What is Acupuncture?

There are two distinct systems of acupuncture with very different theoretical bases:

1.  Meridian or Body Acupuncture.

Body acupuncture, the most familiar Chinese medicine approach to Westerners, involves the placement of needles in the meridian points.¹  Needles are not hollow like injection or IV needles.  They are usually 0.22-0.25 mm in diameter (much smaller than needles used in Western medicine) and of variable lengths.  A typical acupuncture session may include the insertion of anywhere from a few needles to dozens of them.  Practitioners are taught very specific ways to locate each point based on various anatomical markers.  For example, Pericardium 6 (the 6^th point on the pericardium meridian) is two finger widths up the arm away from wrist crease between two of the forearm tendons.²  This point is stimulated by motion-sickness bracelets, which have become increasingly popular in recent years and have shown benefit in some studies. ³

Acupuncture points, or jing, are located along chi pathways, which are also known as meridians.  Meridians follow paths longitudinally, or sometimes internally-externally in the body.  There are also collaterals (luo), which follow horizontal patterns.  Jing-luo regulate the flow of chi and the balance of yin and yang in a person.  Illness arises when flow through them becomes blocked or imbalanced.  There are 361 acupuncture points along 20 meridians (numbers may vary slightly, depending on the acupuncture tradition).  Photos of each meridian, with detailed descriptions, can be viewed at chiro.org or acumedico.com.  All of these factors come into play when an acupuncturist is trying to determine where to insert needles.  Different meridians are named after different organs, but more than just the organs themselves, these energy pathways are governed by the properties or functions that given organs are said to represent.  Points often have evocative names, such as “Supreme Spring” and “Woodworm Ditch.”²

Key degrees and certifications incorporating Chinese medicine include the following:

·         DAc—Diplomate of Acupuncture

·         DOM—Doctor of Oriental Medicine

·         LAc or LicAc—Licensed Acupuncturist

·         MAc—Master of Acupuncture

·         MOM—Master of Oriental Medicine

·         OMD—Oriental Medical Doctor

·         RAc—Registered Acupuncturist