Acupuncture points - fact or fable?

[Guest guest]

There are several proposed mechanisms for how acupuncture might work:

 

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/319/7215/973

 

....describes some of the theories.

 

The theories include stimulating stress and immune responses and

triggering the release of endorphins.

 

It seems likely that some points are better stimulated than others -

and that different points have somewhat different effects.

 

Modern acupuncturists use electrical devices that measure skin

resistance to locate acupuncture points.

 

My question is whether is has been determined whether modern ideas

about which places are best stimulated (in particular signals that

can be objectively measured such as points of low skin resistance)

match the points used traditionally.

 

There have been various claims that this is the case - e.g.:

http://www.vigneshacupuncture.com/meridian.htm

 

However the whole idea of preferred points seems to be being

disputed by some practitioners - e.g.:

 

``My experience of forty years exclusive practice of

acupuncture suggests that acupuncture joints do not exist. [...]

One can put a needle literally anywhere in the hand or foot

of the appropriate patient to produce an alteration in

the patient's symptoms. One does not have to needle tender

areas, trigger points, hard or indurated areas, places with

a reduced electrical skin resistance or even acupuncture points.''

 

- http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters/319/7215/973#5138

 

So - did the ancients get their points right? or wrong?

 

Or is it a storm in a teacup - since it is not terribly critical

where the needles go?

[Guest guest]

I have just graduated as an acupuncturist and can only relate my experience

for what its worth.

I am a 5 Element practitioner and one day was treating a patient. During the

treatment I found that the pulses had not changed in anyway in response to my

needling. I was puzzled because this particular patient always resonded well

to treatment. I suddenly realised that I had inadvertently marked 2 sets of

points at the wrong cun markings and so therefore was at least 2 inches away

from the relevant point. Once I reneedled the correct points the pulses

improved dramatically and the patient felt a change.

If I was a sceptic before this experience more than anything else has

convinced me that correct point location is important.

 

Dianna