SEURA 28.7.2006
NEEDLES BRING RELIEF
The thousands of years old Chinese treatment method suits also western people. Those who fear needles need not be afraid as the needles do not hurt and you may keep your eyes shut.
”Acupuncture is based on the idea of a meridian network where the human’s energy moves” says Maria Juselius at Akupiste Oy. ”An imbalance of the energies can cause different problems, and by manipulating the acupoints the energy can be made to move in a correct manner”:
Juselius admits that nobody really knows what exactly the needles do. Anyway many get relief from their ailments and pains thanks to acupuncture. According to Juselius the Chinese Medicine with its’ concept of energy is close to the principles of western physics. There are several methods of acupuncture. ”I use only 3-5 needles and long interwals between the treatments. In some methods again, the treatments are given as a course of several treatments every other day and using many needles every time. Outside these methods are several other forms. In Vietnam f.ex. there is f.ex. one method where only the points of the hands are used.
When she started her clinic Maria Juselius expected to see ”green naturalists”. ”I was rather surprised when the biggest share of my patients turned out to be from the business world, highly educated people. Maybe they more easily look for alternatives if they do not get help from traditional medicine.” There ere two kinds of typical acupuncture patients: Those whose disease western medicine has been able to diagnose but not treat, and those who do not even get a diagnosis for their disease. The problem is still there if the person feels ill.
Almost all kinds of diseaases can be treated with acupuncture. Common are f.ex. migraine, neuralgia, constipation, ischis, dysmenorrhea, infertility and allergies. An exception is if a person already has medication for diabetes. Then the medication has replaced the normal function of the body and acupuncture can’t help. But, if instead it is found that the sugar balance is not steady, then it is possible to try acupuncture. Then also other treatment is needed, like change in the diet. Diabetes in itself is no contra-indication for using acupuncture to treat other problems.
”In serious and acute situations you should see your doctor”, Maria Juselius underlines. ”If you get appendicitis you should go to hospital and not come for acupuncture.”
Also mental problems are treated with acupuncture. In China they do not even have psychology as separate studies. The human being is seen as a whole unit and together with every disease there is a psychological factor. Psychological factors are regarded as important causes for disease, f.ex. fright and fear can harm the energy of the kidneys – not the kidneys as physical organ. Depressed emotions are especially harmful.
Stress is according to Juselius a big problem today, and it can be seen as a background factor in many diseases. ” I am worried about stress. Only very few are not suffering from stress. The environment in itself is already stressful, and in addition to that we have the work- and domestic requirements on top of it. Even if people ”do manage”, are able to fix their schedules from one day to another so that everything gets done, the body still suffers.”
You do not have to make total and drastic changes to lower the stress level. You can try to do small changes, f.ex. to sleep some more and eat warm food regularly. ”You can’t change your environment and work very much, but even small changes are good for you.”
HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE FEEL?
First I fill in a questionnaire asking my personal facts, some about my health history and about diseases that run in my family. After that follows an interview. I tell about my long-term joint problems for which I hope to get relief and about other things that influence my wellbeing.
After this the terapeut investigates the pulses from six locations on the both wrists. At some stage I can also can feel some slight pulsation or tingling. The terapeut tells me that the needles will be put at the both knees, elbows and at the diaphragm. I am a little nervous when i roll my trousers over my knees and lay down aon the coach. I can smell a desinfectant and concentrate to think of something else when the needles are inserted. I can hardly feel it, to compare it with a moscito bite would be to exaggerate. After this the terapeut checks the pulses now and then, else I am left in peace to relax on the coach for 20 minutes. My back problems are on the right side, and the needles on that side I can’t feel at all. The needles on the left side and in the diaphragm feel cool and a little heavy. But they do not hurt.
I am about to fall asleep when the terapeut starts to remove the needles. Has the time passed already?
When I leave I get some written instructions, where I am asked to avoid all kinds of physical burdening like alcohol, sauna and athletics. It is wise to follow the changes that might occur at least one week, as there can be emotional changes and passing fortification of pain. The instructions also say that possible medication shall not be stopped without doctor’s permission, even if the symptoms are gone.
I feel relaxed and comfortable when I leave the clinic. My feeling of wellbeing gets stronger, and I find myself smiling in the bus. I turn my head and get a nice surprice when my neck doesn’t twitch painfully.
During the following week I feel still better. My stiff back gets more flexible, the pain and stiffness from my ”mouse shoulder” goes away, even if I work as normal. My back doesn’t get totally well, it still is painful in the mornings. The results are anyway so good that I will reserve time for a new appointment.
Anu Holpainen / Seura 28.7.2006
