what is Medical Acupuncture?

Originally from Traditional Chinese Medical Theory, acupuncture is the use of fine, single-use, sterile needles inserted into precise anatomical sites in the body to balance the energy in the body and produce therapeutic effects. Dr. Stana Djurdjevic & Associates perform a complete history and physical examination to discover the cause of illness and imbalance in the body and provide a system of treatment.

Acupuncture is the practice of inserting very fine needles into the skin to stimulate specific anatomic points in the body (called acupoints or acupuncture points) for therapeutic purposes. Along with the normal method of puncturing the skin with the fine needles, the practitioners of acupuncture also use heat, pressure, friction, suction, or impulses of electromagnetic energy to stimulate the points.

The acupoints (acupuncture points) are stimulated to balance the movement of energy (qi) in the body to restore health. Traditionally, acupuncture points were believed to be holes that allow entry into 'channels'. These holes provide us gateways to influence, redirect, increase, or decrease the body's vital substance, thus correcting many of the imbalances. Many studies and research have taken place to understand the mechanism of acupuncture.

Acupuncture Patient Benefits

On November 3-5, 1997, an independent panel of experts at the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) Consensus Development Conference stated that "Promising results have emerged showing efficacy of acupuncture in adult post operative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in post operative dental pain."

"There are other situations, such as addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma, in which acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive management program."

The conclusion of the NIH Consensus Statement was, "There is sufficient evidence of acupuncture’s value to expand its use into conventional medicine and to encourage further studies of its physiology and clinical value."

More and more third party Insurance companies and Worker Safety Insurance boards are recognizing the effectiveness of acupuncture, enabling patient treatments to be billable under most health and wellness plans.

Other types of therapy that work well, together, with acupuncture:

Cupping
For chest congestion, cupping is very effective. Also used for muscle tightness and tension from stress. The use of glass or plastic cups on the body helps to move stagnation and relieve symptoms.

Acupressure
This form of therapy uses massaging pressure at specific acupuncture points, without needles, to bring about balance and health.

Auricular Acupuncture and Acupressure
Stimulating specific points in the ears with pressure and with needles, can help control cravings, like smoking. It addresses other whole body concerns including high blood pressure, insomnia and stress. Medical acupuncture treatments are provided by trained Doctors, and may often be applied in conjunction with other healing and strengthening therapies.

Effects of Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been shown to stimulate the immune system. It also has affects the circulation, blood pressure, rhythm and stroke volume of the heart, secretion of the gastric acid, and production of red and white cells. It also stimulates the release of a variety of hormones that help body to respond to injury and stress.

The Gate Control Theory of Pain
According to this theory, pain signals must pass through a number of high traffic "gates" as they move from the area of injury upward through the spinal cord into the brain. Like a road or highway, these nerves can handle only a limited number of nerve signals at one time. The pain signals travels very slowly. We can generate other signals which move faster and those signals crowd out the slower ones because of the limited capacity of the nerves. Acupuncture generates competing stimulus and effectively blocks the slow pain signals from reaching the brain. The result: the pain experience is halted.

Electrical Theory of Pain
Our bodies continually generate tiny, but detectable, electrical discharges which influence the growth, maturation, and functioning of some types of cells. Studies show that acupuncture points are concentrated in regions of low electrical resistance. Other studies have shown a correlation between the electromagnetic fields in the body and channels or meridians. Therefore, this theory of acupuncture infers that acupuncture influences the body's electromagnetic fields. Acupuncture points have certain electrical properties, and stimulating these points alters chemical neurotransmitters in the body.

Conditions Recommended for Acupuncture
by the World Health Organization (W.H.O.)

Respiratory Diseases
• Acute sinusitis
• Acute rhinitis
• Common cold
• Acute tonsillitis
• Bronchopulmonary Diseases
• Acute bronchitis
• Bronchial asthma
• Eye Disorders
• Acute conjunctivitis
• Cataract (without complications)
• Myopia
• Central Retinitis Disorders of the Mouth Cavity
• Toothache
• Pain after tooth extraction
• Gingivitis
• Pharyngitis Orthopedic Disorders
• Periarthritis Humeroscapularis
• Tennis elbow
• Sciatica
• Low back pain
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Spasm of the esophagus and cardia
• Hiccups
• Gastritis
• Acute and chronic gastritis
• Gastric hyperacidity
• Chronic duodenal ulcer
• Acute and chronic colitis
• Acute bacterial dysentery
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Paralytic ileus

Neurologic Disorders
• Headache
• Migraine
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Facial paralysis
• Paralysis after apoplectic fit
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Paralysis caused by poliomyelitis
• Meniere's syndrome
• Neurogenic bladder dysfunction
• Nocturnal enuresis
• Intercostal neuralgia