Ancient Needling

To the Point

benefits of ancient needling treatments on modern malaise

Text by Nancy S. Moseley

TThe idea might make your skin tingle a bit. Marching orders that recommend putting more than one needle in your body at a time is likely, at first, to cause appropriate hesitation. But making your skin tingle is exactly what's supposed to happen. Acupuncture is the use of needles (the Latin root "acus" means needle) inserted in precise anatomical points to access the body's energy flow chart and central nervous system. Bronze statues dating back to the 15th century show more than 350 pointed gateways. The Chinese call the internal energy highways Qi (pronounced Chee) and find them imperative for quality of life. While the technique itself is documented as early as 100 B.C., the English term "acupuncture" to represent therapeutic needling, wasn't coined until the 17th century.

John Thacker, L.Ac, has made a career using acupuncture to access the body's energy meridians and treat conditions of both the body and mind. He is certified to practice acupuncture by the Virginia Board of Medicine and the National Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and has been a practitioner since 2006. In 2016 he opened Blacksburg Acupuncture, serving the greater New River Valley and Virginia Tech Athletics. His website [accupunctureblacksburg.com] states: "BioMedical Acupuncture (BMA) promotes healing in soft tissue by relieving muscle tension and inflammation via mechanical and biochemical functions." Needle treatments benefit the body's mechanical functions by stimulating blood flow and oxygen to problem points. The result is improved tissue performance that will ultimately help manage pressure and pain. Secondly, treatments aimed at biochemical functions use needles to teach the body to release endorphins, our "feel good" chemicals, to help with fussy conditions like hormone imbalance, mood regulation and stress minimization. Thacker also specializes in dry needling, a "westernized" derivation of the ancient Eastern practice. Dry needling makes up a significant part of his business and is a specific technique for a very specific type of problem. It targets trigger points or muscular knots, most commonly those found in the neck and upper back. "It's a common source of pain," Thacker explains. "Where we hold our tension would be a candidate for dry needling." Pain management can be acute, specific to

an injury or surgical procedure, or it can be chronic. One of the first questions Thacker often fields is: “How many sessions is it going to take?” The answer, like the inner workings of our own individual bodies, is not simple. While we often wish we could say: “I hurt here, fix it,” it's not always that easy. Factors like age, health history, current conditions, determinate or degenerative, all play a part in a treatment regimen. If after an initial consultation Thacker finds that acupuncture is not the best onset solution, he will steer the patient in another direction. He often works in tandem with physical therapists, chiropractors, athletic trainers and orthopedic physicians to employ a comprehensive approach. Yet, in other circumstances, a needling session will knock out a patient's chronic pain in one single visit. Our well-being relies on both self-advocacy and practitioners who are tuned-in to the big picture, willing to work determinedly in our best interest. "Bodies heal very differently, and I want what's best for them because their success is what's best for everybody. I usually know pretty quickly what the ideal approach is. It can be awkward," he laughs, "but sometimes I say, 'try this first, then we can talk later.'" There is no guarantee pain will go away completely; however, you can almost always make it better. And Thacker is in the business of applying the use of integrative medicine to make it better. But ... does it hurt? The short, perhaps unsatisfying answer is, maybe. After all, everyone's pain tolerance is different. When needling techniques are used to release muscle tension, the result can be a dull ache or tingling sensation. This is a sign that the targeted problem has been reached, and the treatment is working. Acupuncture can benefit a staggering variety of conditions: • digestive (irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis) • gynecological (infertility, menstrual pain)

• neurological (headaches, stroke recovery, Parkinson's disease) • musculoskeletal (Sciatica, arthritis, muscle cramping) • respiratory (asthma, bronchitis) • emotional (anxiety, insomnia) • post-operative recovery.

The earliest "needles" were sharp stones, thorns, bones and even metal spikes. Thanks to centuries of advancements, modern needles are stainless steel (phew!) and are manufactured in varying lengths and width gauges, though all are flexible and resistant to breaking and rust. Insertion depths vary depending on which part of the body is being targeted. Injections on a patient's forehead will be quite shallow versus an area on the lower back which may require a deeper reach. A needling session typically lasts 30 to 40 minutes. With any healthcare issue, a holistic approach is best. Treat both the body and the mind concurrently. And don't forgo the gold standards of an intentional diet, regular exercise, stretching and even massage therapy. While generations past may have relied on a shot of whiskey and honey to “cure what ails ya',” we have so much more at, literally, the tips of our fingers. There is something to be said for an ancient practice that has only improved with time, prospering from eras of attention, development, success and energy. Now we can leave the whiskey to more festive applications.

Nancy S. Moseley is a freelance writer who, like anyone, doesn't particularly relish the thought of multiple needles in her body. Though she is willing to try pretty much anything that will help relieve the tension caused two rambunctious boys out of school for the summer.