complete one cycle through each of the main meridians. In some more severe cases, the needles may be left in place longer, for a greater effect.
The number of needles used during each treatment will depend on which school of thought Dr Sweeney concludes would be best to address your particular issues. Some treatments may consist of 2 needles, while others may require many more. If you have a fear of needles, PLEASE discuss this with Dr. Sweeney; he will take this into consideration when creating your acupuncture treatment plan.
