Needle Works: Obtaining Qi

“The most important thing in acupuncture is the arrival of Qi” – Ling Shu Chapter One

Here is a little back-to-the-basics guide for obtaining, moving, and maintaining Qi sensation. The name of the techniques come from the text Acupuncture and Moxibustion: A Guide to Clinical Practice. I find that it helps to go over these introductory texts periodically to maintain skills and to keep from growing complacent with our own patterns in practice.

Qi should feel like:
aching, numbness, tingling, itching, brief coolness/heat, pressure, heaviness, twitching, electric shock (aka tongue on a 9-volt battery – I have about a 60% acknowledge rate on this analogy). Qi should travel along the meridian pathway, may differ in intensity on the opposite side, and will arrive more slowly or feel less intense where energy is deficient.

Techniques

Waiting for qi by:
Probe for qi by bringing the deeply inserted needle to the epidermis, re-angle, push back into the body, and repeat until Qi is obtained.
Massaging the meridian with thumb or forefinger
Pushing using the fingertips around the acupuncture point
Flick the hand of the needle with the third finger
Bird peck by lifting and thrusting the needle rapidly with small amplitude
Vibrate using lifting and thrusting extremely fast a’la electric stimulator
If all else fails – relocate the needle.

Move qi after obtaining qi by:
Lifting and thrusting
Rotate in one direction slowly to avoid tangling muscle fibers
Swing and scratch by holding the needle and swinging it 45 degrees back and forth like a pendulum then scratch the handle of the needle down to reinforce and upward to reduce
Crank and shake by pushing needle to the maximum depth, withdraw to the muscle level, then bend the needle to 45 degrees and “crank” 3 times around, then swing back and forth – this is a reducing technique
Block the by placing the thumb on the opposite side of the meridian that the qi is intended to travel
Flying away involves rotating the needle 45 degrees once and releasing the handle quickly to reinforce or reduce.

Maintaining Qi by:
Cock the crossbow by grasping the needle and bending the needle backward
Bend the needle forward and perform flying away

Acupuncture and infertility

Although there is not a huge call for infertility in my practice, I have been lucky enough to assist a handful of couples having fertitlity issues and can report the majority were able to conceive thanks to lifestyle changes and Chinese Medicine techniques. It it incredible rewarding as a practitioner to be able to help these couples and to see the pictures of the babies they thought they would never have. Of course, it is heartbreaking when a client turns to alternative therapies as a last resort after exhausting all conventional methods and they find that they are still unable to have a child. As with most other conditions, it is frustrating that we cannot get these couples into the office sooner and be thought of as adjunctive or complementary treatment rather than as a last-ditch effort. I am sure these are obstacles that our Canadian neighbor Lorne Brown encounters daily at his fertility clinic in Vancouver. Check out his story:

It's been used in China for over 2,000 years but acupuncture to help infertility is a new concept in North America.

Dr. Lorne Brown is a doctor of Chinese medicine specializing in fertility. This former Fredericton resident is now living in Vancouver.

Daily, he says, he receives e-mails from around the world from couples who have been unable to become pregnant who want more information on acupuncture as a treatment for infertility.

"We know it increases blood flow to the reproductive organs. The more blood flow to the ovaries the more nutrients and oxygen and balanced hormones. That means, hopefully, better egg quality and also the more blood to the (uterine) lining which means better implantation of the embryo."

Acupuncture has also been shown to reduce the effects of stress which has been proven to impair fertility. If stress and its negative hormones can be lowered and blood flow can be increased, he says, this can help people who want to have a baby.

Read more

Acupuncturists Without Boarders

After Hurricane Katrina, I was searching for volunteer opportunities for nurses as I figured there was nothing I could do as an acupuncturist. I was wrong . . . sort of. Acupuncturists Without Boarders, an organization that provides free community acupuncture in various venues, attempted to render assistance in New Orleans but had to undergo a few rounds of battle with the Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners. In the end, the acupuncturists won out and were able to offer hundreds of free acupuncture treatments to the victims and were able to obtain waivers for out-of-state practitioners. This is a fantastic move forward in spreading awareness not only about acupuncture and oriental medicine, but the role community-style acupuncture can play in traumatology and environmental stressors.

The mission of Acupuncturists Without Borders is to help alleviate suffering of people worldwide in urban and rural communities in need, and to support self-empowerment, through community acupuncture treatment and training. Your support of AWB helps establish and maintain our programs so that the benefits of this beautifully simple and effective treatment can be brought to these communities.

AWB was established to develop and implement acupuncture based programs that help facilitate community and personal healing in the face of large-scale traumatic events and their aftermath. When left untreated, the emotional and psychological consequences of trauma have the potential to compound the damages, further unraveling lives.

Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB) is devoted to bringing compassionate and effective relief to underserved communities affected by natural disaster, war, conflict and poverty around the world. Utilizing community acupuncture, and working through local alliances, our initial presence in an area is devoted to overcoming the immediate effects of trauma. In some cases where the situation is not acute, but the need is great, we will develop longer term training programs for local professionals in basic acupuncture.


Read more

Acupuncture Research and PTSD

Over the past year, I have been fortunate to have been asked to participate in the creation of a two grant proposals involving the effects of acupuncture on PTSD. University of Louisville's Michael Hollifield MD, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Medical Director of Biobehavioral Oncology, had conducted an initial study in at the University of New Mexico (my alma matter) in 2003. Nityamo Lian DOM (and a fellow alum from the International Institute of Chinese Medicine) helped create a standard treatment protocol that allows for not only a general "point prescription", but also for individual variation. At this time, the results of the study have not been published on-line, but I do have some old links to the research, as well as a link to ongoing clinical trials in the acupuncture world. As for me, at this time both of the proposals received low scores which means more revisions, more resubmissions, and more waiting. With hope, we have funding for both studies in the next few months. Please put out the good vibes for us - having seen some of the patients coming into my mental health facility, we need all the diversity of treatment we can get in helping our soldiers.



Acupuncture for Relief of PTSD Symptoms Studied

Acupuncture Trials

Kentucky Passes Historic Acupuncture Law

Here is a little more on the new KY Acupuncture Bill from acupuncture Today. This was truly a grass-roots campaign with lots of letter writing and phone calls to representatives. This is not the first attempt at regulation, but it is the first one to be written with the help of the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance and NCCAOM certified and Master Degree-level practitioners. Although it will be a year before I can get my hands on an actual license, it is wonderful to be able to advertise and be recognized as a professional by the state government. Now if we could just get NCCAOM certification to be a requirement for ALL people wanting to practice acupuncture . . .

On April 24, 2006, after unanimous passage by the Kentucky Senate and House of Representatives, Gov. Ernie Fletcher affixed his signature to House Bill 17, one of the first pieces of legislation voted on in the 2006 session. In so doing, Gov. Fletcher has made Kentucky the 43rd state in the U.S., and the second state in three months, to enact a law allowing for the practice of acupuncture by nonphysician acupuncturists.

"I've known people who have been helped tremendously with acupuncture," said state Rep. Denver Butler, chair of the House Licensing and Occupations Committee, who introduced the bill and was instrumental in its passage. "Acupuncture has been around for more than 4,000 years in China. The medical doctor may not be able to explain why, but it does help, and I felt that people deserved that opportunity to try it and be helped."

House Bill 17 was introduced in the Kentucky House by Rep. Butler on Jan. 3, 2006, and assigned to the Licensing and Occupations Committee three days later. On Feb. 7, it passed the House 96-0 and was sent to the Senate for review by the Senate Licensing, Occupations & Administrative Regulations Committee. On March 23, the Senate passed the bill 36-0, at which time it was returned to the House, which passed it by a 95-0 vote on April 10. According to the Kentucky Legislature's Public Information Office, the bill will officially go into effect July 12, 2006.

Rather than requiring licensure, HB 17 calls for a certification process, whereby practitioners will be certified by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure to practice acupuncture. To be certified, applicants must:

submit a completed and board-approved application for certification;
be "of good character and reputation;"
have passed the acupuncture examination administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; and
have graduated from a course of training that has been approved by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and that is at least 1,800 hours in length, including 300 clinical hours.
Applicants who meet these criteria would be allowed to use the "CAc" designation and to call themselves "certified acupuncturists." Certificates will be renewed every two years, with all practitioners required to complete 30 hours of continuing education biennially as a condition of renewal.
For longtime practitioners who might not meet the bill's requirement of 1,800 hours of training, HB 17 includes a grandfathering provision that allows them until July 1, 2007, to achieve certification provided they meet the bill's other requirements. For acupuncturists who currently practice outside of Kentucky and might want to relocate, HB 17 also includes a provision that allows them to be "certified by endorsement" from the state of that acupuncturist's credentialing, provided the state has standards "substantially equivalent to those" of Kentucky.

Acupuncturists practicing in Kentucky will be subject to a somewhat restrictive scope of practice that allows for the insertion of needles "with or without accompanying electrical or thermal stimulation" at certain points or meridians "for purposes of changing the flow of energy in the body." Acupressure, cupping, moxibustion and dermal friction also are allowed. However, acupuncturists will be prohibited from practicing "laser acupuncture, osteopathic manipulative treatment, chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy or surgery." The bill does not specify whether acupuncturists may dispense herbs or recommend dietary supplements as part of their scope of practice.

All certified acupuncturists will be required to develop a written plan for consultation, emergency transfer and referral of patients to appropriate health care facilities or to other health care practitioners. While diagnosis is not included in an acupuncturist's scope of practice, if a patient discloses that he or she suffers from one of several "potentially serious disorders or conditions" during acquisition of the patient's medical history, the acupuncturist must verify that the patient currently is under the care of a physician and consult with the treating physician before performing acupuncture. If the patient refuses to provide a medical history or disclose information regarding any of those conditions, acupuncture treatment shall not be
provided.

In addition to establishing certification standards and a scope of practice, HB 17 requires the Board of Medical Licensure to create an eight-member Acupuncture Advisory Committee, which is charged with reviewing and making recommendations to the board regarding standards of practice, continuing education requirements, renewal requirements, and other matters related to the practice of acupuncture. Four acupuncture practitioners will serve on the committee, with all committee members serving four-year terms.

The passage of HB 17 leaves only seven states (Alabama, Delaware, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming) without regulations allowing for the practice of acupuncture by licensed, registered or certified acupuncturists. Prior to Kentucky, the most recent state to pass an acupuncture licensing law was Michigan, whose governor, Jennifer Granholm, signed Senate Bill 351 into law in February.

Opinion Corner

I recently read a review from www.tcmstudent.com that I would like to share:

WebMD vs About.com - How patients are being advised

Two great resources for information on health are both About.com and WebMD. Recently articles were published on both with Acupuncture as their focus, trying to talk about all the benefits and risks of Acupuncture. What is most notable is the difference between how they advise you to find an Acupuncturist:

WebMD: If you're interested in trying acupuncture, be sure to tell your doctor first. People with bleeding problems, an active infection, and other health problems aren't advised to try it. To find a certified acupuncturist, your doctor may be able to help. Friends may have suggestions. Check with major academic medical centers. Check with the American Academy of Medical Acupuncturists.

A qualified acupuncturist gets thousands of hours of training. A physician with acupuncture training, however, gets only 200 hours or so of training. "There's a big difference," says Wayne. A qualified acupuncturist will be licensed through state and national boards. Ask the practitioner about his or her years of clinical experience -- that also makes a difference.

Note how at first they say, talk to your doctor and go to the underqualified AAMA, and in the next sentence they tell you that the AAMA is far less trained. Totally inconsistent and not good advice.

ABOUT~Ask your doctor. Many doctors are now providing information to their patients regarding alternative medicine and natural therapies. If you are looking for an acupuncture practitioner, ask your doctor to get tips and advice on where to look.

~ Always check with your local acupuncture association. National acupuncture organizations (which can be found through libraries or Web search engines) may provide referrals to acupuncturists. These associations and organizations are there to provide a professional service and usually check the listed practitioners for qualifications and experience before allowing the practitioner to join. You may like to take this opportunity to learn more about this natural therapy through these organizations who are very helpful with information.

Now we're talking. Tell your doc, and then call the state association. Finally good consistent information. I love how they say 'Many doctors are NOW providing info' - cause they sure as hell weren't before.

It continues to astound me that many doctors feel qualified to advise on a modality which the majority know nothing about. Working in the medical field, I see daily that most physicians do not prescribe medications or offer consult beyond the scope of their specialty, yet many have no hesitation educating (ahemm, debunking) on alternative therapies with all the authority of Mao. While I always encourage my clients to consult with their doctor and offer to speak with them if they have questions about acupuncture or herbal treatment, I have yet to receive a phone call from a doctor.

As for the AAMA, don't even get me started. Acupuncture is a specialty, not something you can learn in a weekend and certainly not something that you are qualified to practice just because you are an MD. True, in China, MDs perform acupuncture, but the training is a specialty within the medical schools and TCM is widely accepted in hospitals. If someone told you your cardiologist had a 200 hour residency, would you trust in him or would you run out of the office? Be smart. If you are looking for a qualified acupuncturist, go to www.nccaom.org and find out who is certified in your area.

Neuroscience Therapy Corp receives US approval to market pain-relief device

15 May 2006

Neuroscience Therapy Corp. (OTC: NPYC) has received FDA approval to begin marketing its electronic pain relief device the P-Stim in the United States.

P-Stim, which the company claims has been highly successful in treating pain in thousands of patients in Europe, is now permitted to be marketed in the U.S. It is a miniaturized electro-stimulation device that is placed behind the ear with adhesive. It transmits low frequency electrical pulses via acupuncture-like needles inserted into the ear muscles. The electrical stimulation releases endorphins, which have an analgesic effect. The P-Stim can give continuous pain therapy over several days.

It was stated by the National Institute of Health: “Pain is a critical national health problem. It is the most common reason for medical appointments, nearly 40 million visits annually, and costs this country over $100 billion each year in health care and lost productivity.”
Neuroscience Therapy is now able to enter the multi-billion dollar market for pain releif in the U.S. and plans to begin a nationwide campaign to promote P-Stim.

President and CEO Dr. Randolph A. Turpin of Neuroscience Therapy said: “I’m very proud of our team for enabling Neuroscience Therapy to get to this point. We are now in an ideal position to begin making revenues in this multi-billion dollar market.” The company claims that its product has no known side effects, unlike many pharmaceutical pain relievers.