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HealthyBod"{ALTERNATIVES}Saying ahto acupunctureNeedle therapy mayrelieve your aches—and reveal your body'ssecrets.By Catherine PriceI don't usually stick my tongueout at my doctor. But that is exactlywhat Bianca, a clinic intern at theAcupuncture and Integrative MedicineCollege (AIMC) in Berkeley,California, has asked me to do. Thecollege offers a discount on acujiunctureif you agree to let students likeBianca observe your treatment—and because nothing else seems tobe helping curb my back pain, I'vedecided to play along."Like, really stick it out?" I ask,glancing at the five other internsclustered around Bianca, all leaningforward and staring at my mouth."Yes," she says. "We all want totake a look."Reluctantly. I open wide andextend my tongue as far as it'llgo. Bianca has already asked meabout my menstrual blood and vaginaldischarge in front of the group(both are pretty normal, thankyou). Now, as the studentsdebate various aspects of mytongue—like its color (duskypurple) and coating (thin andwhite)—I think of a differentquestion: What, exactly,does this have to do withmy backache?(Continued on page 70)

(Continued from page 68)Unusual connectionsAcupuncture is a type of traditionalChinese medicine that's been practicedfor at least 2,500 years. It's partly basedon the idea that backaches (and anyother complaints) aren't singular problems."You're taught that what happensin one part of the body is reflected in therest of the body," says Jill Blakeway, arenowned acupuncturist in New York."It emphasizes the interconnectednessof everything in the universe."to increase their effectiveness.No one is entirely sure how acupunctureworks, but groups like the NationalInstitutes of Health and the WorldHealth Organization (WHO) agree it's auseful remedy. The WHO lists morethan 40 conditions for which acupunctureis often used, including addictions,nausea and vomiting, asthma, digestiveissues, sinusitis, osteoarthritis, and allergies.It's also used increasingly for infertility.Some of the best evidence shows itmay offer relief for pain—from postsur-And how is my appetite? Healthy! Thentheir professor, Hua Ling Xu, chair ofthe AIMC Oriental Medicine Department,identifies treatment points on mywrists, shoulders, hands, ankles, and thebacks of my knees. As I lie face down onthe table, Xu swabs each point with alcohol,flicksit with her finger,and brisklytaps sterile needles into my body.I feel a slight prick when the needles—inserteda quailer-inch to an inchdee|D—puncture my skin. (If you experiencepain, they need to be adjusted). I^Ready to try it?Experts say you should ask friendsfor the name of a good acupuncturist—orcheck with the NationalCertification Commission for Acupunctureand Oriental Medicine(www.nccaom.org). Catl yourinsurer to ask about coverage;some companies pay for it witha doctor's recommendation.A minimum of three visits is recommendedto see if it's working.For chronic conditions, expectat least 6 to 10 appointments,spaced no more than a week apart.Acupuncture also teaches that thebody contains two opposing forces: yinand yang. Together, they contribute toyour chi (pronounced "chee"), a Chineseword roughly translated as "vita! energy."If this energy flow is interruptedor blocked, it can cause pain and disease.This is part of the reason that Bianca'sexamining my tongue—acupuncturiststhink your tongue can reveal energyimbalances in your body. Turns out apurple color suggest.s stagnation in yourchi, which could lead to a range of disorders,including a sore back.Acupuncturists try to restore balancein the body by stimulating specificpoints, often by inserting thin metalneedles into the skin. Sometimes electricalcurrents are even added to the needlesgery dental pain to menstrual cramps,fi-om migraines to tennis elbow."It's definitely effective in some cases,"says Mehmet Oz, MD. a heart surgeonand vice chairman of surgery at NewYork Presbyterian Hospital-ColumbiaUniversity, who recommends acupunctureto his patients. "What 1 love themost is that acupunctui'e makes us thinkvery differently about how the bodyworks." Oz and Blakeway both agreethat acupuncture is worth a try if Westernmedicine seems to fail you.Now for the needlesAfter my tongue exam, Bianca and herclassmates ask questions about my overallstate. Do I have trouble sleeping? No.Am I generally hot or cold? I fluctuate.also feel what acupuncturists call a chisensation, which I've heard described as"deep," "achy," "tingly," or "quivery."One point in my back makes my lefthand twitch. Another, next to my thumb,sends what feels like a flashof electricitythrough my entire body. And in the 20minutes I'm on the table, I notice somethingironic: Having 14 needles stuck inmy body is surprisingly relaxing.I leave the clinic feeling energized,with the muscles in my back looserand my mind peaceful and centered,despite my microscopic punctui-e wounds.I return for two more sessions, and,although I don't feel completely painfree,I've started recommending acupunctureto friends and family—no matterwhat their tongues look hke. CHcalth.com 70 April 2007