A branch of Chinese medicine, acupuncture was believed to have come into American consciousness in 1972 after President Richard Nixon’s trip to China. A journalist traveling with Nixon reportedly fell ill and was treated using acupuncture. After Nixon’s return to the US, acupuncture was legalized and the first acupuncture clinic opened in Washington D.C.
However, some historians were quick to point out that although Nixon helped acupuncture grow, he was not the one who brought it to the US. Prior to 1972, it was believed that Chinese immigrant doctors were already practicing acupuncture, though not legally.
More than 30 years later, there is still some mystery surrounding this ancient art of healing.
- Myth #1: The needles hurt.
The needle is just one of the tools of acupuncture. Laser-treated and somewhat dull, the acupuncture needle is fine and thin, like human hair. Wrapped in a plastic guide tube, it makes a little bubble when pushed against the skin. The patient usually cannot feel the insertion and rarely does it leave any marks.
Needles come in various sizes or depths. The acupuncturist decides which ones to use depending on the patient’s size, ailment or sensitivity. “You wouldn’t even know what I’m using,” says Roland Ryf, a licensed acupuncturist in Thousand Oaks.
- Myth #2: Acupuncture only uses needles.
While the needle is one of the most commonly recognized acupuncture tool, there are others. Acupuncturists like Ryf also like to prescribe herbal supplements to stimulate metabolism. “Green tea is also excellent for weight loss. Drinking up to three cups a day is good for the body,” says Ryf.
Moxibustion, is non-invasive and probably the most versatile tool, but can be time-consuming. It involves placing some dried leaves (mugwort) on the end of needles as a warming therapy. Acupuncturists, to increase circulation, also use other tools and methods like cupping and Gwa Sha.
- Myth #3: Acupuncture is only for people who are sick or in pain.
While it is quickly gaining popularity in pain management and in the treatment of various ailments, acupuncture is also beneficial for over-all good health. The Chinese philosophy and culture is all about balancing the negative (yin) and positive (yang) influences around us. Acupuncture can help achieve that balancing act between the organs and different bodily systems.
“We maintain our cars, gardens and houses. Why not do the same to our bodies? Acupuncture can definitely help for health maintenance,” explains Ryf.
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