Acupuncture as a Complementary and Alternative Therapy - Essay Example

Complementary and Alternative Therapy: Acupuncture Complementary and Alternative Therapy (CAT) refers to approaches used for the treatment of patients that are used to either supplement (complimentary) or replace (alternative) the conventional medical treatments offered at medical facilities. When medical facilities offer both CAT and conventional medication then that is termed as integrated medical care (Singer & Adams, 2014). The CAT being discussed in this context is acupuncture. Acupuncture is an ancient form of medication that originates from China. Traditionally, the procedure was used to restore the flow of energy i.e. qi pronounced as ‘chee’ within the body which will, in turn, make the patient feel better. Acupuncture has gone through a metamorphosis to its modern form that focuses on the nerves and not ‘energy' in the spiritual sense as in the ancient Chinese practice. Acupuncture has gained wide acceptance in the Far East, Europe, Canada, and America. The practice became known in the United States in the twentieth century after a reporter of the New York Times wrote about it in 1972 after he underwent acupuncture at a hospital in China to reduce the post-surgical pain he suffered after an appendectomy. However, its popularity was realized in the twenty-first century with an estimated 38 million people opting for the treatment as of 2009 according to a report by the National Institutes Health (NIS). Acupuncture involves the stimulation of certain points on the skin referred to as pressure points, mostly using a needle to penetrate/puncture the skin and consequently alleviating pain. The needles used in this process are not the standard needles used in conventional treatment but rather finer needles that can easily fit in a pore of the skin. The point on the skin being stimulated has a link to the condition being treated. For instance, the inner ankle depression is a pressure point to relieve menstrual cramps. Typically, a session of acupuncture may last for 60 to 90 minutes. Usually, approximately 30 minutes is used for interaction where the acupuncturists get to familiarize themselves with the patient’s medical background then addressing the issue at hand. Proceeding, the patient will then be asked to lie on a surface and the acupuncture needles are inserted at specific points depending on the main complaint. When the needle is inserted, one will feel a momentary sharp sensation which then subsides. The acupuncturist then manipulates the needles carefully for a period of about 20 minutes then the needles are removed. A majority of people report feeling relaxed after having the sessions. A practitioner should use sterile acupuncture needles that are disposable to ensure that they are not shared among patients. Acupuncture has been popular for having benefits such as relaxation of the body, relieving various kinds of pains there being no drugs required to be taken to mention a few. However, it is important to note that there are some side effects that may be experienced however mild they are. Some of the shortcomings of acupuncture include soreness at the point of insertion of the acupuncture needle, possible bleeding for people with bleeding disorders or those using blood thinners and bruising at the point of insertion. Extreme cases ever reported is the puncturing of organs which may occur in the event that the acupuncturist is not a professional. Serious complications are rarely reported. In that light, it is important that one ensures that they were treated by a professional acupuncturist when opting for this CAT (Palermo, 2017). Acupuncture is slowly being integrated into conventional medical treatment. Hence, there are governing bodies that oversee the working of acupuncturists. There have been variations from state to state but in the event that the acupuncturist is not a certified physician they are required to have undergone an exam issued and conducted by the National Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). The professional and licensing body for acupuncturists is the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA) that is based in El Segundo, California (www.medicalacupuncture.org). This body regulates the practice of acupuncture not only in the United States but also entire North America. It is a body that is recognized internationally in matters acupuncture. Additionally, it provides guidelines to physicians on how to incorporate acupuncture in other forms of treatment. On the website, a patient also gets an opportunity to get information about any concerns they might have as there are professionals who perform the specific task. According to AAMA, acupuncture can be incorporated in the treatment of asthma, infertility, and cancer. This raises concern for a number of reasons. The patients ailing from asthma may fail to make their medication such as using inhalers and opt for acupuncture independently, a move that can have devastating consequences. In the case of fertility treatment, there is more than nerves involved in infertility issues and patients should not be misguided. When used in the treatment of cancer, it is only applicable in relieving some of the side effects of radio/chemotherapy and not that acupuncture actually treats cancer. A number of researches have dedicated time and other resources to check the efficacy of acupuncture. Becker, alongside a team of other researchers, conducted an empirical study on how holistic health promotion particularly acupuncture benefits the patients. In the study, acupuncture was administered to patients suffering from multiple sclerosis alongside conventional treatment. The patients reported experiencing some degree of relief (Becker, 2016). It is evident from the study that acupuncture can be used as a complementary therapy. Another study by Zhao and Chen focused on checking the long-term effect of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis. The study conducted in form of a random clinical trial showed that patients suffering from a migraine without aura when subjected to true acupuncture for a long period reported a minimal recurrence of a migraine. Hence, form the study it was evident that acupuncture can be used as an alternative treatment for migraines. According to Grace 2017, acupuncture is an effective integrative therapy in the treatment of cancer. Patients who were subjected to acupuncture experienced notable improvement after the therapy as evident in minimal drowsiness, nausea, anxiety pain, and sleep disorders. In this study, acupuncture was usually administered after radio/chemotherapy sessions. In another study by Wu, Gan, and Zhang, acupuncture was found to be effective in controlling blood pressure and as such, suitable as a complementary treatment for hypertensive patients. Dr. Weil T. A., M.D., perceives acupuncture mainly as a complementary therapy and maintains that it cannot be administered independently. The researcher says that because of the minimal side effects of the therapy, he would be willing to use it for relieving pain. For patients, he maintains that acupuncture is essential in relieving pain and allowing them to relax. Dr. Sullivan D., PhD., MSN, RN, CNE, COI, is knowledgeable about acupuncture and holds that it must have a significant efficacy because it has been practiced for millennia now. She has incorporated acupuncture as a health promotion initiative after it proved effective in curing her of chronic headaches and sinus pressure. Additionally, the University Nursing educator argues that acupuncture helps an individual feel relaxed. Sullivan maintains that she would incorporate and continues incorporating acupuncture for her patients especially in the area of cardiology and dermatology because acupuncture has proven to be effective in a number of conditions in that area. From the discussion, it is factual that acupuncture has come a long way as a CAT here in the United States and has the potential of being considered as an alternative therapy for a number of ailments upon further research. For now, it remains as a complementary therapy for most ailments. Acupuncture will definitely be useful as an integrated therapy in pain relief for patients instead of having them use drugs to minimize pain. Moreover, it will promote the overall health of the entire body apart from the ailment being treated. References AAMA, American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. https://www.medicalacupuncture.org Becker, H., Stuifbergen, K. A., Schnyer, N. R., Morrison, D. J. & Henneghan. (2016). Integrating Acupuncture Within a Wellness Intervention for Women with Multiple Sclerosis. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 35(1), 86-96. DOI: doi.org/10.1177/0898010116644833. Grace, M. K., Cohen, L., Spano, M., Spelman, A., Hashmi, Y., Chaoul, A., Wei, Q. W., & Lopez, G. (2017). Inpatient Acupuncture at a Major Cancer Centre. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 17(1), 148-152. Papadakis, M. A. (2014). Current medical diagnosis & treatment 2014. McGraw Hill Medical. Palermo, E. (2017). What is Acupuncture? Retrieved October 25, 2018, from https://www.fromlivescience.com. Singer, J. & Adams, J. (2014). Integrating complementary and alternative medicine into mainstream health care services: the perspectives of health service managers. International Society for Complementary Medicine Research, 14(167), 1-11. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-167. Wu, Q. T., Gan, J. W., & Zhang, J. (2016). Observation of the Efficacy of Acupuncture in Patients with Hypertension. West Indian Medical Journal, 256(1), 1-10. DOI: 10.7727/wimj.2016.256. Zhao, L., & Chen, J. (2016). The Long-term Effect of Acupuncture for Migraine Prophylaxis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Internal Medicine, 177(4), 508-515. DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.9378. AAMA, American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. https://www.medicalacupuncture.org Read More