Acupuncture

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/

Blue1moon · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 9:28 pm Post subject:

I never liked needles, and though I don't faint or freak, I was 40 before I got my ears pierced.

Fibromyalgia runs in my family. When it hit me, I knew from sis that acupuncture had helped her. I got myself right to the acupuncturist.

My M.D's treatments kept making me worse. In fact I think it was something I was prescribed that triggered it in the first place (though the tendency was clearly there - as both younger sisters had been so afflicted for years.)

I can't tell you what a difference acupuncture made - it gave me my life back (not cured, but functional).

And guess what? The needles are sooo tiny (not like a shot when needle needs to be hollow and big enough for liquid to pass through), that for the most part they are close to painless. With fifty needles stuck in me I would fall asleep most weeks. Amazing stuff, far fewer risks, then meds, surgery.... for so many illnesses.

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

Now they have needles that are wired. electrical current /pulse to energise points.

But though it is not painful the idea of having so many needles in you is not so nice unless you have no choice...

Blue1moon · Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:32 am Post subject:

I did not have a good experience with the electrified version - no thanks on that one. But then Fibro (especially in our family) seems to have some very weird electrical manifestations.

I did have a superb practitioner and who a real feel for it and understanding. Trained/experienced in both Japanese and Chinese acupuncture, as well as many other things: P.T., suction cups-cupping, nutrition, massage.... now I live far away and he has retired and moved further (sigh). I did find someone in Vermont that I see when needed.

Yes, I think most would probably wait until they were in dire need, and nothing else worked - and that is a shame, because it is amazing in big things and in small.

Blue1moon · Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:38 am Post subject:

Oh... and as far as the needles, you almost never feel them at all once they are in. I will say that Japanese acupuncture is much gentler, and almost pain free. The Chinese version tries to release a "zing" (chi, i think) which can be experienced as painful. So I would recommend starting with a Japanese practitioner or one who knows both.

Some of the acupuncture points cause relaxation, which is why one often falls asleep while the needles are in - the only thing is that if you have a lot of needles (I don't think this is necessary for everyone/illness) then you cannot obviously move around much. Usually pleasant, relaxing music is playing in background...

The Inquisitor · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 772

I've only had acupuncture done on me once, in Mexico. It was to treat a hangover and consisted of using the electrical method.

I about tossed not only my cookies, but everything connected to them as well.

Blue1moon · Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:32 am Post subject:

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

Cupping:

Cupping was a common treatment during the Middle Ages. With wet cupping, a small cut on the skin (usually on the back, but sometimes on the head or elsewhere) was made and a cupping glass created a suction to pull out a small amount of blood. With dry cupping, the glasses were applied to the skin with heat from a flame to make a vacuum in the glass. No cut was made in dry cupping. Ibn Sina, the famous doctor, recommended cupping at certain times of day and times of the year. Cupping was to draw inflammation away from deep parts to the surface and away from important organs, to take away pain, and to bring warmth and blood to an affected organ and take "humors" from it. Cups were applied for 10 to 15 minutes. [The Traditional Healer's Handbook - A Classic Guide to the Medicine of Avicenna, by Chishti, Healing Arts Press, Vermont 1988, page ]

"Whenever somebody came to Prophet Muhammad with complaints of headache, he directed him to undergo cupping and whosoever complained of pain in legs, was advised to apply Henna."
[Sahih al-Bukhari, abu Dawud]

Blue1moon · Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:22 am Post subject:

Thanks for the additional information on that, Obmar! I didn't know that much about it.

I had dry cupping then.

Heat was not used in creating the suction, and I think they were left on only a minute or two.

I had another related treatment - I forget the name - but it involved lighting a thick (cigar size) stick of ? and holding it very close to certain parts of the body. The smoke smelled so much like marijuana (but wasn't) that the acupuncturist had to hang a sign outside his office when using it, so as not to create a rucus! LOL

He gave me one to use at home, however, the smell must have triggered some kind of memory or brain thing, because I became so drowsy smelling it (which shouldn't have actually happened) that I was afraid I would burn myself, or light something on fire - nodding off. Needless to say I gave up that treatment at home.

In Vermont, my acupuncturist used something similar, but they were very tiny, needle like sticks that were attached to the body, lit, and allowed to burn down to the skin. Slightly painful, at times. Not sure how effective that was.

Blue1moon · Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:25 am Post subject:

Oh, and I forgot to mention that to me, the 'cupping' process actually felt good - I asked for increased suction! I could feel it drawing out the tense knots in shoulders. In fact, for first time in as long as I can remember, those knots are acutally gone. Just realized that a couple months ago - though last treatment was many months prior to that.