It is a system of healing which has been practiced by the Chinese and other Eastern cultures for thousands of years and may be used to treat a wide variety of illnesses.
The Chinese approach to disease is
very holistic, and emotional, hereditary and environmental factors
are considered important factors in disease patterns. The philosophy
and aim of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) is to restore equilibrium
between physical, emotional and spiritual factors, thus restoring
and maintaining health. Treatment involves using needles in specific
acupuncture points (often in combination with herbal therapy)
to achieve this balance, by addressing imbalances in Yin and Yang
and the flow of Qi and Blood, etc.
Western neurophysiological models also exist, and are especially important when considering chronic pain management in musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. The Western view of acupuncture is
used predominantly in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders
and, in particular, chronic pain states in animals. The effect
of acupuncture is largely segmental, that is nerves, muscles and
acupuncture points are needled in the same spinal segmentas the
affected or painful area. “Pain gating”, as well as
descending pain inhibition (via various brain and spinal cord
pathways), are involved. Acupuncture also stimulates the release
of pain relieving chemicals in the brain and spinal cord (endorphins,
seratonin, noradrenalin, etc.) which produce more generalised
or extrasegmental analgesia. These effects, combined with local
needling of painful trigger points in taut muscle bands, result
in exceptional relief of pain.
These two approaches may be combined and the result is that acupuncture may be particularly effective in the treatment of chronic disease states, either to complement orthodox treatments, or when orthodox medicine fails.
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