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By Anil Minocha MD, author of Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
Acupuncture: A part of Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM
What is acupuncture?
- Stimulation of focal points on the body using a variety of techniques
- Ancient practice
- Stone based acupuncture needles used in 3000 B.C
Is It Leaky Gut or Leaky Gut Syndrome?
The legend
Originated when soldiers injured by arrows found relief of pain in other parts of the body
Evidence for efficacy of acupuncture
- A metaanalysis and systemetic review [Yu 2010] reported that effective response rate for use of acupuncture in asthma is better than the controls.
- A overview systematic reviews of use of acupuncture in rheumatic conditions by Earnst and colleagues from Peninsula medical school concluded that acupuncture is effective in relieving low back pain, osteoarthritis and elbow pain.
- The Cochrane Database by Linde et al reported that existing evidence supports the beneficial effect of acupuncture for the treatment of tension headache.
- Pther conditions where studies ahve supported use of acupuncture include fibromyalgia, major depression and stroke rehabilitation.
Evidence based benefits of acupuncture in gastrointestinal conditions
- Nausea and vomiting
- Gastroparesis
- Functional dyspepsia
- Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS (possible benefit)
- Motion sickness (possible benefit)
- Constipation
- GERD
Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
Pathogenesis of disease (The TCM concept)
- An imbalance of yin and yang
- Vital energy does not flow through the body in an appropriately balanced pattern
Diagnosis of Qi status
- Weak
- Stagnant
- Imbalanced
Acupuncture points
- Lie along pathways of flow of qi, the vital energy
- No anatomical or histological correlate of acupoints or meridians
- Defies plausibility because of difficulty reconciling with current medical knowledge
- A complex web of interwoven meridians/pathways may generate hundreds and even thousands of potential points
- Two healers may come to two different conclusions or points for application of acupuncture.
Is It Leaky Gut or Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Determination of target acupuncture points
- Inspection of face especially tongue
- Auscultation with attention to body sounds
- Olfaction with attention to body odor
- Enquiry about fever, chills etc
- Palpation for tender spots
Acupuncture for health maintenance versus healing of disease
- Acupuncture for tonification or strengthening of health require quick in and out insertion of needles
- Healing of complex diseases may require insertion much longer insertion times as long as an hour or more
Cultural variations or types of acupuncture
- Classical Chinese
- Japanese acupuncture
- Tibetan acupuncture
- Vietnamese acupuncture
- Korean acupuncture
Examples of variations in acupuncture
- Japanese use extremely thin needles for acupuncture
- French use acupuncture based on the modern neuroendocrine concepts
Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
Example of acupuncture sites for gastrointestinal illness
ST36 (stomach 36 or Zusanli)
- Frequently used acupuncture point for treatment of gastric disorders
- Located in the leg
- Accelerates gastric emptying both in dogs as well as in humans
ST-36 and PC-6 stimulation
- Increases the threshold of rectal sensation in patients with irritable bowel syndrome or IBS
- Helpful in constipation [Lin 2009]
Acupuncture treatment
- Recreate balance by needles, pressure, heat etc acupuncture points
- Usually an average of a dozen needles are inserted in each session
- May take place over weeks to months
- Some but not all insurance companies cover the cost of acupuncture treatment
Modifications of acupuncture
Moxibustion
- Uses needles warmed by burning a combination of herbs
Acupressure
- Manual technique
- Utilizes physical pressure by hands/elbows instead of a needle puncture at acupoints.
Electroacupuncture
Modern version of acupuncture utilizing same acupoints
- May enhance positive effects of acupuncture
- Utilizes needles with continuous electric pulses
- Needles used in pairs to allow impulses to pass one needle to the other
- Has been referred to as Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (PENS)
Auriculotherapy
- Needle punctures of ears
- Different body systems represented in the ear
- Focal stimulation in the representative areas has systemic effects
Miscellaneous
Other variation of acupuncture employ use of low energy laser beams and magnetic forces may be applied to acupoints.
Is It Leaky Gut or Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Biochemical basis of acupuncture as analgesic
Actions at multiple levels depending upon the clinical state:
- Low frequency electroacupuncture activates the mu- and delta-opioid receptors by stimulating increased endorphins and cytokines
- Higher frequency electroacupuncture acts on the kappa-opioid receptor via dynorphin
- Endogenous opiates acts in conjunction with the serotoninergic descending inhibitory pathway for the analgesic effects
Complications of acupuncture
- Rare but can be serious
- Bleeding
- Transmission of infections (hepatitis, HIV and bacterial)
- Pneumothorax
- Cardiac tamponade
- Spinal cord injuries
- May affect functioning of demand pacemakers
Is It Leaky Gut or Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
