Acupuncture has been around for about 7,000 years, and yet Americans still see it as a “new” way to deal with aches, pains, and illnesses. But with the economy the way it is, with people losing their jobs and therefore insurance or their deductibles going up and up, more people are turning to acupuncture as an alternative to or complement to traditional Western medicine,  Dr. Steven Seele said.

“Some people come out of curiosity, wondering what acupuncture is all about,” Seele said. “Others come when all other approaches have failed. Maybe they’ve had medication, they’ve had chiropractic care, physical therapy, or whatever other approaches, and they’re looking for an alternative either because the other treatments didn’t work or they can no longer afford them.”

Most people who undergo acupuncture do so after talking to friends or family members who’ve done it. Today, more and more medical physicians are referring patients for complementary or alternative care.

Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine. Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine.

In China, though, acupuncture is commonplace. Although it’s more popular in America than it was, it’s not commonplace yet.

Acupuncture became better known in the United States in 1971, when New York Times reporter James Reston wrote about how doctors in China used needles to ease his pain after surgery. American practices of acupuncture incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries.

 According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey,  an estimated 3.1 million U.S. adults and 150,000 children had used acupuncture in the previous year.

What is it?

So what is acupuncture all about?

According to the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM), acupuncture is based on the concept that disease results from disruption in the flow of qi and imbalance in the forces of yin and yang.

“Basically, there’s an energy network just below the surface of the skin,” Seele said. “That energy network communicates with the internal organs and structure of the body.”

Acupuncture seeks to aid healing by restoring the yin-yang balance and the flow of qi.

Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points on the body by a variety of techniques, including the insertion of thin metal needles though the skin.

The thought of needles stuck in you keeps some from trying acupuncture, Seele said.

“The needles I use, I can put 20 or 30 needles in someone and he or she may feel two or three of them,” he said. “At its worst, it’s like a light mosquito bite.”

Even those afraid of needles can undergo acupuncture, though.

“For people who have a fear of needles, we have the ability to use laser acupuncture or acupressure, which means we use fingers or another instrument, a teishein, which is a spring-loaded tapping needle, that doesn’t penetrate the skin,” Seele said.

“Acupuncture is not the end all and cure all just like regular medicine isn’t,” Seele said.

More about it

•Acupuncture has been practiced in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years.

•Scientists are studying the efficacy of acupuncture for a wide range of conditions.

•Relatively few complications have been reported from the use of acupuncture. However, acupuncture can cause potentially serious side effects if not delivered properly by a qualified practitioner.

•Tell your health-care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.