“I was shoveling snow on Monday; do you remember that storm? Well, I felt a little twinge in my back after that, but the next weekend was so nice, dry and sunny, that I helped my neighbor paint his deck. Big mistake! I was flat on my back with the heat pad. I've always had a weak back, and I think I just over did it a bit. But who else is going to do it? ... I think I need acupuncture.” Sound familiar?

Back pain accounts for 15 million doctor visits per year and ranks fifth in symptoms for which patients seek medical advice. In 2002, more than 2 million Americans used acupuncture for treatment of a variety of conditions; 34 percent of these patients sought acupuncture for treatment of back pain. Minor back ache can cause simple activities to become more difficult; and flare ups can stall plans for work and play. Sometimes pain medications are prescribed; while this approach can ease the pain and inflammation, patients frequently look for a more natural approach with no side effects and long term benefits.

Additionally, more and more patients are seeking acupuncture for pain symptoms before turning to invasive options such as surgery. A recent study published by “The American Journal of Epidemiology” concluded that “acupuncture improves back function and is a cost effective treatment for persistent low back pain.” The authors assessed results of acupuncture treatments after three months and found significant clinical improvement when acupuncture was included in routine care. None the less, if surgery is chosen, your acupuncturist can collaborate with your physician by assisting in preparation and recovery to expedite the healing process.

So how does acupuncture work? Simply put, acupuncture helps the body to move stuck energy that causes pain and assists individuals in creating a balanced flow throughout the body's system.

To illustrate this further, most of us have seen the yin/yang symbol, a circle divided into light and dark. The black half has a dot of white within, and the white half has a black dot. In Oriental medicine theory, this relates to the balance between the physical substance that we are composed of and the energy that makes things work. To understand this idea better, think of yin/yang as the car and the gas. Without gas, the car won't run. On the other hand, if you have five gallons of gas and a broken car you are still out of luck. The energy of your body can be thought of as the gas that makes the car run and this is where acupuncture works.

Over thousands of years Chinese medical science has mapped this energy on the body. Energy flows through the body like rivers and canals flow through New York state. When energy gets stuck or overflows it causes pain. By stimulating certain points, acupuncture helps to correct, release or stimulate the flow.

As an example, let's return to the car analogy. Like energy in the body, traffic on the highway is supposed to be moving all the time. If a car gets stuck, maybe because of an accident or because it ran out of gas, all the cars back up behind it and they are not happy. Similarly, you can think of the pain in your body as the unfortunate drivers: stuck, with no where to go. Your acupuncture treatment moves the painful blocked energy in a way similar to a tow truck moving the stopped car.

The most common misconception about acupuncture is the belief that the needles are painful. In actuality, most patients find treatments comfortable and relaxing. Single-use, sterilized, disposable needles are used. Most acupuncturists will spend time with you at the first visit to address any concerns and answer your questions about procedures as they assess your constitution for treatment.

Note: In New York state, acupuncturists are required to study at an accredited college, pass the National Board Exam and receive a Clean Needle Technique Certification before receiving their license.

Mercy Yule is a licensed acupuncturist and Oriental medicine practitioner currently practicing at The Center

in Auburn. She may be reached

at 704-0319