Boomers, others trying acupuncture for health, wellness

Complimentary medicine.

Many middle-aged people are turning to methods other than the conventional “medication/surgery/therapy” paradigm that has long been the benchmark of health care. (Photo courtesy of drzaccupuncture.com)

Think “outside the box.”

You’ve heard me mention time after time in previous articles about the Baby Boomers getting older all at the same time. There are literally millions of us. One of the characteristics of Boomers is that they are not always content with the “status quo” – they look for alternative ways of doing things, and health care is no exception.

In an article published in the Senior Journal (March 2007), author Katherine Kahn stated that “Boomers typically challenge authority – and health care is indeed a form of authority.” The article goes on to say various studies have shown that Boomers are not the only ones taking interest in, and advantage of, complimentary/alternative means to treat many of their health issues these days.

More and more middle-aged people are turning to methods other than the conventional “medication/surgery/therapy” paradigm that has long been the benchmark of health care.

Let’s examine one aspect of this whole “complimentary medicine” approach – medical acupuncture.

I have had the distinct pleasure of having local physician, Norman Zavela M.D. as both a trusted colleague and personal friend.

Dr. Zavela is a board certified anesthesiologist of 16 years and has been on the medical staff at Mercy St. Charles Hospital for most of those years. What many may not know is that he is also board certified in medical acupuncture and has been for 15 years.

Let me tell you a little bit about “Dr. Z’s” story as it relates to medical acupuncture.

The following are excerpts from an interview I had with Dr. Zavela:

What is the difference between a traditional acupuncturist and a medical acupuncturist?

“The traditional acupuncturist is also licensed (a.k.a. LA-c). They are non-physician professionals. Others carry the title of O.M.D. (Oriental Medical Doctor). Medical acupuncture is provided by licensed physicians who have obtained additional training after medical school—more specifically, medical acupuncture training.

Does health insurance cover medical acupuncture?

“We’re seeing a few insurance plans beginning to cover acupuncture services, albeit slowly. Medicare does not cover acupuncture services…yet. One thing that we have seen more of is people being able to utilize their flexible spending accounts for these services.” He cautions everyone to check their individual insurance plans to be sure that, if they have a flexible spending account, it will pay for medical acupuncture before receiving services.

What is the typical age range for the patients you see?

“In my practice, the oldest person I’ve treated was 94 years old and I treated children as young as 10 to 12 years. The children are typically seen for treatment of conditions such as migraine headaches, asthma and pre-testing anxiety in older school-age kids. Additionally, children who are active in sports can be treated for such acute (sudden onset) injuries as sprains, strains and ankle injuries. Older adults will present with conditions such as sinusitis, joint pain/arthritis.
 
Give us a synopsis of just how acupuncture works.

“Well, let’s first separate acupuncture into two main categories; Western Medicine and Chinese Medicine. In Western medical practice medical acupuncture is delivered in two distinct applications; at-site and away-from-site.

Delivering acupuncture treatments at the site of an injury or problem helps speed up the body’s healing process in a very direct fashion. Acupuncture performed away from the site of injury or problem does more to stimulate the brain to produce ‘neuro-hormones,’ which play an important role in decreasing pain and inflammation. This application also helps maximize the body’s own healing process.”

From the Chinese Medicine perspective, it is taught that acupuncture helps open up blockages to the body’s energy pathways which, in turn, help to empower the body to heal itself.”

Tell me about the “needles”

Acupuncture needles are actually designed to be less painful than the needles used in hospitals for injections and IVs. They are made of stainless steel, are solid and have tapered tips. These needles are about the size of a strand of human hair.

How do people feel after a treatment?

“First, it depends upon the individual and the condition being treated. Some conditions may require only two to six treatments, while more chronic conditions may need monthly or bi-monthly ‘maintenance’ treatments. Many will initially feel better. This may last anywhere from a few days to longer time periods. Some will need additional treatments to increase the duration of relief. Some won’t notice much initially, but will experience more and more benefit as time passes. Many people have described feeling a sense of euphoria and ‘well-being’ after treatments. These feelings may be coupled with significant relaxation, in which case going home to rest after a treatment may be helpful.”

This interview has only touched the tip of what medical acupuncture is all about. I, for one, have experienced the benefits of medical acupuncture by. Dr. Zavela for sprained back muscles and I will tell you in no uncertain terms, it definitely works,

So, whether you’re a “Boomer” or not, and you’re looking for other ways to treat health concerns and not overly eager to take drugs, have surgery or go to therapy, medical acupuncture may well be that “alternative” you’ve been searching for.

For more information on other conditions that may benefit from medical acupuncture, visit Dr. Zavela’s website at www.drzacupuncture.com or call his office at 419-346-9202 and either he or his staff will be happy to answer any questions or provide additional information.

Fun fact: The rate of blinking varies, but on average the eye blinks once every five seconds. That's equal to 17,000 times each day or 6.25 million times a year. (Source: Brandreth, Gyles. Your Vital Statistics)

Chisholm’s expertise in nursing, orthopedics and surgery spans more than 30 years. For more information on orthopedic-related topics, visit www.bone-and-joint-pain.com. Submit questions or comments to Ken at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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