Acupuncture is a component of the health care system of China that can be traced back at least 2,500 years.

The general theory of acupuncture is based on the premise that there are patterns of energy flow (Qi) through the body that are essential for health. Disruptions of this flow are believed to be responsible for disease. Acupuncture may, it has been theorized, correct imbalances of flow at identifiable points close to the skin.

The practice of acupuncture to treat identifiable pathophysiological (disease) conditions in American medicine was rare until the visit of President Richard M. Nixon to China in 1972. Since that time, there has been an explosion of interest in the United States and Europe in the application of the technique of acupuncture to Western medicine.

Acupuncture is a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical locations on or in the skin by a variety of techniques. There are a variety of approaches to diagnosis and treatment in American acupuncture that incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea and other countries. The most thoroughly studied mechanism of stimulation of acupuncture points employs penetration of the skin by thin, solid, metallic needles, which are manipulated manually or by electrical stimulation.

Are there standards for acupuncture needles? After reviewing the existing body of knowledge, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed acupuncture needles from the category of “experimental medical devices.” The FDA now regulates acupuncture needles, just as it does other devices such as surgical scalpels and hypodermic syringes, under good manufacturing practices and single-use standards of sterility. Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely practiced in the United States. There have been many studies of its potential usefulness.

Conditions acupuncture treatment been found helpful; 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.

If you would like to know more about acupuncture the senior center is having an informative class at 3 p.m. Wednesday. This is a great chance to ask questions and find out how it works. To sign up stop by the front desk or call us at 433-2370 extension 0.

Upcoming Events

Monday: Blood pressure checks, 9 a.m.; cards, 12:30 p.m.; Pinochle, Bridge; Zumba, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Silver Sneakers, 8:30 a.m.; Exercise With Evie, 9 a.m.; cards, 12:30 p.m., Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge; SilverSneakers, 4:30 p.m.; Movie: The Karate Kid, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Tai Chi, 9:30 a.m.; cards, 12:30pm (Pinochle, Cribbage Tournament, Duplicate Bridge); Stitching Bees, 1 p.m.; open chess, 1 p.m.; acupuncture class, 3 p.m.; Zumba, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday: SilverSneakers, 8:30 a.m.; Exercise with Evie Anderson, 9 a.m.; cards (Pinochle), 12:30 p.m.; Bingo, 1 p.m.; open chess, 1 p.m.; SilverSneakers, 4:30 p.m.

Friday: Tai Chi, 9:30 a.m.; cards 12:30 p.m.; Bridge Tournament.

Weekly Card Results

Monday Bridge

Aug. 8, three tables

1st Harriet Oldenburg; 2nd Russ Vaale; 3rd Betty Jorgenson; 4th Joan Maxfield; 5th Mary Johnsen

Tuesday “500”

Aug. 12, four tables

1st Lois Anderson, 2nd Fran Bolstad, 3rd Eddie Hall, 4th Helen Broitzman.

Tuesday Afternoon Bridge

Aug. 9

1st Dave Ring, 1st Loren Cleland; 2nd Dick Hansen, 2nd Larry Crowe; 3rd Joyce Crowe, 3rd Marge Blaser, 3rd Bud Higgins, 3rd Jim Fisher

Friday Bridge

Tournament results for Aug. 5, four tables

1st Judy Bungum, 2nd Lois Johnson, 3rd Russ Vaale, 4th John Allen, 5th Millie Sievers, 6th Mable Vaale

Friday Cribbage

Aug. 12, one and a half tables

1st Jessie Swain, 2nd Dorothy Peterson

Weekly “500”

Tournament results for Aug. 9, four tables

1st Dorothy Stern, 2nd Barb Dickman, 3rd Eddie Hall, 4th Arlys Spurlin

Weekly Cribbage

Aug. 11, three and a half tables

Perfect score

1st Russ Vaale, 2nd John Allen, 3rd Ray Waters, 4th Jesse Swain

Semcac Daily Meals

Monday: Pizza party

Tuesday: Salisbury Steak

Wednesday: Hot pork sandwich

Thursday: Baked chicken

Friday: Meatloaf