The Point is. . . Peter Amoroso on acupuncture


As a physician, I believe in treating all aspects of a patient's condition, both physical and emotional.  Often the medical skills available to us are enhanced by family support, psychological counselling, addressing the general wellness of the patient and recruiting complementary therapies.  Acupuncture has been used for pain relief and well being for 7000 years.  Time enough for the benefit to reveal itself!

As an anaesthetist, I have some expertise in the use of needles and a sound anatomical knowledge of where to put them.  When I attended some British Medical Acupuncture Society courses, I was in the company of many general practitioners, cancer specialists and some dentists.  I was surprised to be the only anaesthetist present.  The course began with some theory but rapidly moved to the practical - sticking needles in to each other!  Many of us in the group responded strongly to acupuncture, including me.  I felt as if I had had one over the eight plus the sense of elation felt after vigorous exercise, a marathon for example. . . . . .

Acupuncture stimulates the release of the body's own pain relieving substances called endorphins.  These are the chemicals which drugs like morphine try to mimic when we give therapeutic agents to help pain.

There are 14 meridians joining the 4000 or so acupuncture points sensitive to needle insertion on the body.  These represent ancient energy lines derived from traditional Chinese medicine.  We can recognise some of their names like stomach, spleen and bladder but others are unknown to westerners like the 'triple energiser'!  No, this is not a milk shake.  In addition to acupuncture points, there are tender points and trigger points.  Sometimes, all three coincide.  Then, we are almost certain to find considerable benefit from needling this point.  We say the De Chi is high!  Some acupuncture points are strong general points for all sorts of conditions while others are specific to just one condition.  There is a very powerful point on the hand which stops toothache in its tracks.  I will be forever grateful to this point because I developed the most awful dental pain while on the tropical island of Lankawi in Malaysia and was unable to think of anything else despite all the anti inflammatory medicines and paracetamol I could lay my hands on - Acupuncture allowed me to enjoy the spectacular sunsets and sleep at night!

Some mystique exists around acupuncture because of Chinese ancestry, energy levels, yin and yang and some of the nomenclature.  Evidence based research for the efficacy of acupuncture is scant but growing and this has been highlighted again recently with Prince Charles's call for NHS funding and the government's proposals for the regulation of acupuncturists.  Currently, the NHS does not offer acupuncture very extensively and so clinical trials have not been widespread but there is excellent evidence of benefit in dental pain, migraine therapy and especially to treat painful joints.  Acupuncture can also be immensely useful for migraine, stress relief, muscle relaxation and sleep.

I often use acupuncture in my clinical practice - most often in the post operative period.  Nausea and vomiting can be a big problem and this is one place where acupuncture can be tremendously effective even when all drug options have been exhausted.  Symptoms like anxiety, breathlessness and itching can also be helped.

My most spectacular success was a poor girl with endless nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy where drug therapy was not an option because of potential harmful effects to the baby.  I was asked to see her after she had spent 15 days in bed unable to sit up because of sickness.  She was on a drip for hydration and had not eaten for days.  One hour after needling, she was sitting up devouring some tea and toast with a great big smile on her face.  I had a smile to match!