Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese art which has evolved over thousands of years. The Chinese used bones, sharpened stones and bamboo sticks to locate ashi (points of pain) to administer relief.
To date there is still a lot of research being done on acupuncture. Many of the ideas used in acupunctural treatment have never been reconciled with main stream sciences like physics, chemistry and biology and it is viewed in many circles as mysticism.

However, the World Health Organisation has approved acupuncture as being effective treatment for at least 28 illnesses. Acupuncture is also recognised as a form of alternative medicine by the American Medical Association. In Uganda, the first acupunctural clinic was registered and licensed by the Ministry of Health in 2005.

How does acupuncture work?

Wikipedia, the on line encyclopaedia gives a description of the basic elements of acupuncture. Acupuncture practitioners believe that in order for one to be healthy there must be a state of balance between yang and yin. Yang is vital energy while yin is linked to, though not necessarily identified, with blood. When yin and yang are not balanced, then one’s health deteriorates.

Another major tenet of acupuncture is the belief in qi. Dr. Liu De Zheng of Natural Chinese Herbal and Acupuncture Clinic says qi is something we cannot see but can only feel as it flows through our body causing relief and healing. Qi is believed to be a form of life energy that flows through our body meridians.

These meridians are presented as lines connecting different parts of our body to vital organs. For example a headache can be treated by locating an acupuncture point around the back of the leg. Acupuncture points are said to exist on twelve main and two extra meridians. What acupuncture does is improve blood circulation and open up blood vessels so qi can flow freely through the body and cause better health and well being.

It is in these acupunctural points that several needles are inserted to treat particular ailments. These needles are usually retained in the body for about ten minutes to an hour. The practitioner may choose to manipulate particular needles at particular acupunctural points to give the desired effect. Sometimes small amounts of electrical stimulation may be employed.
Zheng advises that acupuncture is even more effective when used with lightable Chinese herbs to further stimulate the nerves.

What ailments can acupuncture treat?

Zheng says that unlike conventional medicine, acupuncture actually cures and does not just relieve the symptoms of a disease. For example, for diseases like high blood pressure and arthritis whose drugs are known to cause adverse side effects and even damage some body organs, acupuncture can be good alternative and more effective treatment.

It is also said to cure joint pain, strokes, paralysis, stress, epilepsy and diabetes. The Natural Chinese and Herbal Acupuncture Clinic leaflet  lists haemorrhoid, herpes, obesity and weight loss, malaria, fibroids, infertility, sinuses, skin infections, fungal infections, acne and ulcers as yet more diseases that can be treated by acupuncture. 

Each acupuncture needle used costs Shs1,000 while one gets an entire session of acupuncture at Shs20,000. Sometimes up to 20 needles can be used and this can be costly. Fortunately the needles are reusable and patients are advised to keep their needles and bring them back for each session. There are also disposable needles available for those who can afford them.

Even though the procedure has no serious side effects, it can be highly invasive. It is therefore important for patients to have comfortable rapport with their practitioners to make them feel comfortable and ease communication. Acupuncture is not usually painful. Most patients claim to feel a dull ache, heaviness of treated limbs or a shocking sensation along the meridians.

However, if one feels unbearable pain, one must communicate to the acupuncturist to extract a particular needle or suspend the entire procedure until the pain subsides. Also one must be careful and make sure they trust the health and hygiene of the acupuncturist. Reusable needles must always be sterilised.

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