Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture: An Introduction to Traditional Healing Practices

As humans, we have always sought ways to improve our health and well-being. Traditional medicine has been used for centuries to treat various ailments and conditions, with Chinese medicine being one of the oldest and most popular forms of alternative medicine. This article will provide an overview of Chinese medicine and acupuncture, two practices that have been used for thousands of years to promote health and healing.

What is Chinese Medicine?

Chinese medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on the body’s natural healing ability. It is based on the concept of qi (pronounced chee) and blood, which is the life force energy that flows through the body. According to Chinese medicine, illness and disease occur when qi and blood are blocked or unbalanced. Chinese medicine uses various techniques to restore the balance and flow of qi and blood including acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary therapy, and exercise.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body. These points are believed to be connected to pathways or meridians that carry qi and blood throughout the body. By stimulating these points, acupuncture can restore the balance and flow of qi and blood, promote healing, and alleviate pain and other symptoms.

Herbal Medicine

Herbal medicine is another form of Chinese medicine that uses natural herbs and plant extracts to treat a wide range of health conditions. The herbs are selected based on their individual properties and are combined into formulas that are tailored to the patient’s specific needs.

Dietary Therapy

Dietary therapy is an important aspect of Chinese medicine that emphasizes the importance of a healthy and balanced diet. According to Chinese medicine, food is not only a source of nutrition but also a form of medicine that can be used to prevent and treat illness. A qualified Chinese medicine practitioner can provide dietary recommendations based on the patient’s individual needs.

Exercise

Exercise is an integral part of Chinese medicine and is often prescribed to promote health and prevent illness. Qi Gong and Tai Chi are two popular forms of exercise in Chinese medicine. Qi Gong is a set of gentle movements, breathing techniques, and meditation that promote the flow of Qi throughout the body. Tai Chi is a series of slow, flowing movements that improve balance, flexibility, and coordination. Both practices have been shown to be effective in reducing stress, improving overall health, and managing chronic conditions. In addition to Qi Gong and Tai Chi, other forms of exercise commonly used in Chinese medicine include walking, yoga, and martial arts. Regular exercise helps to strengthen the body, improve circulation, and promote overall health and well-being.

Qi Gong and Tai Chi

Qi Gong and Tai Chi are two popular forms of exercise in Chinese medicine. Qi Gong is a set of gentle movements, breathing techniques, and meditation that promote the flow of Qi throughout the body. Tai Chi is a series of slow, flowing movements that improve balance, flexibility, and coordination. Both practices have been shown to be effective in reducing stress, improving overall health, and managing chronic conditions.

Benefits of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

Chinese medicine and acupuncture have been used for thousands of years to treat a wide range of health conditions. Studies have shown that acupuncture may be helpful in treating, pregnancy pain (1), chronic pain (2), back pain (3), migraines (4), insomnia and anxiety (5) (6).

One of the benefits of Chinese medicine is that it is a holistic approach to healthcare, focusing on the whole person, rather than just the symptoms of a particular illness. Chinese medicine can help improve the patient’s overall health and well-being, promoting healing and preventing future illnesses. Chinese Medicine tends to have minimal side effects. 

Choosing a Qualified Chinese Medicine Practitioner

It is important to choose a qualified Chinese medicine practitioner to ensure that you receive safe and effective treatment. In Australia, Chinese medicine practitioners must be registered with the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia, which is responsible for regulating the practice of Chinese medicine. 

When choosing a practitioner, look for someone who has completed a degree in Chinese medicine, is registered with the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia, and has experience treating your specific condition.

Conclusion

Chinese medicine and acupuncture are ancient healing practices that have stood the test of time. They offer a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on the body’s natural healing ability, promoting healing and preventing future illnesses. If you are considering Chinese medicine or acupuncture as a form of treatment, be sure to choose a qualified practitioner who can provide safe and effective care.

References

1. Usichenko TI, Henkel BJ, Klausenitz C, Hesse T, Pierdant G, Cummings M, Hahnenkamp K. Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Pain Control After Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Feb 1;5(2):e220517. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.0517. Erratum in: JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Apr 1;5(4):e229622. PMID: 35226080; PMCID: PMC8886541 found that acupuncture is a safe and effective way to reduce pain and help patients recover more quickly after cesarean delivery. This means that acupuncture can be a useful additional therapy for pain management after elective cesarean deliveries. It is important to consider the time and personnel required for acupuncture treatments, but overall, the benefits make it a recommended option.

2. Chronic pain Vickers AJ, Cronin AM, Maschino AC, Lewith G, MacPherson H, Foster NE, Sherman KJ, Witt CM, Linde K; Acupuncture Trialists’ Collaboration. Acupuncture for chronic pain: individual patient data meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med. 2012 Oct 22;172(19):1444-53. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2012.3654. PMID: 22965186; PMCID: PMC3658605.

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating chronic pain, specifically back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headache, and shoulder pain. The researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for chronic pain. The results showed that acupuncture was superior to both sham and no-acupuncture control for all chronic pain conditions. The effect sizes were modest but significant, indicating that acupuncture is more than a placebo. Therefore, acupuncture can be considered a reasonable referral option for chronic pain management. However, other factors may contribute to the therapeutic effects of acupuncture besides needling.

3. Lam M, Galvin R, Curry P. Effectiveness of acupuncture for nonspecific chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013 Nov 15;38(24):2124-38. doi: 10.1097/01.brs.0000435025.65564.b7. PMID: 24026151.This systematic review indicates that acupuncture may provide relief for self-reported pain and functional limitations associated with non-specific chronic lower back pain. While there are some limitations identified in the study, such as the diversity in study characteristics and low methodological quality in some of the included studies, the overall findings suggest that acupuncture can be a useful treatment option for those suffering from this condition. It is important to consider these limitations when interpreting the results. Overall, the review provides encouraging evidence for the potential benefits of acupuncture in managing chronic lower back pain.

4. Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, Fei Y, Mehring M, Vertosick EA, Vickers A, White AR. Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Jun 28;2016(6): CD001218. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001218.pub3. PMID: 27351677; PMCID: PMC4977344. This research indicates that incorporating acupuncture into symptomatic treatment can help reduce the frequency of headaches. In contrast to previous findings, updated evidence suggests that there is a small effect over sham treatment. Additionally, acupuncture may be just as effective as prophylactic drugs. Patients who are open to acupuncture can consider it as a viable treatment option. While long-term studies over a year are currently lacking, the available trials present acupuncture as a potentially useful tool in managing migraines.

5. Garland SN, Xie SX, DuHamel K, Bao T, Li Q, Barg FK, Song S, Kantoff P, Gehrman P, Mao JJ. Acupuncture Versus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2019 Dec 1;111(12):1323-1331. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djz050. PMID: 31081899; PMCID: PMC6910189.This randomized trial compared the effectiveness of acupuncture and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) in cancer survivors. Both treatments produced clinically meaningful reductions in insomnia severity and maintained improvements for up to 20 weeks. Acupuncture was found to be more effective for pain at the end of treatment, and both groups had similar improvements in fatigue, mood, and quality of life, as well as reduced prescription hypnotic medication use. Although CBT-I was more effective overall, both treatments were found to be effective and should be considered as treatment options for insomnia in cancer survivors. It is encouraging that acupuncture was found to be effective for pain relief, and future trials should confirm the relative differences in effectiveness between the two interventions for specific groups to guide more tailored interventions for insomnia.

6. Fan JQ, Lu WJ, Tan WQ, Liu X, Wang YT, Wang NB, Zhuang LX. Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Anxiety Among Patients With Parkinson Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Sep 1;5(9):e2232133. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.32133. PMID: 36129711; PMCID: PMC9494193. Anxiety is a common issue among patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and it can accelerate the disease’s progression. Acupuncture has been found to be an effective treatment for anxiety, but its effectiveness for PD patients with anxiety has not been studied before. In a randomized, double-blinded clinical trial conducted in China, 70 PD patients with anxiety were assigned randomly to receive either real acupuncture or sham acupuncture for 8 weeks. The study found that the real acupuncture group had a significant reduction in Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) score compared with the sham acupuncture group at the end of the follow-up period. This suggests that acupuncture may be an effective treatment for anxiety in PD patients. The study also reported four mild adverse reactions during the study.