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Acupuncture offers relief without side effects |
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Tuesday, 08 April 2008 |
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a four-part series exploring alternative medical practices available in the High Country.
by JULIA HARR
Lifestyles Reporter
The thought of having needles or pins placed from head to toe is enough to make some cringe - unless they are a fan of acupuncture.
“The idea behind acupuncture is that we have a vital life force running through us through channels, much like a stream,” oriental medicine doctor and licensed acupuncturist Robert E. Robinson said.
 Meleah Maudlin remains serene as Ramsey Knight applies a needle to the center of her forehead. Maudlin and Knight run a chiropractic and acupuncture clinic off U.S. Highway 321. Photo by Holt Menzies
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“Thousands
of years ago, Chinese men and women discovered the art of stimulating
the energy and organs of the body through the application of pressure
and heat,” Robinson said. “They used special points which formed
patterns on the surface of the body. These points are known today as
‘acupuncture meridians.’”
Through “the application of very fine needles or heat on these
pathways, one is able to influence the body’s natural flow of energy
known as “qi” [pronounced “chee”].”
There are 365 main points of acupuncture and over 1000 “extra points.”
The ear alone has 200 points used to control various parts of the entire body.
Walking into an acupuncture clinic, it is likely that the smell of burning moxa, commonly known as mugwort, will be present.
The scent and heat of it is used to stimulate blood flow allowing for a smoother qi, Robinson said.
Acupuncture needles range in size from one to 10.
A size-one needle is the needle of choice for Robinson, and is hardly
larger than a strand of fishing line; comparably, a size-10 needle
closely resembles the size of a cross stitch needle.
“The Japanese believe you don’t need to feel the needle for the
treatment to be effective and I want as little discomfort for the
patient as possible,” Robinson said. “Many say they can’t feel it until
they get to the hands or feet where there are more nerve endings.”
Robinson described the sensation as that of a mosquito bite that quickly fades.
Robinson believes that acupuncture can be used to treat almost anything.
 Major organs have a yin channel which the placement of needles can regulate. Photo by Holt Mezies
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Many of his older patients seek help with back, hip pain. Headaches,
stress, cold, or flu and women’s issues are the main concerns of his
younger patients.
Robinson has treated people from age two to 90.
Chinese herbal medicine is highly recommended to compliment acupuncture
and Robinson said the best results happen when people use both.
“I want my patients to get well more than anything,” he said. “Chinese
herbs give them a way to get treatment everyday even if they get
acupuncture once a week.”
Robinson also believes that Eastern Oriental and Western medicine create a holistic sense of treatment when used in conjunction.
Robinson comes from a family of Western doctors and medicine and obtained a degree in chemistry and bacteriology.
Robinson said Western medicine requires large amounts of proof
discovered through double-blind tests, where half of a group is given a
placebo and half is given real medication.
“The Chinese would see this as unethical; they prefer to give everyone
the medicine and see how many people get better,” he said.
He believes many Western doctors don’t trust Eastern medicine because of the lack of double-blind tests.
“I would never tell anyone to stop seeing their Western doctor but I
would like it if people would try simple, natural medicine first,” he
said.
Robinson said the side effects of Chinese medicine and acupuncture were virtually non-existent.
Robinson said he has been able to save people from having to get
operations through the use of Chinese medicine and acupuncture.
“People would come in as a last resort before conceding to an operation
and after a few treatments, they would get better,” he said. “Most
people don’t realize how profoundly better they’ll feel.”
Junior recreation management major Stuart H. Wimberly enjoys acupuncture and agrees it is very helpful in treating sickness.
“I had acupuncture in April last year when I had [mononucleosis] for
two weeks,” he said. “The whole experience was really interesting.”
He received acupuncture from Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine in Sugar Grove.
“I decided to get acupuncture after it was recommended to me by a
co-worker at Mast General Store,” he said. “I did it to stimulate my
appetite and digestive system so I could eat and get better and rid my
body of toxic waste.”
Wimberly said the experience lasted roughly an hour from the review of medical history to the final moxa burning.
“The best part about the experience was the relief I felt. I went on
days that I felt the worst and those ended up being the only days I was
able to eat an actual meal.”
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