To the typical Westerner, acupuncture may seem rather esoteric and unscientific. It doesn’t help that acupuncture is mostly explained with ancient Chinese metaphorical language and imagery. We typically hear about energy meridians that traverse the body through which energy (Qi) travels. Acupuncture points are described as areas where stuck energy can be unblocked, like turning on a light switch. The basic premise of Chinese medicine is that where Qi and blood are moving, disease can’t take hold.

After reading this, do you feel like you understand acupuncture any better than before? I know I don’t. I do get an inkling that there is truth in these statements, but the concepts are truly vague. You might wonder how I ever got through acupuncture school with these heretical assertions! 

Well, I did make it through school. I trusted that 3,000 years of positive results meant that there was a lot of truth to be found in the ancient Chinese medical texts, and that they just had to be interpreted through a lens of modern anatomy and physiology. Luckily, there are scholars who have dedicated their lives to truly understanding the ancient texts and making them not only more accessible, but more applicable for Western Chinese medicine practitioners like me. Here is a distillation for you, my clients.

In his book The Dao of Chinese Medicine, Understanding an Ancient Healing Art, author Donald Kendall discusses various interpretations of Chinese medicine throughout history, then adds his two cents. He prefers to translate Qi as vital air, AKA oxygen. He believes that blood carries oxygen through the vessels (another name for meridians). In other words, acupuncture theory relates to the circulatory system.

I’m currently in the midst of taking a 55-hour course on Neuro-Meridian Integrative Acupuncture taught by Poney Chiang. Chiang offers a slightly different interpretation of what the ancients are describing. He believes that the nerve pathways relate directly to the meridian system. He shows how each acupuncture point directly targets a specific structure, such as a nerve trunk, a nerve branch, or a nerve’s entry point into a muscle. He believes that each point has its own very specific function, which is never repeated by another point. Therefore, in-depth knowledge of each point, including its precise location and intended action, allows the acupuncturist to achieve specific results with acupuncture treatment.

Interestingly, these two interpretations of the Chinese medicine texts are actually quite similar. Nerves supply stimulation to the blood vessels. The nerves and the blood vessels often travel together, forming neurovascular bundles. Therefore, when you insert an acupuncture needle, you are often stimulating a neurovascular bundle of nerves and blood vessels.

Each needle that is inserted into the body triggers a cascade of physiological events. As Kendall puts it, “Needling therapy activates complex defensive mechanisms in the body, involving the immune system, tissue reactions, blood vessels, sensory nerves, somatovisceral pathways, autonomic nervous system, central nervous system, brain, and endocrine glands.”

Ultimately, acupuncture increases blood flow to organs and tissues, it stimulates atrophied muscles, and it releases overly tightened muscles. Acupuncture also exerts a more systemic effect, via the nerve pathways, to regulate the nervous system. 

The remarkable thing about the ancient Chinese medicine practitioners is that they determined exactly where all of these important, tucked-away anatomical structures are in the body and how to access them with an acupuncture needle. To acknowledge the correlation of acupuncture points with our modern understanding of anatomy and physiology is to acknowledge that acupuncture is grounded in science. This makes it much easier for our modern brains to grasp.

Red Clover Clinic is beginning a series of small-group clinical trials focused on specific health issues. Our intention is to introduce acupuncture to a broader audience at a reduced cost, and to help us pinpoint the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for each specific issue. Please join us for this great opportunity!

First trial: tennis elbow

Are you, or anyone you know, struggling with pain or burning on the outer part of your elbow? Is your grip strength weakened? Are your symptoms worsened with forearm activity, such as holding a racquet, turning a wrench, or shaking hands? If so, you probably have tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis.

We have a great opportunity for tennis elbow sufferers to experience the healing effects of acupuncture and possibly put an end to this nagging condition at a greatly reduced price. 

Cost: $100 for a series of 4 acupuncture sessions (a $180 savings)

Schedule: Two 1-hour sessions per week for 2 weeks.

Commitment: It is required that the entire fee be paid on the first visit and that the appointment schedule is adhered to as closely as possible. At the beginning of each visit and once following the fourth visit, you will be asked to fill out a short symptom questionnaire.

This clinical trial has room for only 5 participants. It is a great opportunity, so be sure to contact us soon at 651-600-6181 to reserve your place!

Next in the series: carpal tunnel syndrome

• Red Clover Clinic will be closed on Saturday, March 5, while Anita attends a course on Chinese pulse diagnosis and herbal medicine.
• Red Clover Clinic will be closed on Saturday, April 2, while Anita, Linda and Nancy attend a Morphogenic Field Technique Seminar.
• Anita is looking forward to finishing her advanced Nutrition Response Testing training in 2016 with trips to Florida at the end of May, June, and September. 
• Are you feeling better since working with us? Are you in less pain? If so, please spread the word to anyone you think would benefit from our work. We love referrals!