Factor Contributing to Treatment Efficacy in Acupuncture
Nowadays, more and more people have turned and seek Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments such as acupuncture for pain relief. Not because of its efficacy alone, but also the side effects are substantially lower than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same condition. Extensive scientific studies have been conducted and the results suggest acupuncture can alleviate pain. Studies have shown insertion of needles on acupuncture points causes the release of endorphin, natural pain killers to produce analgesic effect. In fact ,the primary purpose is to release stagnation, allowing the qi and blood to flow freely in order to alleviate pain. If your thinking is to apply acupuncture in order to release endorphin for alleviating pain, then you are on the wrong direction. In contrast, other researchers suggest that acupuncture's effects are merely due to placebo. Other evidence from studies suggests that short-term acupuncture treatment does not produce long-term benefits. Why do studies have different outcomes? Why given the same patient having the same complain treated by different doctors get different level of results in effectiveness?
According to TCM, pain is not a disease itself, rather a manifestation of an underlying condition that needs to be attended. In TCM theory, pain is either caused by obstruction or due to insufficient of qi (oxygen) and blood supply. That is why needle as a tool is being utilized to dispel out the stagnation and with moxibustion (has also the ability to dispel stagnation) to boost immune system or improve body energy level to counter these causes.
In the long history of traditional Chinese acupuncture, needle insertion technique is a crucial element affecting treatment efficacy. Skill level of an acupuncturist can be seen by observing how swiftly he handled the needles during insertion without the aid of guide tube, because needle insertion technique cannot be executed with guide tube and this is a major factor that will influence treatment efficacy. An authoritative survey was conducted and reported in June, 2012 found out around 60% of current clinical acupuncturists have neglected the classical traditional acupuncture techniques. Treatment procedures are substituted with the use of gadgets, such as guide tubes, electro-acupuncture device, laser beam instrument & etc. With advance technology, different new devices are being invented and introduced into the market with convincing explanations based on principles. In reality, are these devices truly helpful or it is becoming a hindrance or a setback to clinical efficacy? In China, never can you see a high caliber or state-level acupuncturist performs acupuncture treatment with guide tube.
In order to provide a smooth insertion with stimulation enable to create a powerful needle grasp effect known as “deqi” in Chinese, finger strength is an essential factor. That is why in ancient time even up to these days, most of the acupuncture masters practice martial arts or qigong to strengthen their fingers and also for building up their body resistance against invasion of pathogens. A prominent acupuncturist in China who was given the highest rank as one of the top two best acupuncturists at the national level by the Chinese government during these past decades often mentioned, "Executing acupuncture without practicing qigong is equivalent to a doctor practicing in vain, just letting patients to suffer”.
In TCM treatments, acupuncture is just one of the modalities. Although, it can be used as a stand-alone therapy, but to produce a synergistic effect, it is often used in combination with other modalities. In some diseases, acupuncture is rather served as an adjunct or secondary to other treatment modalities. According to Doctor Son Si Miao, who was titled as “King of Medicine” during the Tang Dynasty said: "If one execute acupuncture and does not incorporate moxibustion, or moxibustion without acupuncture, then not considered as a well-equipped doctor. Also, one applies acupuncture and moxibustion, but without herbal prescription, or herbal prescription without acupuncture and moxibustion, neither considered as a high caliber doctor."
