Acupuncture is one of the world’s oldest healing practices, with origins that predate recorded history by thousands of years. Having originated in ancient China as a central element of Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture soon spread across the world, including in India. The practice involves inserting very thin, sterile needles into specific points on the body to balance vital energy and enable healing.
As the science, practice, techniques, study, impact and popularity of acupuncture evolve over time, different perspectives have emerged regarding its mechanisms and therapeutic effects. According to the traditional understanding of acupuncture, the body’s vital energy, qi, flows through a network of pathways called meridians. When the flow of qi is blocked or imbalanced, causing excess or deficient energy, there is pain, illness or disease. Acupuncture restores the smooth flow of this energy by unblocking channels, supporting health and well-being.
From the perspective of modern medicine, meridian pathways are somewhat equivalent to neuro-vascular bundles. The insertion of needles likely stimulates nerves, muscles and connective tissue, enhancing blood flow and influencing the nervous system. These effects alter the brain’s processing of pain and promote the release of naturally occurring pain-relieving chemicals, including endorphins, which help relieve pain and support the body’s healing response.
Acupuncture has gained significant popularity in India over the past few decades. According to the Acupuncture Science Association, by 2017, there were more than 30 acupuncture institutions, over 200 licensed acupuncture practitioners and several lakh acupuncture therapists and practitioners across the country.
Over more than four decades of clinical practice, we have treated patients of all age groups presenting with a wide spectrum of health conditions using acupuncture, with the exception of disorders requiring surgical intervention. Our clinical experience suggests that acupuncture is an effective therapeutic option for many neurological, respiratory, gastrointestinal, orthopaedic, gynaecological, ENT, dermatological and ophthalmological conditions. A substantial proportion of our patients have experienced significant improvement in their symptoms and quality of life following treatment.
The most consistent and favourable outcomes have been observed in musculoskeletal disorders, including headaches, cervical spondylosis, neck pain and stiffness, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, low back pain, sciatica and arthritis. Many patients have also reported benefit in respiratory conditions such as asthma, allergic disorders and sinusitis; gastrointestinal complaints including gastritis, acidity, bloating and persistent hiccups; gynaecological conditions such as menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhoea and infertility; dermatological disorders including eczema and urticaria; neurological conditions such as hemiplegia and facial paralysis and selected ophthalmological conditions, including optic atrophy.
When performed by a trained practitioner using sterile, disposable needles, acupuncture is a safe medical practice. Side effects, if any, are usually mild and may include slight soreness, very occasionally minor bleeding or bruising at select needle sites and temporary dizziness or fatigue.
A typical session may last 20-60 minutes, involving the insertion of thin, sterile needles at specific points by the practitioner, based on the conditions being treated. There may be some dull ache, tingling, warmth or pressure around the needle immediately upon pricking, followed by a feeling of relaxation through the session.
Most people feel little or no pain. Acupuncture needles are much thinner than those used for injections.
The response of a patient to acupuncture is dependent on the severity of the illness and the length of time they have suffered from it. Other important factors are general health, constitution type, emotional health, diet, lifestyle and any medications the patient has received in the past or at the time of consultation/ treatment.
It is difficult to predict how long it might take for acupuncture to work, because response varies from individual to individual, the duration and intensity of the illness and their general state of health. Those with general vitality often respond swiftly, but older people and those with depleted qi may experience slower results. The frequency of intervention is thus decided based on the individual’s condition, prognosis and response to ongoing acupuncture treatment.
The effectiveness of treatment depends on the ability of acupuncture to improve the flow of qi in the body. If qi is blocked, progress will be slow. In conditions of qi depletion, the patient’s constitution is first prepared for acupuncture to have an effect. A patient’s refusal or inability to make recommended changes in diet or lifestyle may reduce the treatment’s effectiveness. Acupuncture may also take some time to be effective in patients on other medications, especially if taken for a long time.
