Acupuncture & Mainstream Medicine

With Beth Kohn, LAc

For thousands of years, the ancient practice of acupuncture has been a mainstay of traditional Chinese medicine. It is one of the oldest healing techniques in the world, and until recently has been niched for those practicing holistic medicine.

However, over the past several years, it has found its way into modern day medicine. Once taboo with many medical physicians, acupuncture is now being used as complementary treatment in areas such as cancer pain, infertility, dentistry and other areas.

The theory behind acupuncture is that the fields of energy within the body can be manipulated using solid, metallic needles, to stimulate healing within the body. This is based on the principle that the body has two opposing and inseparable forces, the yin and yang, that when appropriately balanced can lead to a healthy being. The needles used help connect the disrupted energies within the body and helps them reconnect along the meridians, which are lines between the points within the body.

Several large studies have been carried out over the past decade to understand the effects of acupuncture. The NIH (National Institute of Health) determined that many physicians were beginning to incorporate acupuncture as complementary treatment to certain conditions.

With the increased use of acupuncture, the FDA now regulates the production of acupuncture needles to certified, trained practitioners to ensure safety, sterility and quality of the needles.

“I find that most of my patients are looking for alternatives to pharmaceutical medicines,” says Beth Kohn, is a certified acupuncturist at the Henry Ford Center of Integrated Medicine, in Northville. “They want to find options with fewer side effects.”

The goal for both traditional western medicine and eastern medicine is the same; to help heal a patient’s ailment. Therefore, combining these two differing philosophies can see successful outcomes for many patients. By working in concert, the practitioners can provide quality outcomes for some of the most difficult of patient conditions.

“We try to figure out how we can use these therapies (acupuncture and herbal medicine) wen traditional western medicine and pharmaceuticals don’t work, or people can’t tolerate them,” says Kohn. “We have used traditional eastern medicine on people with neck pain, headaches, menopause and premenstrual syndromes. We work with the (physicians) to determine if it is okay to incorporate this into the patient’s treatment.”

Although there are still some skeptics to using acupuncture as complementary treatment, they are becoming fewer and fewer. In fact, many physicians are learning about these alternative therapies based on the demand from patients.

“Patients are more educated and do more research today. It used to be you would go to the doctor and ask what to do, and the doctor would take care of you. Today, people are doing research and coming to the doctor with alternatives and questions about herbs and other treatments,” says Kohn.

This patient-driven force is part of the reason that many hospitals within metro Detroit are now incorporating this integrative treatment plan in certain disease states.

One example of how the Center for Integrated Medicine worked with a physician involved a patient diagnosed with Hepatitis C, says Kohn. The patient had researched the disease and did not want to receive interferon treatment.

“I talked with the physician and found out where the patient was in the stage of his illness and discussed the patient’s desire to use alternative therapies. We made sure it wouldn’t be dangerous to the patient and the doctor said it was okay. Baseline blood work was done and we set up a three month treatment plan to see where the patient was after that time,” says Kohn. “We made it clear to the patient that if we didn’t see the results we wanted, then he was to move forward with the medical plan.”

Another large area of use of acupuncture and herbal medicine is in patients with cancer or those who have completed treatment, says Kohn. In particular, patients who survived breast cancer or ovarian cancer who can no longer receive estrogenic medications. “These patients want to try alternative therapies so we have the physicians review the herbs and move forward with the treatment,” says Kohn.

Although acupuncture is commonly thought to be used for those who are already sick, there are many people who receive treatments to stave off illness and keep healthy.

“Acupuncture is tapping into our natural ability to relax and heal,” says Kohn. “There is a natural release of endorphins and nerve stimulation. People who get acupuncture consistently report getting sick less and have immune systems that respond well to illness.”

Acupuncture is not covered by all insurances and it is important to consult with your insurance company to see what their policy is on treatment. You should also do your research to make sure that your therapist is certified by a nationally recognized organization before seeking treatment.

Although side effects are rare with acupuncture, there can still be serious consequences if you are not treated by someone who is well-trained.

Beth Kohn, Acupuncturist, L.Ac (CA), MTOM, Dipl. Ac., Dipl. CH is a Staff Acupuncturist at the Henry Ford Center for Integrative Medicine in Novi. She received her Masters Degree Oriental Medicine (MTOM)-Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, in San Diego, and her Bachelors of Science from the University of Maryland. She is California Board Certified in Licensed Acupuncturist & Chinese Herbalist and received her NCCAOM Certification in Acupuncture therapy (Dipl.Ac.), Certification in Chinese Herbal Medicine (Dipl.CH). She is a current member of the Michigan Association for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.