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In this skin
Energy of acupuncturist's needles may ease chronic pain
By KATHLEEN COSTELLO
Gannett News Service

After a grand piano fell on Charles Kakritz, he lived with chronic pain for 45 years.

The 72-year-old grandfather from Webb Mills, N.Y., says the piano broke both of his kneecaps and hurt his shoulders and back.

"I had both knees replaced about six years ago and had back surgery in 1999. But that didn't help the pain," Kakritz says. His doctor recommended acupuncture, but Kakritz was hesitant.

"I didn't want to go at first. Who wants to get needles stuck all over their body?" he says.

But 2 1/2 years ago, he started getting weekly acupuncture treatments at New Day Professional Massage and Acupuncture at Arnot Health in Elmira, N.Y. Immediately, it made a difference.

"Right away I felt less pain. After a few treatments, I felt better than I had in 45 years. I have no pain whatsoever now," Kakritz said.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy that has been used for centuries. Treatments involve the insertion of hair-thin needles into specific pressure points on the body. The World Health Organization recommends acupuncture for about 50 medical conditions, including neck and back pain, asthma, the common cold, depression, stress and infertility.

Acupuncture works by correcting the balance of energy in the body. This energy, called "chi," flows through pathways in the body called meridians.

"Lots of different cultures have a word for the chi, this life force energy. But in English, we don't have a word that it translates into. In acupuncture, we break it down (for example) to the chi of the different organ

systems of the body. So I record the physiological function of the kidney, along with the energetic function of the kidney," explains Dennis Caso, a licensed acupuncturist with New Day Professional Massage and Acupuncture at Arnot Health.

In Western medicine, we often treat our headaches and our stomachaches with different medicines. Eastern practices are a bit different, explains Becky Hinman, a licensed acupuncturist with Acupuncture Wellness Center in Elmira Heights, N.Y.

"In this medicine, every part of who we are cannot be separated. The physical, mental, emotional and spiritual are all connected," Hinman says.

In terms of treatment, this means that every person is seen as an individual, and every person is treated according to his or her own needs.

"You could have three people coming in with a headache, but all three might need to be treated differently," Caso says.

Many acupuncturists require patients to fill out a detailed health checklist before the first treatment. The checklist could include questions about what types of foods the person eats and what kinds of emotions and behaviors the person experiences, in addition to questions about medical history.

"I treat imbalances. These are imbalances of the energetics of the body. Whenever the chi isn't flowing smoothly, there are symptoms, such as headaches. The headache isn't the problem, but as a symptom, we can use it to find the real cause of the pain," Caso says.

DETAILS

Typically, the first acupuncture treatments are longer and more expensive than subsequent ones, because the first visit often includes a review of the person's medical history and preliminary counseling. At New Day Professional Massage and Acupuncture at Arnot Health in New York, the first session is $70, and follow-up sessions that often last an hour are $50.

Generally, treatments are once a week for a few weeks, said Dennis Caso, a licensed acupuncturist with the facility. But that depends on the person and the medical condition. Some people may need only one or two treatments.

"Most insurance companies do not cover acupuncture," Hinman said. "Those that do often have special clauses. They may need a doctor's referral, or they may only treat certain conditions."

Acupuncture is not a replacement for traditional Western medicine. Always consult your doctor before undergoing treatment.

systems of the body. So I record the physiological function of the kidney, along with the energetic function of the kidney," explains Dennis Caso, a licensed acupuncturist with New Day Professional Massage and Acupuncture at Arnot Health.

In Western medicine, we often treat our headaches and our stomachaches with different medicines. Eastern practices are a bit different, explains Becky Hinman, a licensed acupuncturist with Acupuncture Wellness Center in Elmira Heights, N.Y.

"In this medicine, every part of who we are cannot be separated. The physical, mental, emotional and spiritual are all connected," Hinman said.

In terms of treatment, this means that every person is seen as an individual, and every person is treated according to his or her own needs.

"You could have three people coming in with a headache, but all three might need to be treated differently," Caso said.

Many acupuncturists require patients to fill out a detailed health checklist before the first treatment. The checklist could include questions about what types of foods the person eats and what kinds of emotions and behaviors the person experiences, in addition to questions about medical history.

"I treat imbalances. These are imbalances of the energetics of the body. Whenever the chi isn't flowing smoothly, there are symptoms, such as headaches. The headache isn't the problem, but as a symptom, we can use it to find the real cause of the pain," Caso said.

Originally published Wednesday, November 24, 2004

URL: http://www.californianonline.com/news/stories/20041124/living/1642237.html