Acupuncture Frequently
Asked Questions
What is acupuncture?
One of the oldest forms of healing in the world, acupuncture is
a safe, natural and drug-free health care system. Based on the
central tenet that the body must be in balance to function at its
peak, acupuncture addresses the flow of energy (called chi) throughout
the body along specific pathways called meridians. When this energy
is flowing smoothly, the body is in balance and good health ensues.
When the flow of energy is blocked, illness may result.
Acupuncture is the careful insertion of sterile, disposable, hair-thin
needles in exact points that relate to specific body functions
along these meridians. This balances the energy flow and allows
the body to begin its own healing process. Regular acupuncture
promotes vitality and creates a strong source of energy for daily
living.
According to the Federal Drug Administration, Americans visit
acupuncturists nine to twelve million times a year. Among the numerous
health organizations that recognize the benefits of acupuncture,
the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization
have concluded that acupuncture is an effective treatment for many
conditions.
How does acupuncture work?
Studies indicate that acupuncture produces its effects through
regulating the nervous system, thus aiding the activity of pain-killing
biochemicals such as endorphins and immune system cells at specific
sites in the body.
According to the National Institutes of Health, preclinical studies
have documented acupuncture's effects, but they have not been able
to fully explain how acupuncture works within the framework of
the Western system of medicine that is commonly practiced in the
United States.
In addition, researchers believe that acupuncture alters brain
chemistry through the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones
thus affecting the parts of the central nervous system related
to sensation and involuntary body functions, such as immune reactions
and processes that regulate a person's blood pressure, blood flow,
and body temperature.
The National Institutes of Health has funded a variety of research
projects on acupuncture. Visit the NCCAM
Web site, or call the NCCAM
Clearinghouse for more information on scientific findings about
acupuncture.
How effective is acupuncture?
Among the numerous health organizations that recognize the benefits
of acupuncture, the National Institutes of Health and the World
Health Organization have concluded that acupuncture is an effective
treatment for many conditions.
Promising results have emerged, showing efficacy of acupuncture
in, for example, adult postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and
vomiting and in postoperative dental pain. There are other situations--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.
A recent study found that acupuncture provides pain relief, improves
function for people with osteoarthritis of the knee, and serves
as an effective complement to standard care. Further research is
likely to uncover additional areas where acupuncture interventions
will be useful.
Here are just a few of the many study results published recently:
- A major study reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine (December
2004) found that acupuncture relieves pain and improves function
for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
- The British Medical Journal reported that weekly acupuncture
sessions markedly eased pain and stiffness in patients taking
prescription anti-inflammatory drugs and was effective for treatment
of chronic headaches, particularly migraines.
- OBGYN News recently carried an article showing that acupuncture
reduces the rate of miscarriage of in vitro fertilization procedures.
- Time magazine (February 2005) ran a series of articles on pain
management and identified acupuncture for the treatment of headaches
and osteoarthritis.
- The American Society of Neurorehabilitation published a study
that suggests acupuncture provides “statistically significant” benefits
in physical functioning and recovery when used as an adjunct
to conventional stroke rehabilitation measures.
Acupuncture is offered in an array of therapies at many well-known
hospitals throughout the country, including the M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center in Houston, Texas, and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Center in New York City.
Read the NIH
Consensus Statement on Acupuncture to learn what scientists
say about the use and effectiveness of acupuncture for a variety
of conditions.
Can acupuncture be effective when other treatments
have failed?
Absolutely. Many of our clients seek acupuncture because conventional
medical approaches have not worked for them. Acupuncture is particularly
effective for pain management and is often used in a multi-disciplinary
approach to pain relief.
What conditions can be treated with acupuncture?
The World Health Organization recognizes over 200 health conditions
that can be effectively treated with acupuncture. Conditions that
Karen has successfully treated since 1996 include:
What criteria do I use to select an acupuncturist?
In order to practice in Texas, acupuncturists must be licensed
by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, which also regulates
physicians and physician assistants. Licensed acupuncturists (L.Ac.)
must meet stringent criteria:
- Graduate from an acupuncture school that has been accredited
by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine (ACAOM).
- Receive 1,800 hours of acupuncture training from an accredited
acupuncture school.
- Devote 450 of the 1,800 hours to training in herbal therapy.
- Certify as a Diplomate in Acupuncture by the National Certification
Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
- Take and pass the Council of College of Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine (CCAOM) Clean Needle Technique course and practical
examination.
- Take a minimum of 60 college hours in addition to the acupuncture
training.
- Prove English proficiency.
Surprisingly, the state of Texas is less demanding of other practitioners
who perform acupuncture. For example:
- Chiropractors only need 100 hours of training in acupuncture
and are not required to take any examination to test their skills.
- Medical doctors (M.D.) and doctors of osteopathy (D.O.) have
no minimum requirements to practice acupuncture in the state
of Texas.
When considering acupuncture, do all of the same things you would
do when choosing a new doctor:
- Talk to people you trust and ask for recommendations.
- Check the practitioner's training and credentials.
- Ask about treatment costs and your insurance coverage.
- Interview the practitioner. Ask about the treatment procedures
used and how likely they are to help your condition.
What are Karen E. Nunley’s credentials?
Karen is a full-time, professional Licensed Acupuncturist with
a Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine. A nationally certified
Diplomate in Acupuncture, Karen also serves in the following capacities:
- Member - Board of Governors of the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin
- Clinical Supervisor - Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin student clinic, located at the People’s Community
Clinic
- Consultant - Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners
- Consultant - ACN Group, Credentialing Committee
- Past Member - Board of Directors for the Texas Association
of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from 1997 to 2005
Karen established her practice in Austin in 1996. The Healing
Acupuncture Center provides therapeutic treatment focused on wellness
and optimal health maintenance, with an emphasis on holistic health
as opposed to the symptomatic orientation typically found in conventional
medicine.
To learn more, contact The Healing Acupuncture Center
at 512 458.7880 or
us with your questions.
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