Acupuncture hits the spot

Three people explain to SYLVIA THOMPSONhow acupuncture has helped them cope better with health conditions

IN THE past 10 years or so, acupuncture has become one of the most popular and widely accepted treatment approaches outside the conventional medical model in Europe and the United States.

In her book, Alternative Medicine?(Oxford University Press), Roberta Bivins writes that "although acupuncture's mechanism remained mysterious to Western medicine – and is unexplained in biomedical terms today – it was not deemed as quackery". She describes waves of popularity from the 1820s to the 1960s.

Recent scientific studies comparing acupuncture to Western medical treatments for various medical conditions (eg post-operative pain, migraine) have also heightened its profile.

And, in Ireland, the recent amalgamation of several professional associations to form two main bodies representing acupuncturists – the Acupuncture Council of Ireland (www.acupuncturecouncil.ie) and the Acupuncture Foundation Professional Association (www.acupro.ie) – has helped give the therapy better professional status.

This month, both organisations are holding public talks, demonstrations and promotions on the use of acupuncture for weight loss and smoking cessation and other conditions (see websites for details).

Below, we talk to three people who use acupuncture as part of their treatment approach for back pain, multiple sclerosis/arthritis and general health maintenance.

Joan Casey (45) is a former engineer who now works as a teacher of English as a second language.

Casey first went to an acupuncturist about 12 years ago after she stopped working in a well paid but highly pressurised job in the corporate sector.

“I was burnt out at the time and going for acupuncture helped me get some clarity about what to do next,” she explains.

“At first, the sessions helped with the exhaustion but then I realised that they also helped me deal with emotional stuff that I hadn’t recognised before. I felt lightened and energised afterwards.”

Over the next five years or so, Casey ran her own organic wine business and turned to acupuncture for support. “It’s easy to drift off track of your own well-being and I found that my acupuncturist, Anna Mary Luttrel, could read where I was at health-wise. I would go to her when things were off balance and then not go again for a few years,” she explains.

In September of last year, Casey returned to her acupuncturist when she felt run down. “I also wanted to give up cigarettes so firstly we worked together to build up my energy levels. I gave up cigarettes four weeks ago and I continue to go for acupuncture once a week to help me adjust to that,” she explains.

Working now as a teacher of English as a second language, Casey is planning to go to Japan for a four-month teaching post.

“Basically, I use acupuncture for health maintenance. I haven’t been to a GP since I started having acupuncture.”

John Brennan (54) works as a farrier in Co Limerick.

Brennan explains that he first started going to an acupuncturist about 10 years ago with back pain.

“I had pain in my lower back and sciatica down my leg. I went to a physiotherapist for a block of about 16 sessions first but that didn’t seem to work for me. After three or four sessions with an acupuncturist, I was flying again,” he explains.

Brennan’s work as a farrier means that he spends a lot of time bent over with a horse’s leg between his knees while he fits its shoes. “I have to stay in that position and yet be ready to jump out of the way if the horse gets nervous,” he explains.

Putting on a set of shoes on a horse takes about 35 minutes. “I go back for acupuncture now whenever I need to. If I get a twinge of pain or a drag from a contrary horse, the acupuncturist deals with it in two or three sessions. I always take the day off after an acupuncture treatment to relax and let the body heal,” he explains.

Brennan acknowledges that acupuncture wouldn’t suit everyone. “Several of my friends have tried it but some people just don’t like the needles. I don’t notice the needles at all. In fact, I don’t even look to see where she puts them but I’ve great faith in it.”

Marie O’Reilly (52) suffers from multiple sclerosis and arthritis. She had to give up work as a secretary due to her failing health three years ago but plans to return to study in the near future.

“I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) 12 years ago and my family persuaded me to go for acupuncture to help me deal with some of the symptoms. At first I was a doubting Thomas but since I’ve had the treatment, I haven’t looked back,” she explains.

O’Reilly uses conventional drugs as her main form of treatment for MS but says that her GP is happy that she uses acupuncture as a complementary therapy.

“I get intravenous steroids when my symptoms worsen and I get regular physiotherapy as well but I use acupuncture to help me deal with both MS and arthritis,” she says.

“Sometimes, I experience numbness in my shoulder and neck, and acupuncture helps ease that numbness so I can move my shoulder better afterwards,” she says.

“I’m hoping to go on a new drug for MS soon and I am cautiously optimistic about that but acupuncture will always remain part of the treatment approach for my condition.”