Community Acupuncture : a new form of affordable healthcare

WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?

Acupuncture is the insertion (at various depths) of extremely thin (the width of a strand of hair) needles at strategic points (acupoints or acupuncture points) on a persons body for a therapeutic purpose. Practitioners may also use heat (Moxa, a Chinese herb, applied topically is often used), pressure, friction, suction, or impulses of electromagnetic energy to stimulate the points. Although acupuncture is thought to have originated from China, American practices of acupuncture incorporate traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries as well.

DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK ?

According to the NIH Consensus Statement on Acupuncture, there have been many studies on the potential usefulness of acupuncture, but due to difficulties (such as choosing placebos or sham acupuncture), the results have been inconclusive. However, preliminary studies indicate that acupuncture may offer relief from a variety of diseases and conditions including low back pain, headaches, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) formally recognizes acupuncture as a method of pain relief. According to current research, those treated with acupuncture for pain relief used less pain medications and missed fewer days of work. Additional research shows acupuncture can help manage post- operative dental pain and can alleviate nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy as well as hot flashes brought on by prostate cancer. Studies have also shown positive results for fertility treatments. Acupuncture is also shown to benefit animals as well as humans. Further research will likely uncover additional areas where acupuncture treatments will prove useful.

Usually, anything that Traditional (Western) Medicine cannot treat, Oriental/acupuncture does.Many problems may even be corrected before drugs or surgery are necessary. However, the success rate of acupuncture is 70%, and therefore recommended that a person use Traditional (Western) Medicine as well as Oriental Medicine/acupuncture. Individuals having routine health problems or chronic conditions for which medication, therapy, and surgery are not effective, often benefit greatly with acupuncture treatments. Usually, four to six treatments are needed to tell of acupuncture will work for an individual.

IS ACUPUNCTURE SAFE?

Yes. If the treatment is administered by a qualified, conscientious practitioner. Although, there have been reports of nerve damage, increased pain, and infections, know that this is extremely rare. Licensed acupuncturists are educated in their field, well-trained, and know the human anatomy. Acupuncturists are well aware of the concern over infectious diseases, and take measures to ensure cleanliness as all health care professionals do. Infections rarely occur since the FDA approved of certain guidelines regarding the cleanliness of acupuncture needles. In 1996, the FDA approved that only sterile needles, designed for single use only were to be used for acupuncture treatments.

DOES ACUPUNCTURE HURT?

Pain is not associated with acupuncture. The needles used in acupuncture are made from extremely fine surgical steel wire (five acupuncture needles can fit inside the hole of a hypodermic needle) and are inserted with little or no discomfort. Sensations range from nothing at all to a mild tingling, to slight numbness, itchiness, to electrical pulsations in the areas distant from the site of insertion. The sensations do not last long. 

A TYPICAL ACUPUNCTURE SESSION

During the first visit, the practitioner may ask the individual about their health condition, lifestyle, and behavior. He/she will want to obtain a complete picture of the persons treatment needs and behaviors that may contribute to their condition. The individual should inform the practitioner of all the treatments or medications they are taking and all the medical conditions they may have.

An acupuncture treatment usually involves a series of weekly or biweekly treatments (usually thirty to sixty minutes long) in an outpatient setting. Acute situations may resolve in one or two sessions. However, chronic situations may require up to twelve treatments. Regular acupuncture sessions may be part of a preventative or optional health plan, although each acupuncture practitioner has his/her own unique style. Each visit typically includes an exam, an assessment of the individuals' current condition, the insertion of needles (typically, there are six to eight needles used), and a discussion about self-care tips. The person to receive the treatment should wear comfortable clothing and not be hungry or too full. The effect of the treatment may continue for the next several days and symptoms may improve within this time. Treatments build upon one another to provide more permanent relief. Usually patients leave in less discomfort  and are more functional than when they walked in. Sometimes the effects are too subtle to perceive, especially in the beginning of treatment. Yet, after five to ten treatments the improvements become more and more apparent.

HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK ?

It is proposed that acupuncture regulates the nervous system, thus aiding the activity of endorphins and immune system cells at specific sites in the body. Studies have also shown that acupuncture may alter brain chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters and hormones, thus affecting the parts of the central nervous system related to sensation and involuntary body functions such as, immune reactions and processes that regulate personal blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature.

In the Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) system, the body is seen as a delicate balance of two opposing (and inseparable) forces : yin and yang. Yin is said to be the cold, slow, or passive property while yang is the hot, excited, or active component. The major philosophy behind TCM is that health is achieved by maintaining the body in a "balanced state" and that disease occurs when there is an imbalance of yin and yang. This imbalance leads to blockage in the flow of qi (pronounced "chee"-vital energy) along pathways known as meridians. It is believed that there are twelve meridians and more than 2,000 acupoints on the human body that connect with them.

HOW MUCH DOES ACUPUNCTURE COST ?  

Not all insurance companies cover acupunctures. The best thing to do is to call the insurance company and ask them if they cover acupuncture and if so, to what extent. If the individual does not have health coverage (as 80% of Americans have limited coverage, if any insurance) the price varies from $40 dollars to $170 dollars per visit. The first visit usually costs more as the practitioner spends more time with the individual reviewing and assessing the persons current symptoms, and coming up with a treatment plan. At least, that was the "old way" of receiving acupuncture treatments. 

COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE  

With Community Acupuncture, or CA, one gets the same benefits as with traditional acupuncture plus for a fraction of the cost. To determine the cost of the treatment in a CA treatment, the clinic uses a sliding scale ( a system determining fees based on ones income) and therefore a person pays $15-$40 dollars (or whatever the person can afford) For example, someone having an annual income of $20,000 dollars would pay $20 dollars a treatment, a person having an annual income of $40,000 dollars would pay $40 dollars a treatment and so on and so forth.  There is no copay and no other out of pocket expenses. Treatments are also done in a community setting (acupuncture has shown to work better when people receive it together) while relaxing in a comfortable, recliner (almost all acupuncture points used are either on the head, arms (from the elbows down, or legs (from the knee down). Thus, the individual is fully clothed during treatment. The best part of CA clinics is that, because the treatments are done in a community setting, the acupuncturist can attend to more than one individual at a time, so the individual receiving treatment is not rushed in and rushed out. The person can also have their treatment for as long as they like. Although the treatment is done in a community setting, the patient interviews are done privately. So, the treatment setting is communal, but patient information stays private.

There are currently 80 CA clinics in the U.S. and four CA clinics have recently established themselves in the Seattle area. For us in the North end, we have the North Seattle Community Acupuncture clinic. The other CA clinics can be found on Capitol Hill, Beacon Hill, and in Columbia City. Practitioners and schools are recognizing the community benefit and schools such as Bastyr and SIOM are beginning to teach this model and traditional acupuncture clinics are starting to offer "community rates" during limited hours of the week.   

Acupuncture on Back Photo:~ggvid~,Brazil,2008(Set),Chinese Medicine(Set),Dog with Acupuncture Photo:markhillary's photostream,Mantilda(Set),Acupuncturist Photo:Wonderlane,Charlotte Stuart, MAc(USA)RN,Stillpoint Acupuncture and Craniosacral Therapy, Treating Patients, Nelson, New Zealand(Set),Stillpoint Acupuncture and Craniosacral Therapy, Photos by Jaap Boys(Set),Acupuncture Dummie Photo:psyberartists' photostream, gallery of merchandise(Set),urban(Set),Clever &Creative Captures (Pool),"Out of this world,"(unlimited Posting-Award 3) (Pool), Acupuncture on Ear Photo: SuperFantastic's photostream, 365 self-portraits(Set),of me(Pool), Arm's Length Self Portrait Experience (Pool), Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Modalites (Pool),365 days(Pool), Acupuncture on Legs Photo: iwana_kellies' photostream,vancouver '09(Set)