Acupuncture News
News Archive
12-15-05
Acupuncture
is more than just sticking needles into random parts of the body -- there's
actually a science behind it. According to Jo Condra, a licensed
acupuncturist at Essential Chiropractic Acupuncture and Massage Therapy in
Scottsdale, the ancient medicine treats patients through treating their
energy, or "qi."
The body's qi runs along pathways called meridians, which is what the
acupuncturist taps into with their needles. Condra says meridians are
connected to organ systems throughout the body.
For example, the kidney meridian runs from underneath the left side of the
collarbone, down the torso and ends underneath the left foot (see graphic
for other meridian paths.
Condra says acupuncturists help their patients by determining where in the
body his or her qi is unbalanced, adding that this unbalanced energy will
manifest itself physically. By examining these physical symptoms, the
acupuncturist determines what areas need to be treated. For example, one of
the bodily functions maintained by the liver is evenness of temperament,
says Condra. She says if someone is extremely angry all the time, it may
indicate a qi deficiency in the liver.
By placing needles into points along the meridian, the energy will move and
increase circulation throughout the meridian, Condra says. This helps
regulate the flow of qi throughout the entire body and leads to improved
health. Myriad factors help determine the number of needles used and how
many treatments are necessary for improved health. Some factors include
severity of the ailment and one's own desire to get better.
"There is no solid treatment protocol,"says Condra. "In this practice, we
look at the individual, not patterns of symptoms." Condra began practicing
acupuncture after she says it helped her recover from lupus. After spending
seven years unsuccessfully treating her disorder through conventional
practice, Condra says acupuncture was her answer. "The techniques used in
acupuncture are meant to initiate the body to heal itself," Condra says. "No
matter what type of medicine you use, you have to be proactive. You have to
look out for yourself and your own health." -- M.O.
Most of us deal with a headache by taking pills, but Sue Retterath prefers acupuncture. After many failed attempts with medications and doctor visits, Sue found that acupuncture was the only solution for her chronic migraines.
"I was at the point where I have to do something. It's not going to hurt me
to try," Sue said. Acupuncture is based on the concept of Chi or energy. And
what Dr. Bob Gietzen tries to do is rebalance this chi in your body by
targeting certain areas with tiny needles. "Usually by doing that alone,
most of your problems will take care of themselves," Certified Acupuncturist
Dr. Bob Gietzen said. There are roughly 700 points in the body, and by
targeting only 15, your migraines could be cured. "You find points that hit
multiple areas," Dr. Gietzen said. He says it's not about putting in a lot
of needles, it's about putting in the right amount. And that amount has kept
Sue migraine free since July, which is when she began coming here.
"It has just been awesome. I can get up in the morning and say, Hey, today I
am not going to have a headache, and I know that," she said. Dr. Gietzen
says sleep also plays an important role in the way we cope with pain.
Acupuncture can help patients sleep better at night, too. "If you have pain,
you can't rest, if you can't rest, you become more fatigued. If you become
more fatigued, the pain is worse," he said. Sue wants other migraine
sufferers to know that they don't have to live in pain.
"You have nothing to lose, why suffer, quality of life is so important. You're missing out on a lot in life with your family, your job," she said. Something Sue doesn't have to miss out on anymore.
