Acupuncture in pain management

Abstract

Fine needles (32–36 gauge) are inserted into body locations known as acupoints. Classic texts describe up to 356 mapped points located on meridians or channels of energy flow on the surface of the body. In the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) system, the body is seen as a delicate balance of two opposing and inseparable forces: yin and yang. Yin represents the cold, slow, or passive principle, while yang represents the hot, excited, or active principle. A major assumption in TCM is that the health is achieved by maintaining the body in a ‘balanced state’ and that disease is as a result of an internal imbalance of yin and yang. This imbalance leads to blockage in the flow of Qi (vital energy) along pathways known as meridians. It is believed that there are 12 main meridians and 8 secondary meridians and that there are more than 2000 acupuncture points on the human body that connect with them. Whether we believe this or not, the correlations are based on close clinical observations that have existed for millennia.