August 2001
|
|
EAST
MEETS WEST
Machine vs. Human
Acupuncture Treatments
ZHUOLING REN, TCMD
EACH MONTH, Dr. Zhuoling Ren, a traditional
Chinese medical doctor, answers questions on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
Dr. Ren gears her columns to lay readers and practitioners alike about many Oriental
medical topics. Her responses to commonly asked questions provide information on
theoretical, clinical, and modern research regarding TCM. This month's article answers
a question about machine vs. hands-on acupuncture treatments.
Can an electricity acupuncture stimulation machine be used as a substitute for
"Shou Fa" (hand technique) stimulation in acupuncture treatment?
My answer to this question is no. Electric stimulation cannot completely substitute
for Shou Fa stimulation. We all know that acupuncture affects the body by stimulating
Qi and blood in the meridians. So performing needle stimulation is basically what
acupuncture is supposed to do.
Electricity acupuncture stimulates the acupoints by using an electric acupuncture
stimulation machine (EAS) to send an electric current into the points. It affects
the local nerves, blood vessels, and muscle system from its contraction and expansion
to regulate the energy and body functions. There is a reaction between the incoming
electricity and the bio-electricity of the human body.
But in effect, Shou Fa stimulation has more advantages than EAS. In using Shou Fa
stimulation, the needles can also be used to generate or regulate the bio-electricity
in the body. Ancient traditional Chinese medicine doctors developed many different
stimulation methods in which to enhance acupuncture treatment results. All of the
methods developed can be categorized into reinforcing, reducing, or keeping even
stimulation.
Using Shou Fa acupuncture is a procedure in which both doctor and patient can sense
the energy flow. Patients can sense the Qi as heavy, sore, numb, tingling, or traveling.
The operator of the needles (the doctor) can also feel, beneath the needles, a sensation
such as tightness, hollowness, heaviness, emptiness, etc., The doctor can also sense
the needs of the patient's condition and adjust the gentleness, strength, speed,
and
direction of the needles. The EAS machine cannot generate such articulate refinements.
Further, the bio-electricity generated by using the Shou Fa technique can be much
more easily adopted by the patient's body.
EAS has simple waves and the voltage generally can easily cause the body to
develop resistance. (In other words, the body will become immune to the redundant
repetition.) Further more, electricity is foreign to the body in terms of its bio-electricity.
If the value of stimulation and the time of the stimulation are not adjusted accurately
it can cause a disturbance of the bio-electric field in the body.
From my clinical experience there are better Qi transforming sensations through Shou
Fa than through EAS. For example, if I use the He Gu points to treat a toothache,
Shou Fa can make the Qi transfer to the tooth. But if the needles are connected to
the EAS machine there is no such Qi transfer.
There are some conditions in which EAS should not be applied, for example in
Bell's Syndrome (facial paralysis). If EAS is applied in the early stages of Bell's
Syndrome, a sequel would be more likely to occur. If we only use the Shou Fa technique
for Bell's Syndrome the cure rate is much higher. Also, for some atrophy syndromes
when supplied with EAS, patients will often feel that the atrophied limbs can be
even weaker and there will be a temperature drop in the limbs. Sometimes this weakness
can last for two to four days. But by using Shou Fa on the atrophied muscles the
body, after treatment, will feel warm and comfortable.
EAS has the advantage in that it doesn't require the practitioner to operate needles
or have complex hand-work skill and EAS is easy to operate. It supplies a consistent
stimulation. Many practitioners, mainly Westerners, like to hook electric current
to the needles so that, by following an electric monitor they can have the sense
that something is happening. However, clinically, in some cases EAS is good for acute
muscular pain, acute abdominal pain, and strong headache, etc.
My advice is that we need to be carefully concerned when applying EAS to neurological
conditions because it can be both beneficial but also detrimental, and the line between
these two opposites is very thin. However with more scientific research, helping
to define the applications for the use of EAS and more experience the benefits of
its use can be recognized.
Dr. Zhouling Ren, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, is founder and president
of the China Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She is a professor of the
China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Beijing) and former doctor-in-charge
at Xiyuan hospital (Beijing). For more information, contact her at the China Institute
of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 612-827-7908 or 651-222-1200. Two locations: 3125
Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis and 1033 Grand Ave., St. Paul.
Home | Wellness? | Writers Info | Subscribe | Links | Contact Us
P.O. Box 897
Stillwater, MN 55082
tel:
715-259-3385 or fax: 715-259-3386
email: info@tcwellness.com
©
2001 Twin Cities WELLNESS newspaper.
All rights reserved.
