Acupuncture – what can it treat and how does it work?

Acupuncture is an ancient healing practice that deals with restoring this balance. Why is it so important? How does it work? Is it a healing modality? And when is it worth considering it? Read more about acupuncture, its history and usages.

Acupuncture, one of the world’s oldest healing practices, originated in ancient China as a complementary therapy for a wide range of conditions. According to legend, it was born from the observations of Chinese warriors who, injured by arrows from a bow or stabbing weapon, observed other persistent painful conditions disappear in themselves.

The history of acupuncture dates back to 6,000-4,000 BC. The oldest surviving work on acupuncture is Huang Ti’s ‘The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine’, where a lengthy dialogue between him and his physicians discusses the basics of Chinese medicine, the topography of the energy channels and acupuncture points, the puncture technique and the indications and contraindications for the procedure.

The Yellow Emperor was a scientist of great measure. He was to invent the compass, the first Chinese letters and the chronometer. His favourite discipline was medicine, and Huang Ti’s wish that the Chinese people should be healed primarily by puncturing them with small thin needles to direct their life energy has been consigned to history.

Further development of acupuncture is due to the famous physician Hua To (141-208 AD), a pioneer of Chinese surgery and acupuncture anaesthesia. He used this method, among others, to operate on the famous warlord Kuan Kung, removing a piece of bone from a forearm wounded by a poisoned arrow.

Acupuncture flourished in China, with medical schools offering courses on subjects like internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, obstetrics, dental and throat diseases, acupuncture, and what we now term psychotherapy.

With the rise to power of the Manchurian Ts’ing dynasty (1644-1911), the successful period of acupuncture belonging to Chinese science, culture and medicine came to an end. It was, however, practised in the provinces, and during the civil wars and the war against the Japanese between 1937 and 1945, it played a major role in the treatment of soldiers.

In 1955, a decree was issued ordering the official inclusion of acupuncture in the curriculum of all medical schools.

The origins of Polish acupuncture date back to the mid-17th century. In studies published between 1682 and 1683, anatomical tables of acupuncture points and meridians can be found, compiled by Michał Boym, a Polish missionary who, travelling the world, spent several years in China.

Professor Zbigniew Garnuszewski, a renowned Polish pulmonologist, pioneered the introduction of acupuncture as a treatment method in Poland during the 1970s. In 1978, the first acupuncture treatment clinic in Poland was opened in Warsaw, where a team led by Prof. Garnuszewski treated patients and provided regular training for doctors. In 1987, the Polish Acupuncture Society was registered, which is still active today and continues to educate medical practitioners in this art.

This technique involves inserting thin, disposable needles into specific points on the body, known as acupuncture points. These are located on the so-called meridians, i.e. energy channels through which Qi energy (life energy) circulates, which is responsible for the proper functioning of our metabolism and all organs. The theory of meridians is the basis for acupuncture according to TCM – Traditional Chinese Medicine. Their course is linked to the peripheral and cranial nerve system.

Tests performed with a galvanometer and a CT scanner, showed a different tissue structure within the acupuncture points. They were shown to be more vascularised and contain a greater number of receptors. Their increased electrical activity was confirmed.

Ancient Chinese medics were already familiar with visceral-dermal and cutaneous-percutaneous reflexes, which European scholars only became aware of at the beginning of the 20th century. Henry Head, an English neurologist, in collaboration with William Rivers, an English psychiatrist and neurologist, conducted research on reflex reactions.

• Viscerocutaneous reflexes signal internal organ disease by pain and increased tension of the relevant muscle groups within the so-called Head’s Zones, and are therefore used for diagnostic purposes.
• Visceral-percutaneous reflexes are used for therapeutic purposes. By puncturing the corresponding biologically active points within the Head’s Zones, the diseased organ can be influenced.

The impulses induced by the punctures stimulate the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system. In this way, they have a regulating effect on the function of internal organs, their better blood supply and nutrition. Thanks to improved blood circulation, the affected organ is cleansed of metabolites, deacidified and well oxidised, thus reducing the intensity of the pain experienced.

Stimulation of acupuncture points also increases the release of endogenous endorphins and neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, which have analgesic and euphoric effects.

Acupuncture is recommended for individuals dealing with various ailments across numerous medical disciplines. Among these, we can mention the following:

• Osteoarthritis.
• Back pain in different spinal segments.
• Sciatica.
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
• Ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
• Arthritis.
• Discopathies.
• Chronic pain of various causes.
• Sports injuries and trauma.

• Lower and upper respiratory tract infections.
• Bronchial asthma.
• Inflammation of the palatine tonsils.
• Inflammation of the throat, gums (also parodontosis).
• Peptic ulcer disease of the stomach and duodenum.
• Gastritis.
• Indigestion, constipation, flatulence.
• Coronary heart disease.
• Hypertension.
• Functional disorders of the cardiovascular system.
• Eye diseases (conjunctivitis, glaucoma, cataracts).

• Irregular menstrual cycles.
• Painful menstrual periods.
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
• Endometriosis (supportive).
• Chronic inflammatory conditions of the reproductive organs (PID).
• Menopause syndrome.
• Kidney stones.
• Chronic inflammatory conditions of the bladder and kidneys.
• Urinary incontinence and incipient prostatic hypertrophy.

Puncturing appropriate points on the body helps to alleviate the effects of chronic stress, migraine, paroxysmal headaches of vascular origin, insomnia, anxiety, neurosis. It is worth remembering, however, that the effects of such therapy must be waited for. Several sessions are necessary.

To maximize the relaxation benefits of acupuncture, it is recommended to eat a light meal approximately two hours before the session and avoid stimulants that may raise blood pressure.

The acupuncture needle has a different design than an injection needle. It is very thin and is not a hollow tube, but a compact blade. It is often coated with silicone, which makes it easier to insert into the tissue, minimises its damage and makes it less painful. A spreading sensation, as if a slight electric shock, is the normal reaction after hitting the receptor clumps of a biologically active cell.

A needle-free method that also makes use of the remarkable benefits of acupuncture points is acupressure, which has been known for several thousand years as an effective art of health and beauty care.

Acupressure can not only be used as a way of treating ailments, but is also very effective in the prevention of various conditions.

A crucial aspect is that, using our own hands, we can act on selected points to transmit healing impulses deep into the body.

Acupressure is kneading, pressing and pinching, a form of massage of acupuncture points. It is worth taking an interest in hand and foot acupressure; the points are easily accessible and have a wide range of therapeutic uses. One example is the Hegu point, located between the thumb and index finger, it has a strong analgesic, strengthening effect and supports the immune forces. Another universal pain-relieving point is the Kunlun point, located in the hollow between the lateral ankle and the Achilles tendon.

Massaging the points lying on the face relieves, among other things, headaches, visual fatigue, improves the appearance of the eyes and is effective in reducing puffiness of the nasal area.

Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizes a return to nature and the maintenance of homeostasis as the foundation for health management. The emphasis is on the holistic regulation of the body’s functioning – so that body and mind are in optimal balance.

In our seeking for health and well-being, we should look to classical and modern Western wisdom and methods for answers.

• Acupuncture enhances health by stimulating the body’s natural healing mechanisms.
• Acupuncture treatment often has the effect of relieving several symptoms simultaneously.
• It can be used together with other therapies.
• It serves not only as a treatment for medical conditions, but also as a method to maintain wellbeing.

Acupuncture is contraindicated for individuals with coagulation disorders, such as hemophilia. It should not be approached if you are suffering from inflammation of the skin, severe fatigue or after drinking alcohol. The therapy is also inadvisable in cancer patients.

Pregnancy is not a categorical contraindication, but extreme caution is necessary. The puncture of certain points may cause uterine contractions – it is therefore extremely important that the therapy is only carried out by experienced specialists.