Acupuncture has its origins in China where it is thought to have been in practice for nearly 5000 years. Today, this ancient art of healing is an integral part of contemporary medicine practised by Chinese health care providers. Contemporary medicine in China is a blend of traditional medicine with modern western-based medicine. Both disciplines are juxtaposed, with traditional practitioners practising alongside those with western-based medical training. Acupuncture anaesthesia is a tangible expression of the benefits of the mingling of two medical cultures in China today. Acupuncture is now widely practised in most countries throughout the world, but it has not attained the same degree of integration into contemporary medicine as has occurred in China.

Acupuncture therapy is based on the principle that there is flow of a life force termed “Qi” (pronounced “chi”) within the body. “Qi” or energy is channelled along specific pathways called meridians, which run both internally in the body as well as on the skin. These meridians are linked to organ systems in the body. An imbalance in energy-flow leads initially to ill-health, which if persistent, is followed by overt disease.

While the relief of pain is commonly associated with acupuncture treatment, it is only one of the benefits of this modality of therapy. The goal in acupuncture is to restore health, and this is achieved by facilitating the healing process in the body.

One of the lesser known features of acupuncture is the rapid onset of this healing process. The production of “Qi” sensation with needle acupuncture occurs very quickly, often while treatment is in progress. There is a feeling of warmth, heaviness, distension or tingling at the treatment site. This is often accompanied by an improvement in clinical symptoms. This change is probably best seen in the treatment of acute illnesses. In acute respiratory infection, improvement in nasal congestion, headache and sore throat can occur within minutes of initiation of therapy.

Acupuncture is used for treating a wide range of medical problems. It is particularly helpful for treating conditions which do not respond adequately to orthodox medical therapy and may be used on its own or as adjunct therapy. More than 95% of people respond to acupuncture therapy. Approximately 80% react well to acupuncture and show a response to treatment at commencement of therapy. About 10-15 % of people are slow reactors. They show response to treatment only after several sessions of therapy. A very small number of people will experience a marked delay in obtaining relief of symptoms, with beneficial effects sometimes occurring weeks after cessation of therapy. Less than 5 % of people show no response to acupuncture treatment at all.

Initial response to therapy is transient, lasting on average approximately 12 hours but ranging from several hours to several days. This initial response becomes prolonged with succeeding treatments.

Symptom-relief can occur within five minutes of treatment, depending on the technique used. As stated above, traditional manual needling techniques can produce a rapid response, termed the “arrival of Qi”. Response to light-stimulated acupuncture can also be rapid, with a reaction time of less than five minutes. The modern technique of tapping the lining of the bone (periosteal tapping) with a needle similarly produces relief of symptoms within minutes. Electrical stimulation of needles, another common mode of therapy, evokes a more gradual response to therapy.

Symptoms which recur after the initial period of relief are less intense than prior to therapy, and continue to decrease in intensity with succeeding treatments. This decrease in base-line symptoms reflects the healing process. This change is discernable during the treatment of inflamed finger joints, as evidenced by a progressive reduction in warmth and joint swelling, and a corresponding increase in range of movements. It is this cumulative healing process which leads ultimately to resolution of a problem.