How acupuncture is done
Acupuncture is done by inserting different types of needles into different places on the body based on the problem the patient is experiencing. The practitioner will ask questions about your lifestyle, health, and whether or not you are on medication. The questions may be very specific and they may be general. Depending on what you are in for, they might examine your body trying to find "blocks in your Qi'' or areas where there might be a problem. Then they will either sit or lay you down and ask that you give them access to the acupoints by rolling up a sleeve or pant leg (Dr.Grey, Meghan).
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Chi/Qi
​
Qi is the energy that flows through our entire body. In Chinese Qi translates to "breathe," "air," or "energy." It is said that when we breathe in oxygen it is then turned into Qi and sent throughout the body to keep it in balance. Having a "cultivated" Qi can result in many positive benefits such as quality of life, stamina, confidence, and positive energy. Having an "uncultivated" Qi can negatively affect our health, mindset, and overall life.
Different ways to cultivate your Qi are acupuncture, Tai Chi, meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, and Qigong. Tai Chi and Qigong are two ways to cultivate your Qi through movement. Tai Chi is more focused on movement between stances while Qigong is more of maintaining stances. All of these practices can result in many physical and mental benefits (Mohoric, Micheal).
​
Risks and benefits
​
The FDA has created regulations to reduce the risks of acupuncture. Needles can only be bought by a licensed professional and can never be used twice, and the acupoint must be swabbed with a disinfectant before inserting the needle.
Acupuncture is not safe if you are taking blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder. Electroacupuncture is not safe if you have a cardiac pacemaker, infusion pump, or any other electric device.
Once you lay down and the practitioner is ready to start the process they will disinfect the area where the needle will be inserted. The hair-thin needle is then placed into the skin. When they are inserted they should not hurt at all. Once all the needles are in place you will be asked to sit still for a certain amount of time depending on the type of treatment. Needles will vary in size and length depending on where in the body they are meant to go and what they are meant to do.
After the treatment, you will start to feel the effects. If soreness occurs after the treatment it is either because you moved with the needles in, the needles were put in wrong, or because of a defect in the needle. Because of health hazards, a needle will never be used twice ("Acupuncture").
Another type of acupuncture is electroacupuncture where the needles are placed into the skin and then hooked up to an electric pulse machine and usually left in the skin for longer amounts of time. The electric pulse machine is used to further help the flow of energy through the body.
the different sizes of needles next to a quartar
the electric pulse machine hooked up to the needles
“Do You Use Electroacupuncture?” Do You Use Electroacupuncture , TCM Academy, 15 Nov. 2018, www.tcm.ac/do-you-use-electroacupuncture/.
The most common side effects of acupuncture are soreness, bleeding, and bruising at the site of the insertion. The less common side effects are dizziness, fainting, local internal bleeding, convulsion, hepatitis B, nerve damage, and increased pain. The least common side effect is an injury to an internal organ. The frequency of common side effects is low for the number of people who have done acupuncture. The less common side effects are very rarely heard of, and there have been only a couple of instances where someone injured an internal organ ("Acupuncture"). These side effects can be caused by moving when the needles are in, a defect in the needle, the practitioner putting the needle in incorrectly, and misuse of the needle (Hopp, Craig).
Some easy ways to reduce the chances of experiencing these side effects are to choose a widely known and highly rated acupuncturist for your visits and to tell both your doctor and your practitioner about your medical history and all about your current medical issues and treatments.
Sources
“Acupuncture.” Harvard Health, Harvard Health Publishing, May 2017, www.health.harard.edu/medical-tests-and-procedures/acupuncture-a-to-z.
​
Dr. Grey, Megan. Personal Interview. October 11th, 2019.
​
Hopp, Craig, and David Shurtleff. “Traditional Chinese Medicine: What You Need To Know.” National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 29 Apr. 2019, nccih.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/chinesemed.htm.
​
Mohoric, Michael. “A Helpful Guide to Understanding and Harnessing Your Chi Energy - Qigong Energy Healing: Powerful Distant Healing - Worldwide.” 23 Apr. 2019, www.qigongenergyhealing.com/blog-qigong-energy-healing/understanding-chi-energy.