Mindfulness and Eastern Medicine

In Eastern medicine, the concept of mindfulness is closely tied to the balance of the five elements and the principles of yin and yang. By practicing mindfulness, we can tap into the natural flow of energy within ourselves and the world around us, bringing a sense of harmony and balance to our lives.

The five elements - wood, fire, earth, metal, and water - represent the fundamental building blocks of all natural phenomena. Each element corresponds to a specific aspect of our being, from our physical body to our emotions and thoughts. By becoming mindful of the elements within ourselves and the world, we can gain insight into our own patterns of behavior and thought, and learn to bring them into balance.

Yin and yang, the complementary forces of nature, also play an important role in mindfulness. Yin represents the passive, receptive, and cooling aspects of nature, while yang represents the active, expressive, and warming aspects. In order to achieve balance in our lives, we must learn to cultivate and balance both yin and yang within ourselves.

By practicing mindfulness, we can learn to tune into the natural flow of energy within ourselves and the world. We can become more aware of the elements within us, and learn to bring them into balance. And by understanding the principles of yin and yang, we can learn to cultivate both the passive and active aspects of our nature.

In this way, mindfulness is not just a spiritual practice, but a path to physical and emotional well-being. By becoming mindful, we can learn to live in harmony with the natural flow of life, and discover true peace and grounded-ness within ourselves.

As the great Alan Watts once said, "The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing. The great thing is to get a balance and keep it." By practicing mindfulness, we can learn to find that balance and live in harmony with the world around us.

Vibrating on Om + Interoception

Likely there aren’t any rigorous studies regarding vibrating at the frequency of OM, but there might be more to it than you think.

Interoception is fascinating. The perception of gentle, novel inputs into your physical awareness can be incredibly valuable. We spend a lot of time in our heads. A LOT OF TIME in our heads. Therapies like this, acupuncture, qi gong, yoga, etc. can be remarkable for helping you “tune” back in to your inner physical landscape. We often get so caught up in the relentless inner dialogue and dominance of the *thinking* mind that we end up not tuned into the *feeling* mind and miss so much that’s happening inside.

Before you know it, your shoulders are permanently lodged at your ears and you have golf ball sized knots in your traps and all varieties of other chronic problems (headaches, IBS, GERD, the list goes on and on). It happens so stealthily and insidiously over time that if we’re not intentionally and consciously tuning in, we don’t realize it until it’s become a proper problem. So a practice of inner awareness can not only anchor and ground us, but also provide a lot of valuable information that lies just underneath the threshold of normal perception.

If you need a cosmic tune *up* so you can better tune IN, reach out.!

•
•
•
•
•

#rochesterny #interoception #acupuncture #om #tuning #frequency #ACU585 #flourcityacupuncture #qigong

ACUPUNCTURE IN ROCHESTER | ACU 585

Male Fertility PERSPECTIVE on The November ABSTINENCE Trend

I wish there was a less NSFW name for this thing, but it is what it is. If you know you know, if you don't, hashtags below.

Anecdotally, the benefits of NNN are well documented across the internet so I won't get into them all here - boosting testosterone and regulating dopamine, supercharging motivation, focus and energy, improved sleep, mood, etc. - all powerful things.

That said, if you're planning to conceive after your month of abstinence, it's worth keeping in mind: after 4 days of abstinence, the vigor and quality of sperm starts to decline quickly. As you might imagine, overall sperm count goes up, however many of those sperm will begin to die off, morphology begins to decrease, motility begins to decrease dramatically and DNA fragmentation begins to rise.

So while it might *feel* like the perfect time to open the flood gates and try to conceive, it might be worth cycling some of those little fellas through. In general, any period of abstinence over 5 days isn't optimal for conception.

If you want to be super safe, go 74+ days for the full sperm regeneration cycle to complete (we're very lucky we can do this by the way), setting the little guys free every 3-5 days.

If you are going to pass a full 74+ day cycle there are a LOT of things you can do to optimize (I strongly recommend this anyway if you're trying to conceive). Too much to get into here, but if this is you or your partner reach out and we can dig in a bit. I'll be posting a lot about this upcoming.

Imho, in general, NNN can be a great thing and a real eye opener to the powerful role T and dopamine play in our life - but it can also fall into the same pitfalls of fad diets. You feel great for a month, then bounce back into old habits and patterns.

If you want to increase testosterone and regulate dopamine long-term, it might be worth considering implementing steady, intentional diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes that are long-lasting and sustainable.

SO - if you're partaking - enjoy your month of monk life, my man!

#nonutnovember #nnn #nonutnovembermemes #abstinence #testosterone #dopamine #malefactorinfertility #fertility

ACUPUNCTURE IN ROCHESTER, NY | ACU 585

How to prepare for your first acupuncture session at ACU 585.

Your first acupuncture experience should be smooth and pleasant! It can vary by practitioner and what you’re having treated, but there are some general things to keep in mind leading up to your session. 

PRE-TREATMENT:

acupuncture | rochester, ny | acu 585

Don’t worry about looking good, just dress in your most comfortable threads 👍

What to wear:

We recommend that you wear your loosest, baggiest, most comfortable clothes. If you want to come in your favorite pajamas, be our guest (no joke). In almost every case, we’ll be accessing points on your legs, ankles, arms, hands, abdomen (or back) and head. So while tight fitting yoga pants can be comfy, they’re actually not the best choice for an acupuncture session. 
General rule of thumb: the looser, the better.

In the majority of cases when treating neck, back, hip, shoulder (etc.) pain, we’ll naturally need to have access to those local areas. In these situations we’ll typically follow standard massage therapy protocols wherein the patient will de-robe as far as necessary and comfortable to effectively conduct the treatment. In all cases, you will be fully draped on areas not receiving treatment. Gowns are also available.

If you’re coming in for upper-back, head or neck pain, it can be helpful to remove necklaces and large earrings. Generally speaking, it’s best to remove jewelry from any area close to where you’ll be having treatment.

What to eat and drink: 

When you get an acupuncture session, your body tends to go into the parasympathetic “rest and digest” mode. This is a good thing! This is one of the reasons many people use acupuncture as part of their stress management strategy. 

Naturally, when your body goes into ‘rest and digest’ mode, it’s helpful to have something to digest. There are very few side effects from acupuncture, however one of the most common is occasional nausea stemming from having treatment on an empty stomach The surefire way to avoid this is having a light snack before your session, ideally a snack that is low in refined sugar and carbs with a decent amount of protein. 

Water is good. You don’t want to have so much that you’ll need to use the restroom after your session begins, but you’ll want to have enough to make sure you’re reasonably hydrated. 

We recommend starting early. When you wake up have a glass or two, even before your coffee (we recommend this everyday, actually! … the “inner bath” as it’s known), then before your session have a small cup, even just a few hearty sips will do.

DURING TX:

ACU 585 | ROCHESTER’S ACUPUNCTURE

NEEDLE PHOBIA? NO WORRIES, WE’VE BEEN THERE TOO. ACUPUNCTURE IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN TRADITIONAL NEEDLES

Needle Phobia -  If you have a needle phobia, it’s ok. Believe it or not, our two main practitioners Dr. Shamus and Dr. Jacki both have needle phobias! (Odd career choice right?) That’s all to say, we get it. We’re very sensitive to it. 

We use very gentle needle insertion techniques. Many times, you don’t even feel the needle go in, just a gentle “tap”. That said, if you’ve had a few insertions and have had enough acupuncture, it’s 100% ok. If you are getting your treatment and need a break, it’s ok. We’ll stay at your pace and comfort. Don’t be afraid to let us know, please feel free to communicate.

Wandering Mind — 
Some people love the opportunity to lay silently and do nothing for 30+ minutes whereas some people get anxious even at the thought of it. We’re all built differently, and that’s ok. 

We strive to make your treatment as comfortable as possible. 

Feel free to request any arrangement of sound or light for your session. Each room is equipped with immersive stereo sound, white noise sound machines, and adjustable lighting, so we’re happy to cater the experience to whatever settings makes you the most comfortable. Feel free to request any type of music (or no music), podcast, lighting (dim, bright, even colored) — what ever puts your mind most at ease. 

We’re also happy to provide great mindfulness tips to practice during the session. Many people  who worry about being quiet for a session are often surprised to find that they get deeper into a mindful state each time they get acupuncture, and the sessions become a mindfulness practice in and of themselves. Whatever it is for you — we’ll make sure you’re as comfortable as possible. Please keep us in the loop as to what you need to have a peaceful, enjoyable experience. 

Physical Comfort — 

As for your mind, so for your body. We have a wide array of bolsters, tables, chairs, pillows, blankets, etc. So if you have particular way you feel most comfortable just let us know, if we can accommodate we most certainly will. 

POST TREATMENT:

Acupuncture | Rochester, NY | acU 585

HYDRATE! As with any wellness therapy, it’s always good to make sure your cells are hydrated and happy

If it’s your first acupuncture session, we recommend leaving yourself some time to re-adjust before you jump back into your routine. While acupuncture is gentle, it can be very powerful in ways that you might not expect. 

Some people feel they like to take it easy after a session and continue to enjoy the relaxation while some are energized and ready to jump back into their day. You might be either type, either way, it’s worth giving yourself a little time after your first session to see where on the spectrum you land. You’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like after your session, we have a few nice spots you can relax, sip some tea and be quiet and mindful, or even catch up on some emails. 

Can you workout after your session? This may vary from session to session, so the answer is not once size fits all. Best bet is to check in with your practitioner before or during your session, we’re happy to advise. 

Can you drink alcohol after your first session? This may also vary from session to session. The short answer is, moderation. Again, best bet is to check in with your practitioner for guidance.

Lastly, as always with any type of body/wellness treatment, it’s a good idea to hydrate afterwards! 

THE TAKE HOME: 

• Dress *super* comfortably
• Feel free to ask any questions you may have before, during or after your session
• Feel free to make any requests to make you as comfortable as possible 
• Drink plenty of water! 

 

Best Acupuncture in Rochester?

Here’s a quick and helpful guide to finding the right acupuncture for you in Rochester!

We’re lucky to have so many excellent acupuncture practitioners in one city. So answering the question, “what is the best acupuncture in Rochester?” is truly next to impossible! With good reason, the answer is going to depend on each situation.

It often comes as a surprise to many folks, especially those new to acupuncture, to find out that there are many different styles of acupuncture - much like Western allopathic medicine, there are also many very specific specialties within the full scope of acupuncture and Eastern medicine.

So how do you find the right fit for you?

You’ll want to consider what you’re looking to have treated and find a practitioner that matches well with your condition.

You may have had good results, or even bad results from an acupuncture practitioner in the past; in almost every case, it’s a simple matter of lining up with the right fit. For instance, an acupuncturist who may be excellent at treating psycho-emotional conditions may have no interest in or experience with the treatment of musculoskeletal or orthopedic conditions, and vice versa. More often than not, in this way, it’s not so a much a matter of a practitioner being superior or inferior to another, it’s just a matter or syncing with the right person at the right time.

Things to consider:

• A good first step can be to find an acupuncturist that is your go-to, similar to how you might interface with a General Practitioner in Western medicine. One who is well rounded, perhaps with a handful of specialties that line up with your individual constitution and condition.

• It’s 100% O.K. to go to different practitioners for different conditions! A good acupuncturist will be more than willing to help you find complimentary care when they run into situations they’re not well suited to treat. This could be another acupuncturist that specializes in the tough condition that may arise, another modality all together, or possibly a combination of both.

• Personalty is important! It’s not everything, but having a healthy resonance with your acupuncturist can go a long way and be a huge part of your journey to better health; especially if it’s your go-to “general practitioner” acupuncturist. It’s not a terrible thing if you need to be referred out to a specialist occasionally that you don’t totally click with - just as long as you feel safe, comfortable and are receiving proper care.

• Does your acupuncturist practice ‘clean needle technique’? The answer should be yes. This is the highest standard and certification for an acupuncture practitioner.

• Credentials are important to an extent, but they don’t mean everything.

L.ac — Generally speaking, the most important credential is that of a licensed acupuncturist (L.ac), there are some practitioners that are grandfathered into acupuncture practice standards in the U.S. without modern acupuncture training, however the number is becoming increasingly few. While acupuncture is a very safe procedure, there are some situations that can be dangerous, getting care from an L.ac will ensure you are in good hands and are being treated by a practitioner who is throughly trained to avoid such situations. Licensed acupuncturists will also have a good baseline knowledge of Eastern medicine and related theories.

M.D. — Many medical doctors have seen the power of acupuncture in their clinical careers fist hand, so much so that some have taken the step to practice acupuncture themselves. Some of these practitioners might consider themselves to be ‘medical acupuncturists’. This can be a great choice for you if you feel more comfortable with a Western approach or you have a complex presentation and would prefer a practitioner who is well versed in Western medical practice. Many of the acupuncture training programs for Western medical professionals are unfortunately and necessarily somewhat abbreviated when it comes to Eastern medical theory, techniques and diagnosis (typically 150-300 credit hours vs. 2,500+ credit hours of an L.ac). So if you’d like a practitioner that has a strong Western medical lens balanced with a deep Eastern lens, it’s worth seeking out an M.D. who is also a board certified L.ac, has completed an accredited acupuncture program, or has otherwise immersed themselves in a path of continued education that is well suited to your needs.

Phd — Education! Lots of it. Medical education is indisputably a great thing. Like anything else, it’s incredibly important but not everything. If your acupuncturist holds a Phd in acupuncture and Eastern medicine, it’s likely they’ve chosen a specific path that they’re passionate about and have taken a deep dive into. Here like everything else, the key is balance: the balance of deep academic knowledge of a subject with real world clinical expertise and experience is a powerful combination.

DACM — Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese medicine — this is quickly becoming the standard for most board certified licensed acupuncturists. While all L.acs will have graduated with a Master of Science in Acupuncture and are well qualified to practice acupuncture, many are choosing to pursue acupuncture at the doctorate level. While there is perhaps less academic focus than a Phd, many DACMs are practitioners who are seeking to take their clinical practice to the next professional level. Like a Phd, and M.D., “Doctor” is a title that signifies a deeper commitment and exploration of the medicine, however a balance with clinical experience and clinical focus is always paramount.

• Clinic Feel — While perhaps not a ‘be all, end all’ when choosing an acupuncturist, this is important too! You want to feel comfortable where you’re receiving acupuncture. You may be one who feels more comfortable in a traditional “doctor’s office” setting; brightly lit, white lab coats, etc. or you might feel more comfortable in a clinic that is as far as possible from a doctor’s office; relaxed atmosphere, warm lighting, soft music — one is not objectively better than another! The one that you feel most comfortable in is the one that has a better chance of being a good fit for you. In many cases the style of a clinic will reflect the style of the practitioner, it’s worth spending a little time on a practitioner/clinic’s website and social media feeds to get a good sense of what you’d be experiencing and line up a with a clinic that you feel most drawn to.

• What modalities are offered?

In East Asian countries, it’s rare that a practitioner will practice all modalities of Eastern medicine — acupuncture, herbal medicine, qi gong, bodywork and lifestyle/dietary therapy. Typically a student will choose one path and stay solely dedicated to that modality.

Here in the United States, Licensed acupuncturists are typically trained in all aspects of Chinese medicine, to varying extents. While you can find practitioners who excel at all modalities, typically you’ll find acupuncturists who focus on only one or a combination of a few. In any case, best practice is to find the practitioner who focuses on the modalities and application of said modalities that will be most helpful for your situation. If you’re unsure, you can always reach out to a practitioner and kindly ask if your situation will be a good fit for the way they practice.

There are certainly more things worth considering, and perhaps we can dig into more detail in future blog posts, but hopefully this will give you a good place to start in your acupuncture journey.

I’m a big believer that a rising tide floats all ships, helping people find the right fit for their acupuncture needs is a net win for the practice of acupuncture as a whole. Feel free to reach out with any questions on this topic, would be happy to help you pointed in the direction of the best care possible.

Best,
Dr. Shamus

 

Journey into Treating Male Factor Infertility

Over the last few years I've taken a deep dive into how acupuncture and Eastern medicine can help with male factor infertility.

Thanks largely to the work of folks like @drshannaswan and others - my interest sparked as I became aware of the massive drop in fertility rates that we're facing in Western industrialized nations. It's not particularly great, we're not too far from a point of no return (more on that to come).

ACUPUNCTURE IN ROCHESTER, NY | ACU 585

INFERTILITY BREAKDOWN — approximately 1/3 female factor, 1/3 male factor, 1/3 both and 10% unknown

Despite our problems and complexities, I think humans are unique, beautiful beings, capable of incredibly amazing things. I truly believe, as a species, we've barely begun to plumb the depths of our greatest potential. So, I can't personally imagine a better thing than to help make more of them. Especially to aid those suffering from the ability to do so without a bit of extra help.

While much of the onus is placed on women in the fertility process when things aren't working out, males are a hugely overlooked factor. It was astonishing to me that in many infertility situations, the male factor is something of an afterthought. In fact, when it comes to fertility problems, the general breakdown is somewhere around: 1/3 female factor, 1/3 male factor, 1/3 both and 10% unknown.

So, why such a lack of focus and/or support for males? Very good question. There are likely many reasons and I intend to explore all of them.

So, if you're finding yourself in a situation where you or your partner is having difficulty, or would just like to optimize sperm health throughout your fertility journey please feel free to reach out. Acupuncture and Eastern medicine is a great complimentary therapy for male factor infertility issues.

A typical session will consist of a semen analysis review (if an analysis is available), a look at diet and lifestyle, some recommendations for supplementation and herbs (if needed), acupuncture and likely some infrared light therapy.

All very easy, comfortable and painless.

If you’d like to learn more, I highly recommend checking out the work of Dr. Shanna Swan. In this interview from Mt. Sinai Hospital, Dr. Swan discusses how endocrine-disrupting chemicals are contributing to decreasing sperm counts and more.

 

Why are American College Students so Stressed? - Facing Invisible Tigers and Surviving the Stress Epidemic

We’re very smart, clever animals. With our intelligence, we’ve created a world with unparalleled amenities like running water, solar panels, electric cars, even pocket-sized supercomputers that give us access to unprecedented information, allow us to explore the solar system, and connect us to nearly every human being at the farthest reaches of our own planet. These are things our ancestors couldn’t have even dreamt of - so why are we so stressed and anxious?  

The simple answer is survival. In many ways, we still respond to our modern stressors as though we’re facing famine, or there is a sabertooth tiger pouncing at us, and we are the main course. For all our modern luxuries, our body processes stressful inputs in much the same way it would have tens of thousands of years ago; the key difference is that we don’t do it acutely for 5 minutes at a time during a tiger attack, we do it chronically over the course of our lifetimes. This is where the danger lies. 

ACU 585 | Acupuncture in Rochester, NY

more than 60 percent of college students said they had experienced “overwhelming anxiety” at some point in the past year

The “parasympathetic” and “sympathetic” nervous systems may not be household concepts, however the symptoms associated with an overactive sympathetic stress response are well known to almost all of us. We’re all familiar with ‘fight or flight’, this is the sympathetic nervous system in action, when we’re in this mode briefly it’s healthy, it helps us survive. When we’re in it chronically, it can have massively damaging effects on our wellbeing. This is the overwhelmed physiological state many college students are finding themselves in on a daily basis. In fact, According to a 2018 report from the American College Health Association, more than 60 percent of college students said they had experienced “overwhelming anxiety” at some point in the past year.

American college students are living in a very interesting time. Most can’t recall a day when they didn’t have ubiquitous access to the internet, and thus, constant flows of bite-sized information, and floods of social media. In nature, our brains are hardwired to be rewarded with a dopamine flush when we discover food, a water source, find a mate, etc., this process creates neural pathways which are beneficial to our survival. In our modern lives, this process is happening at an alarming, unnatural rate with instant gratifications being sought in the digital world, and is proving to have deleterious effects on our brain’s neurochemistry.

This combination of living chronically in the ‘fight or flight’ stress response, and the rewiring of our neural pathways creates a perfect storm for a physiological imbalance that may lead to a myriad of mental and physical problems:

• Loss of sleep, memory and concentration impairment
• Digestive and immune disorders
• Musculoskeletal pain, migraines, etc.
• High blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes
• Depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and more.

Ironically, one of the sneakiest symptoms of an overactive sympathetic nervous system is a marked decrease in one’s ability to cope with, you guessed it, stress. Unsurprisingly, this can lead to a dangerous spiral if left unchecked. Luckily for most, there are very effective coping skills and simple steps that can be taken to change the course of one’s wellness path:

Meditation and Breathing: These could be the single most important tools for mitigating stress. There are many types of meditation and breathing that fit different personality types and situations.
Movement and Diet: Taking care of our physical health and discharging stress through movement is an important and often overlooked aspect of stress management.
Connecting, and disconnecting: Simply keeping a healthy balance between social activity and solitude (including digital detoxing).
Recalibrating: Mindset training is gaining traction as a powerful technique, backed by a significant and fast growing body of research.
Exploring Complimentary Wellness Modalities: Evidence based activities such as acupuncture, yoga, qi gong, etc. are gentle, safe, efficacious ways to mitigate stress and anxiety, help the body release it’s own ‘feel good’ chemicals, and engage the parasympathetic nervous system.

While the epidemic of stress and anxiety on our campuses may feel daunting, there is much that can be done to help students find balance. Many of these techniques are easily integrated into daily routines and feel remarkably natural to most; as it is simply a return to their healthy, harmonious physiological state. After all, we are humans in a modern world coming to terms with modern stressors - and if all goes as planned - not finding ourselves in life or death, fight or flight standoffs with sabertooth tigers. Our student’s stresses are bouts with paper tigers, and while still very real to them, that’s a match they stand a fighting chance of surviving.

If you’d like to learn more about the physiology of stress, I highly recommend you look into the work of Dr. Robert Sapolsky and Dr. Andrew Huberman. Both incredible, highly intellegent researchers in their own right and also remarkably good at distilling their knowledge into a language that’s easy to understand. Here are a few videos to get you started!

"Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers: Stress and Health" by Dr. Robert Sapolsky

Science writer, biologist, neuroscientist, and stress expert Dr. Robert Sapolsky presents the inaugural Fenton-Rhodes Lecture on Proactve Wellness. Sapolsky states that our bodies' stress response evolved to help us get out of short-term physical emergencies - if a lion is chasing you, you run. But such reactions, he points out, compromise long-term physical health in favor of immediate self-preservation. Unfortunately, when confronted with purely psychological stressors, such as troubleshooting the fax machine, modern humans turn on the same stress response. "If you turn it on for too long," notes Sapolsky, "you get sick." Sapolsky regards this sobering news with characteristic good humor, finding hope in "our own capacity to prevent some of these problems... in the small steps with which we live our everyday lives." This lecture was recorded on September 22, 2016 at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts' Colwell Playhouse as part of the Pygmalion TechFest

Tools for Managing Stress & Anxiety | Huberman Lab Podcast #10

This episode explains what stress is, and how it recruits our brain and body to react in specific ways. (Dr. Huberman) describes the three main types of stress, and how two of them actually enhance the function of our immune system making us less vulnerable to infections. (He) reviews tools that allow us to control our stress in real-time, as well as tools to prevent long-term stress, burnout and stress-induced illness and anxiety. As always, (he) covers behavioral tools and supplements that can assist or hinder stress control.

 

Acupuncture: A Natural Evidence-Based Alternative to Opioids for Chronic Pain Management

By:  Dr. Shamus Clancey DACM, L.Ac 

Far too many people live with chronic pain. It is estimated that over 1.5 billion people suffer from chronic pain worldwide (NCHS, 2006). In many cases, individuals have exhausted all options available to mitigate their conditions and are left with the possibility of invasive surgery, or turning to opioid based pain medication to mask the root causes of their conditions. Acupuncture, as part of the larger system of Chinese Medicine, exists as a promising evidence-based, complimentary, or alternative option for mitigating this suffering; in many cases by treating branch symptoms, as well as the root causes.

Opioid based pain medication is an option that often arises when a medical professional is out of solutions in a given treatment plan, and must make the decision to ‘treat the branch’ in order to provide a patient with immediate relief. Unfortunately however, it is becoming all too common that these medications are used as a first line of treatment, when other options are not yet exhausted or incorporated. Pain medication can be something of a modern medical miracle to provide temporary relief, however there are no guarantees of efficacy. A study by the American Pain Foundation found that only 23% of patients with chronic pain found pain medication to be effective (APF, 2006), while another meta-analysis and systemic review in 2016, appearing the the JAMA Internal Medicine, found that opioid pain medication was not effective for chronic back pain at guideline recommended dosages (Saheed, Maher, Williams, et al ., 2016). Furthermore, opioid based pain medication carries its own array of side-effects such as constipation, respiratory depression, dizziness, mental fog, and more; not the least of which being the well documented risk of addiction, which has now reached epidemic levels in the United States. Currently, it is estimated that nearly 2 million Americans are addicted to opioid based pain medications (Schuchat, Houry, Guy, 2017), and more overdose deaths occur from these medications than from heroin (Rudd, Seth, David et al., 2016).

While still in relative infancy in Western culture and consciousness, acupuncture exists as part of a complete medical system that offers natural evidence-based relief from pain. Growing in acceptance among Western biomedical professionals, acupuncture is becoming integrated into treatment plans as an option to not only treat the ‘branch’ - the resulting symptoms of a condition - but to be leaned upon to treat the ‘root’ causes of painful conditions as well. For these reasons amid the current opioid epidemic in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration is now recommending that physicians learn more about the role that acupuncture and other complementary therapies can play in the mitigation of pain, as an alternative to opioid based prescription pain medication. 

While still not fully understood through a Western scientific lens, the evidence base of acupuncture’s efficacy is growing and it’s biomedical mechanisms are beginning to be discovered. Recently research has been conducted that maps the neural pathways from acupuncture points, to the spinal cord, to pain deactivation centers in the brain (Yin, Brucheit, Park, 2017), for this reason many posit that acupuncture has the unique effect of re-mapping the brain’s response to pain by re-routing the pathways via the act of needle insertion and stimulation at acupuncture points. This can be particularly useful in cases involving musculoskeletal systems such as chronic back, neck and shoulder pain. 

In contrast to using prescription synthetic opioids to mitigate pain, acupuncture has been shown to engage the body’s self-healing mechanisms by encouraging the body to activate its own innate natural opioids, as well as to increase the brain’s sensitivity to these opioids (Harris, Zubieta, Scott, et al. 2009). Not limited to naturally occurring opioids, acupuncture has also been shown to encourage the release of other ‘built-in’ biochemical pain reducers such as ATP, adonsinine, GABA and substance P (Zhao, 2009). When faced with potentially very dangerous procedures, or the risky and unwanted side effects of pain medication, acupuncture represents a very safe complimentary or alternative treatment that is worth exploring. 

Many patients of acupuncture will attest to the lasting relief they have gained, in some cases after only one treatment. While these accounts are common and plentiful, they are understandably not enough to satisfy those equipped with healthy skepticisms. In the largest open pragmatic study of its kind, 454,920 patients with chronic headache, back pain and osteoarthritis were treated with acupuncture, of 8727 treating physicians it was found that a “marked or moderate” decrease in pain occurred in 76% of participants (Weidenhammer, Streng, Linde, et al., 2007). In a 2 year retroactive survey published in 2016, 93% of 89,000 participating patients declared success in the reduction of chronic pain (ASHIHSD, 2016). While a strong case for acupuncture is becoming well established, more studies are warranted and are currently underway to examine its effectiveness, as well as determine the underlying mechanisms through a Western biomedical lens. 

With an opioid epidemic currently in full bloom in the United States, and a growing evidence base of efficacy, there has never been a more appropriate time to consider acupuncture as a complimentary or alternative therapy to pain medications when treating chronic pain. With a proper treatment plan that may include Chinese bodywork, Chinese herbal medicine, exercise/diet/lifestyle modifications, and acupuncture; much work can be done naturally to mitigate chronic pain via a ‘root and branch’ approach, and avoid the adverse and potentially dangerous side-effects that may arise from the use of opioid-based pain medications.

Dr. Shamus has been practicing various aspects of Chinese medicine for over a decade. He is a graduate of Pacific College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine's Acupuncture and Chinese medicine doctoral program. He received his Master of Science in Acupuncture from the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture of New York State Chiropractic College, and completed his herbal studies at the Won Institute of Graduate Studies in Philadelphia, PA. His interest in Chinese medicine was sparked at an early age when an acupuncture clinic opened up next to his house. Thereafter, he began studying and practicing medical Qi Gong with 5th generation acupuncturist and medical qi gong practitioner, Grandmaster Tzu Kuo Shih, OMD, L.Ac. His circuital route from qi gong to acupuncture brought him through masonry, music production and performance, geography studies at SUNY Geneseo, and nearly a decade of organic farming; this path forged a life-long dedication to the importance that natural medicine plays in mental and physical well-being, which he currently cultivates with his patients as a licensed and board certified acupuncturist in Rochester, NY.

References:

Abdel Shaheed, C., Maher, C. G., Williams, K. A., Day, R., & McLachlan, A. J. (2016). Efficacy, Tolerability, and Dose-Dependent Effects of Opioid Analgesics for Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Internal Medicine, 176(7), 958–968. http://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.1251

American Specialty Health Incorporated Health Services Department. (2016). Acupuncture: Does Acupuncture Provided Within a Managed Care Setting Meet Patient Expectations and Quality Outcomes?, 1–12.

Harris, R. E., Zubieta, J.-K., Scott, D. J., Napadow, V., Gracely, R. H., & Clauw, D. J. (2009). Traditional Chinese acupuncture and placebo (sham) acupuncture are differentiated by their effects on μ-opioid receptors (MORs). NeuroImage, 47(3), 1077–1085. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.05.083

National Center for Health Statistics (2006) Health, United States, 2006 [Online] Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus06.pdf [Accessed 25 October, 2017]

Rudd RA, Seth P, David F, Scholl L. Increases in Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths — United States, 2010–2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:1445–1452. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm655051e1

Schuchat, A., Houry, D., & Guy, G. P. (2017). New Data on Opioid Use and Prescribing in the United States. Jama, 318(5), 425–426. http://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2017.8913

Weidenhammer W, Streng A, Linde K, Hoppe A, Melchart D. Acupuncture for chronic pain within the research program of 10 German Health Insurance Funds–basic results from an observational study. Complementary therapies in medicine. 2007;15(4):238-46.

Yin, C., Buchheit, T. E., & Park, J. J. (2017). Acupuncture for chronic pain: an update and critical overview. Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology, 1. http://doi.org/10.1097/ACO.0000000000000501

Zhao, Z.-Q. (2008). Neural mechanism underlying acupuncture analgesia. Progress in Neurobiology, 85(4), 355–375. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2008.05.004