What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture has been used for over 2,000 years to help the body maintain a healthy status. It involves the stimulation through needle insertion on acupuncture points that have been used for centuries to help activate an immune response.
Your acupuncturist will use small, thin, solid, metal needles in your treatment. You can ask the receptionist to see one if you would like. Here at our clinic we use single use needles and dispose them after each treatment to ensure your safety.
A common term you’ll hear from an acupuncturist is “qi,” which refers to the energy of the body. “Qi” is the ancient term for the electricity that runs through our bodies helping organs function and blood circulate.
Ancient Chinese theory says this Qi flows like water through a river through our bodies. Sometimes just the stress of daily life can affect the quality and flow of your Qi. When the Qi gets stuck, the disruption of Qi flow causes our bodies not to function as smoothly and can manifest in a variety of ways. Sometimes it can lead to pain, weak function of the organs, or weakened immune function. Acupuncture can be used to activate this Qi to run smoothly helping your body to function properly again.
An acupuncture needle can feel a variety of ways. You could feel a dullness, heaviness, tingling, or nothing where the needle is placed. The needles are retained for 15-30 minutes.
What About Biomedicine?
Though there is a lot of research that has been done on Acupuncture and Chinese medicine, the results of the research are often undecided about the benefits they offer. Part of this is how the west conducts research and approaches health care compared to China. Here are some things we do know:
Endorphin Release – Acupuncture stimulates the release of these natural painkillers, resulting in a reduction in pain.
Increase Blood Circulation – Acupuncture increases nitric oxide in treated area, therefore increasing local blood circulation.
Increased Cortical Activity – Research is being done with MRIs and PETs, which show an increase in activity.
Anti-inflammatory – Acupuncture mediates anti-inflammatory responses via the flexive central inhibition of the innate immune system by efferent nerve activation and inflammatory macrophage deactivation.
Gate Theory of Pain – proposed by Patrick Wall and Ronald Melzack, the theory suggests gates or filters in the spinal cord increase or decrease transmission of pain inflammation within the nervous system. It’s thought that acupuncture can influence this gate theory by bringing the body’s attention elsewhere. This does not explain the long term effects derived from acupuncture however.
What Conditions Might Acupuncture Help?
Acupuncture can be used to aide the treatment of ailments. Here in the state of Florida, oriental medicine practitioners can be primary care givers. Many people come every other week or once a month for preventative care. Others might only come one or two times weekly for a week or two to take care of acute conditions and find relief.
The World Health Organization has listed over 28 conditions that acupuncture can be effective for, with more research being done on several dozen more conditions. This list can be viewed here
Lose Weight – Acupuncture has been proven to help patients lose weight through aiding the digestive system. With acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and exercise one might obtain their weight loss goals.
Quit Smoking – If you want to quit, acupuncture may help you. Through the use of electro-stimulation of needles, ear seeds, and Chinese herbs you may be able to quit and possibly not have all those nasty side effects.
Pain Management – Acupuncture has been used in this clinic for over 28 years to help in the treatment of all types of pain. It may help back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, menstrual pain, even digestive pain!
Women’s Health – Acupuncture may help a woman from her first period until after menopause. There are many books and herbal formulas that are dedicated to helping women with all types of gynecological disorders. Acupuncture is the subject of many studies for help in premenstrual syndrome, infertility, help in pregnancy, and menopause symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes.
Seasonal Allergies – Acupuncture might could have you breathing clearly again. With the right combination of acupuncture points and herbs, Chinese medicine could have you back to yourself again soon.
How to Choose An Acupuncturist
You should choose an acupuncturist that has training and credentials. Don’t hesitate to ask your acupuncturist what they studied or long they have been practicing.
The state of Florida requires non-physican acupuncturists to pass an exam by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
About Our Providers
Dr. Joe W. Johnson, D.C. – has been practicing chiropractic medicine and acupuncture for over 30 years here in Paxton, Florida. He graduated with his chiropractic degree and acupuncture certification from National College of Chiropractic.
Dr. Joe Morris, D.C. – has been practicing chiropractic medicine and acupuncture for over 6 years at our branch in DeFuniak Springs, Florida.
Dr. Heather Johnson, D.O.M. – graduated from the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin with a masters degree in Oriental Medicine. She has completed over 1,000 clinical hours of acupuncture and has seen over 450 patients during her internship. Along with her training she also attended specialty seminars on acupuncture techniques for facial rejuvenation, digestive disorders, and the World Health Organization’s scalp acupuncture protocol.
Additional Resources
♣ National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The World Health Organization has listed over 28 conditions that acupuncture can be effective for, with more research being done on several dozen more conditions. This list can be viewed here
The information here is not intended to diagnose any aliment, but rather for academic purposes. This website and conditions listed are not a substitute for proper evaluation and treatment. Without medical history and exam, there is no way of knowing your exact problem, and there is no way of knowing if our doctors or any doctor can help your condition. We cannot help every patient, but we can discuss your diagnosis, treatment plan, and reasonable expectations of improvement.