After discovering he had Bell’s Palsy, which can cause paralysis and the inability to control facial muscles on a specific side, Joe Andrade was prescribed the treatment of acupuncture to help fight against it.

The practice of acupuncture is the insertion and manipulation of fine needles into specific energy points on the body (called meridians) to relieve pain or for therapeutic purposes. Traditionally, according to Andrade, acupuncture regulates the flow of Qi (energy) and Xue (blood).

“My doctor said it would help fight against the inflammation and reduce damage. He said I needed to do it right away so it wouldn’t become permanent. I felt an immediate difference after the treatment,” said Andrade.

Directly fuelling his desire to pursue natural forms of medicine, acupuncture specifically, Andrade is now a doctorate of acupuncture and has been practising for about three years.

He says that acupuncture is said to have originated in China, but is practiced in other cultures. The methods used by traditional Chinese medicine are slightly different than the methods of the Japanese, which Andrade uses.

“The traditional Chinese methods use thicker needles that are stimulated (moved in and out). Japanese methods use finer needles, about the thickness of a single human hair and less stimulation,” said Andrade.

However, he says that the needles are nothing like the ones you’d see in a tradtional doctor's office.

“They are different depending on the depth of insertion. For example, the back would need to be longer so they could be inserted deeper whereas the face or chest area wouldn’t because of vital organs,” said Andrade.

Since Andrade was trained by a Japanese acupuncturist, who believed that the same results would be achieved using the gentler method, that is what Andrade learned to practice, although he has studied both.

“You’re still going to get the desired reaction using Japanese methods because you’re still hitting the body’s energy points which release natural chemicals,” said Andrade.

He went on to explain that what is released is serotonin and endorphins, which are the chemicals in the brain that make people feel good. Morphine, which is a painkiller, can also be released, he said. Each of the 12 meridians that are stimulated to release natural chemicals is related to a specific organ or area.

Andrade says while acupuncture can avoid many of the side effects created by pharmaceutical medicines, it is best used for certain ailments. Andrade has seen acupuncture used for cosmetics, weight loss and addiction.

“The Chinese see acupuncture as working to fight blood stagnation and blocked energy. It’s great for fighting pain and inflammation. The most effective treatments would be for knee injuries, migraines and carpel tunnel,” said Andrade.

Andrade says that while a shot of morphine for example can block the system, using acupuncture would allow it to naturally course through the body by activating those areas.

“Instead of just a shot of morphine in the body, acupuncture specifically targets the effective area. It tells your body to go fight that specific infection rather than almost going to fight it wholly,” said Andrade.

Andrade went to explain that there are misconceptions about the practice of acupuncture.

“The biggest is that it’s painful, but the Japanese method only produces very little pressure because the needles are so thin. Also, we don’t just put the needles where the pain is, they’re placed on the meridians that correspond with the affected area. There’s over 2000 points in the body,” said Andrade.

Another misconception is that the pain is only removed when the needles are in the body. However, Andrade says the pain relief continues when a patient leaves.

“I knew one woman who came for treatment on her knee. She could barely get up and down the stairs in her home without it being very painful. Since she’s had treatments she told me she can walk up and down the stairs without pain anymore. It may get a bit sore, but nothing compared to what she felt before,” said Andrade.

Andrade says that when determining how to properly treat a patient, a number of things are considered.

“We first look at the entire picture and find out why the person is getting the pain that they are. Then, length and amount of treatment depends partially on age as well as the condition,” said Andrade.

For example, someone younger will have a faster system so the body will react quicker to stimulate the brain to release chemicals. As you get older, everything slows down and takes longer to work, according to Andrade.

“For people aged 16-30 it could be anywhere from 15-20 minutes, while ages 30 and up may need a minimum of 30 minutes. It varies based on the person,” said Andrade.

The frequency of treatments also depends on the condition but usually begin at two per week. Andrade says that some patients have required only five or six sessions while some have needed ten or twelve.

Prior to choosing the method of acupuncture to treat pain or inflammation, Andrade says there a few things to consider when choosing someone to perform the method.

“I can’t stress enough that they must have certification. That means, over 1000 hours of treating clients and at least a diploma in acupuncture. A doctorate, which I have, is optional but allows me to practice other methods of acupuncture. Also, always ensure that needles are clean, new, and disposable,” said Andrade.

Other types of acupuncture:

Korean Acupuncture – Based on the belief that the hands and feet are the micro system of the entire body any condition can be treated by using just the hands.

Cosmetic/Facial Acupuncture – Increases blood flow which brings more collagen to produce natural effects that relieve wrinkles and sagginess. It can also help to clear pimples and acne.