Modern help from an ancient art

<p>Western medicine today can save lives in miraculous ways. Many of us owe our health to drugs and surgeries developed just in the past 60 years.</p><p>But there are still many health problems that frustrate the best efforts of physicians — persistent symptoms that elude diagnosis or effective treatment.</p><p>And for every patient eagerly requesting medical intervention, there are others who resist pills or invasive procedures.</p><p>Better health can sometimes be achieved by complementing Western medicine with other safe and time-tested healing practices.</p><p>For more than 5,000 years, acupuncture has supported the health of millions of people. In recent years, it has become more accepted that such traditional Chinese medicine can be an effective adjunct to Western practices. The Food and Drug Administration approved acupuncture needles for use by licensed practitioners in 1996.</p><p>Using sterile, disposable needles no larger than a human hair, acupuncture works to restore balance within the body. The body has a store of life energy the Chinese call chi, which flows along well-mapped paths called meridians. By placing acupuncture needles on these meridians, the balance of chi is maintained.</p><p>With chi restored, the body is often able to heal itself from many common complaints. Headaches, gastrointestinal problems, infertility, chronic fatigue, stress-related illnesses, recurrent respiratory infections and chronic pain are all particularly responsive to acupuncture. In addition, acupuncture can help with childbirth, the symptoms of menopause and the side effects of cancer chemotherapy and radiation. The treatments are very relaxing, and most patients look forward to each session because they feel better when they leave than they did when they arrived.</p><p>U.S. studies have led scientists to believe that acupuncture boosts immune system cells and naturally occurring pain-killers such as endorphins and that it can alter brain chemistry.</p><p>All providers of acupuncture are not the same. In China, a doctor of Chinese medicine studies for seven years, followed by two years practicing in a hospital to learn the necessary skills.</p><p>In California, a layperson obtains a license to practice acupuncture by taking a course that includes almost 4,000 hours of study and passing a state exam. Alternatively, a licensed physician can earn an acupuncture certificate by taking a 300-hour course that includes a multimedia home study program, eight hours of hands-on training and two full weekends of clinical workshops.</p><p>Since some physicians practice acupuncture within their own neurologic/molecular model rather than the Chinese system, consumers should be aware of the difference. While it is encouraging that doctors are beginning to embrace acupuncture, know that if your Western-trained doctor/acupuncturist is unable to help, you should not give up on traditional Chinese medicine; it’s a different paradigm.</p><p>I spoke with Chung-Liang King, a doctor of Chinese medicine who practices in Santa Rosa. He studied in Taiwan before coming to the United States to join his father in the family tradition. King is the fourth generation in his family to practice acupuncture.</p><p>The Taipei hospital where he trained had a Western medical department adjacent to the Chinese medicine department, and patients were regularly referred back and forth. This open referral system is standard in China and Taiwan.</p><p>According to King, surgery is a relatively rare occurrence in China, only used as a last resort when all other measures have failed. By using Chinese medical practices, they are often able to avoid invasive procedures that are common in the United States, such as the removal of gall bladders and bowel resections. </p><p>However, King was quick to explain that an acute medical emergency such as a ruptured appendix should be treated aggressively; some problems are not appropriate for acupuncture.</p><p>The common ground between Chinese and Western medicine is the restoration and support of homeostasis — the inherent tendency in any living organism toward the maintenance of physiological and psychological stability.</p><p>Western medicine identifies unstable situations such as thyroid disease, high cholesterol, anemia and tumors. Doctors adjust for this lack of homeostasis by giving medication and performing surgeries. Chinese medicine seeks to restore homeostasis before problems become severe. It also helps the body regain this critical balance after invasive but necessary medical interventions.</p><p>With its long history of tradition and effectiveness, and in the hands of a properly trained practitioner, acupuncture can be safely combined with the regular attention of a primary care physician to assist you on the road to your own best health.</p><p>Longtime Sonoma County family physician Dr. Stacey Kerr, a graduate of UC Davis Medical School, is certified in her specialty by the American Board of Family Medicine. Her columns are not intended as a substitute for hands-on medical advice or treatment. Consult your health care provider before adhering to any recommendations in this column. E-mail comments to drkerr@the-doctors-inn.com.</p>