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Chapter 1
Introduction

For centuries now, people have suffered from different types of diseases that
cause them impairments or disabilities. Because of this, they have developed varieties of
treatment system to seek relief from these diseases. Worldwide, both Acupuncture and Physical
Therapy have gained the interest of people over the past few years. During the last 20 years, the
interest in alternative or complementary therapies has increased. Of these therapies, Traditional
Chinese Medicine (TCM) has generated the most research interest among Western practitioners.
Acupuncture is the best known and accepted treatment modality in TCM. Because of the wide
indication of its therapeutic properties, simplicity in application, low cost and rapid results for
treatment of some disorders, acupuncture has spread world-wide during the last two decades.
As defined in the World Book Encyclopedia, Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method
of relieving pain and treating a variety of diseases by inserting needles into various parts of the
body. From the classical Chinese medical point of view, Chinese Medicine equates health with
maintaining the dynamic balance and harmony of Qi, Blood, Body, Fluids in the body to ensure
their smooth and constant movement. When stagnation occurs, the process of elimination and
regeneration deteriorate, constituting the basic condition underlying many forms of illnesses.
Thus, acupuncture seems to adjust the physiological processes of the body. Overwork, inability
to cope with stress, sleeping late, and unbalanced diet are among adverse lifestyle practices that
affect the bodys balance and harmony, resulting to disease.

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Acupuncture is quite new in the field although practiced by the Chinese for more than
200 years. It took new form by developing therapeutic methods and identified more acupuncture
points that was based on the anatomical distribution of nerves. Although initially used for pain
relief, it is now used for a variety of neurological, dermatological, respiratory, and stress-related
conditions. According to the article published by Yue Emily Ren (Acupuncture in the Treatment
of Hypertension and Stroke, June 2000 Vol. 18), Acupuncture also became a major therapeutic
modality in the treatment of patients suffering from CVA and is arguable an effective treatment
in Stroke rehabilitation based upon ADL assessment. On the other hand, Physical Therapy
utilizes heat, cold, water, electricity, and exercises in the treatment of various diseases. It has
been quite known in the treatment of patients suffering from neurological, respiratory, cardiac,
musculoskeletal, and orthopedic cases.
The more recent the illness, the better acupuncture will respond. This is the principle of
acupuncture. An Acupuncturist inserts very fine needles into specific points on the body. The
points are chosen after diagnosis is made according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine. The
points lie along meridians of channels, through which energy (Qi) flows. Illnesses are associated
with obstruction of energy flow. Acupuncture disperses the blockages and restores the balance of
energy. It results in the improvement of the body, mind, and spirit, thereby restoring health.
Acupuncture is a stimulant. It strengthens the bodys immune and defensive system. It is
not just a pain killer and it may improve and restore tissues, circulations, and the nervous
systems.
The World Health Organization (1997) has listed the diseases that Acupuncture can treat.
These rehabilitative cases include respiratory cases such as Acute Bronchitis, Bronchial Asthma,
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neurological and musculoskeletal cases such as Facial Palsy, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Intercostals
Neuralgia, Frozen Shoulder, tennis elbow, Sciatica, Low back pain, Osteoarthritis, Tendinitis,
Sprains, Bursitis, Stiff Neck, and Arthritis and medical case such as Diabetes.
Although popular on separate fields, combination of Acupuncture and Physical Therapy
has not yet been fully developed and recognized here in the Philippines. This is why we
researchers have developed this study to see the different cases that can be handled by both
Acupuncture and Physical Therapy. Being in the field of Rehabilitation Science, we would like
to prepare ourselves by further widening of our knowledge about other possible alternative
rehabilitative methods, such as Acupuncture. This study is conducted to prove or disprove
Acupuncture as an alternative medicine for Common illnesses









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Definition of Terms
Acupuncture. An ancient Chinese medical technology involving the manipulation of the
needles in the body to relieve and treat different diseases.]
Adjunct. Something joined or added to another but not essentially a part of it.
Alternative Medicine. Is any practice that is put forward as having the healing effects of
medicine but is not based on evidence gathered using the scientific method.
Common Illness. Are diseases or other health problems that lots of people get like colds, fever,
arthritis etc.
Inherent. Established as an essential part of something.
Meridians. Any of the pathways along which the bodys vital energy flows according to the
theory behind acupuncture.
Physiological. Characteristic of or appropriate to an organisms healthy or normal functioning.
Placebo. An inert medication used for its psychological effect or for purposes of comparison in
an experiment.
Rehabilitate. To restore to a former state.
Sham. Not genuine; False.
Therapeutic. Of or relating to the treatment of disease or disorders by remedial agents or
methods.

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Chapter 2
Presentation of Data

Review of Related Literature
Acupuncture is said to have originated in China where sharpened stones and bones as old
as 6000 BCE are used as instruments for acupuncture treatment.
According to White, A. and Ernst, E. (2004) It is also stated that in the sixth century,
Korea and Japan assimilated Chinese acupuncture and herbs into their medical systems. Both
countries still retain these therapies, mostly in parallel with Western medicine. In the West,
France adopted acupuncture rather sooner than other countries. Jesuit missionaries first brought
back reports of acupuncture in the sixteenth century, and the practice was embraced by French
clinicians fairly widely. French acupuncture today has been deeply influenced by a diplomat,
Souliet du Morant, who spent many years in China and published a number of treatises about
acupuncture from 1939 onwards. Acupuncture arrived in Vietnam when commercial routes
opened up between the eighth and tenth centuries.
Acupuncture is originally from China which is used as traditional acupuncture.
Acupuncture.org.uk (n.d.) emphasized that Traditional acupuncture is a branch of
traditional Chinese medicine - a tried and tested healthcare system that has been practiced for
thousands of years in China and the Far East. It has been developed, tested, researched and
refined over centuries to give us a complex and detailed understanding of the body's energetic
balance.
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The first known book of Chinese Medicine, the Classic of Internal Medicine of the
Yellow Emperor, dates back to between the first century BC and the first century AD. All styles
of acupuncture currently practiced around the world trace their roots back to this text.
Acupuncture can treat several conditions. It also used as a therapeutic intervention which
is widely used, especially in the United States. Acupuncture as promising results.
Medicinenet.com (1996) claimed that Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is
widely practiced in the United States. There have been many studies of its potential usefulness.
However, many of these studies provide equivocal results because of design, sample size, and
other factors. The issue is further complicated by inherent difficulties in the use of appropriate
controls, such as placebo and sham acupuncture groups. However, promising results have
emerged, for example, efficacy of acupuncture in adult post-operative and chemotherapy nausea
and vomiting and in post-operative dental pain. There are other situations such as addiction,
stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain,
osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma where acupuncture may be
useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive
management program.
People with chronic pain are usually the common patients who want to have an
acupuncture treatment.
According to Main, E.(2012) states that the effectiveness of acupuncture and found that,
yes, it really is a good treatment for chronic pain and that doctors should start recommending it
as treatment for arthritis and other chronic ailments. Chronic pain is certainly one of the most
common reasons people seek out acupuncturists.
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Acupuncture can cure the number of illnesses.
Acupuncture.com.ph (2005) stated that Acupuncture alone or in acupuncture with
physical therapy can provide relief and treatment of more than 400 diseases or conditions. To
mention a few, these are the following illnesses commonly treated with Acupuncture.
Needles are used in acupuncture that penetrates the skin of a person at a certain point of
the body.
Wajek, C. (May 19, 2013) stated that Acupuncture is a complementary medical practice
that entails stimulating certain points on the body, most often with a needle penetrating the skin,
to alleviate pain or to treat various diseases.
Acupuncture is a medicinal therapy that falls under the oriental medicine.
Lifestyle.iloveindia.com (n.d.) stated that Acupuncture is a form of medicinal therapy
that falls within the ambit of the articulate system of healing called Oriental Medicine. The other
therapies that come under this category are herbology, physical therapy, dietetics and special
exercises. Acupuncture, in itself, is a complete medical system, but is very different from the
other branches of the modern Western medicine. This therapy finds its origin in the principles
and philosophies that are based on the Oriental thinking and Oriental medicine.
The kind of treatment of acupuncture does not involve chemical. It only involves in
stimulating certain parts of the body with the use of needles.
Lifestyle.iloveindia.com (n.d.) further stated that The treatment in acupuncture does not
involve chemical or drugs. Rather, an acupuncturist influences your health and sickness, by
stimulating certain parts of your body, along the meridians. Conventionally, these areas (better
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known as acu-points), were stimulated with slender pointed needles. However, in present times,
several other forms of stimulation have been incorporated. Herbs, electricity, magnets and lasers
are a few of the modern means of this therapy. Still, the basic aspect of acupuncture remains the
same i.e. to navigate the vital energy in a proper way, so that the required amount of energy
reaches the right place, in requisite time duration. According to acupuncture, this navigation of
energy helps the body to easily recover from the ailments.
An initial acupuncture session will involve an assessment of general health, a medical
history and a physical examination, followed by insertion of the acupuncture needles.
Nhs.uk (n.d.) claimed that The acupuncturist will ask you about your general health and
your medical history. If your visit is due to a specific health condition, they will ask about the
symptoms of this condition and about any other treatment the person have received for it. After
this, the acupuncturist may do a physical examination.Once the acupuncturist feels they have a
clear picture of a persons health, they will move to the insertion of the acupuncture needles.
These needles are inserted into specific places on the body, which practitioners call 'acupuncture
points. During the session, the person will usually be asked to sit or lie down.






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Chapter 3
Conclusions and Recommendation

Conclusion

In the span of our research and gathering data, we saw mostly positive results.
Acupuncture can cure illnesses, even the simplest ones. And because the history of Acupuncture
traces way back in human health, it is certainly effective and the fact that Chinese medicine
really revolves around herbal resources. Furthermore, Acupuncture has expanded and is more
improved to cure in specification of various sicknesses. And according to our readings,
Acupuncture has been acquired in other countries and has mounted it parallel to Western
Medicine like in Korea.
And since Acupuncture only uses fine needles, it is more convenient, lesser pain, time
and money on medication. The nature of the procedure and the pressure points (Qi) was invented
because the aim was to alleviate/stimulate pain without any pain at all. Navigating the energy
point believed by the Chinese helps the body to recover efficiently. It may take a few
sessions on some cases but it is guaranteed to be an effective cure.
We therefore conclude that Acupuncture is indeed proven to be an effective Alternative
medicine. Applying this knowledge to our course, it is good that there is another reliable option
to our future clients. Rest assured by the doctors who have recommended Acupuncture as a
second option.
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Recommendations

We recommend that patients should seek medical attention first before undergoing the
procedure of acupuncture and must be knowledgeable to the pros and cons of the said procedure.
A person who wants to go acupuncture medication must find an acupuncture expert for
treatment for his/her safety and to avoid negative effects that may worsen their condition.
In terms of positive effects, it is shown in our study that acupuncture is highly effective in
different kinds of internal and external disease. We recommend acupuncture to every individual
who experience of the said diseases in our research for it was proven by number of patients and
doctors.









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Reference List
A. E-Media:
Carr, Jean. (2009). Asian Acupuncture. Retrieved March 8, 2014 from
http://arizonaasianacupuncture.com/
Ernst E. (2004). History of Acupuncture. Retrieved March 8, 2014 from
http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/43/5/662.long
Acupuncture. (2014). Retrieved March 8, 2014 from
http://www.medicinenet.com/acupuncture/page2.htm#4forwhat
Asian Bodwork Therapy. (n.d). Retrieved March 8, 2014 from
http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/abc/abt.php
6 Science-Based Benefits of Acupunture (2014). Retrieved March 8, 2014 from
http://www.prevention.com/mind-body/natural-remedies/6-health-benefits-acupuncture-
therapy
Acupuncture. (2014). Retrieved March 8, 2014 from http://medical-
dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Acupuncture+therapy
The Acupuncture Alternative. (2014). Retieved March 8, 2014 from
http://www.scu.edu/ethics/dialogue/candc/cases/acupuncture.html
History of Acupuncture. (n.d.). Retrieved March 8, from http://www.acupuncture.org.uk/public-
content/public-traditional-acupuncture/history-of-acupuncture.html
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Wanjek, C. (2013). WhatisAcupuncture? Retrieved March 8, 2014 from
http://www.livescience.com/29494-acupuncture.html

B. Thesis
Dauz,D., et al. (2002). A Study on the three most common physical therapy-related cases treated
with acupuncture in Chinese General Hospital from January to December 2001.
(Undergradaute thesis). De La Salle Health Sciences Institute, Dasmarias, Cavite.

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