The Science of Acupuncture: Overview

Acupuncture balances the health of the whole body while it stops pain, boosts metabolism, and eases stress. Instead of wondering if acupuncture works, scientists have been scratching their heads and performing studies to figure out how it works. They managed to develop six different theories that, combined, provide some light into the mystery of acupuncture.

Acupuncture....

• Augments Immunity
• Releases Endorphins
• Improves Circulation
• Controls Nerve Gateways
• Balances Neurotransmitter Levels

Chinese medicine can view
disconnected symptoms
as related to one another

In the United States, we have specialists that bring to my mind the expression “the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.” If I had carpal tunnel in my right wrist and arthritis in my left, for each wrist I might end up seeing two specialists that never speak to each other! Many people have trouble understanding acupuncture in the West because one treatment can work with so many systems at the same time. I am thankful that TCM has one-to-many correspondences, since we are able to treat multiple conditions with just a few needles.

Felix Mann aptly described acupuncture
point selections as "constellations."

With all the acupuncture points on the body, mapping their individual functions would take longer than mapping the human genome. Luckily you don't have to know what points you wish to receive before you go to the acupuncturist! Every point on the body has its own potential effects; the skill of your practitioner will determine where and how these effects are used to your benefit.

Acupuncture stimulates and regulates your body's natural response, creating improvement with no side effects. Every day, your body is fighting for its life and well-being, overwhelmed by stress and repetitive strain. Acupuncture stimulates your brain to reset and rewire the patterns of your natural functions. This is the same for every patient; the differences lie in the details and nature of the condition addressed.

Acupuncture Releases Endorphins

Endorphins are released while
running from monsters

Athletes and exercise enthusiasts are well familiar with the function of endorphins. Once an athlete reaches an exhaustion level, they experience a feeling that some have dubbed, “runner's high.” This could apply to any physical exercise. This euphoric, whole-body feeling comes from endorphins, which are released in order to allow the body to endure longer periods of strenuous activity than normal. In the prehistoric human body, endorphins were developed for long periods of flight from large, powerful predators, enabling humans to survive hazardous over-exertion by stopping pain associated with over-extended tissues and organ systems.

Endorphins are released when
eating spicy foods

Pain killers represent the most popular group of drugs on the market. From headaches to knee pain, everyone is looking for a solution to their pain. Multi-million dollar clinics are opening under the title “Pain Management.” While these solutions (namely drugs and surgery) help to manage pain, acupuncture stops it completely. Long-term studies detailing the results of acupuncture treatment for pain showed significant improvement in patients who completed their treatment plan, even years after their last acupuncture treatment. (Here's an example.)

Endorphins are released
in response to pain

Acupuncture is able to stop pain better than most drugs because of the body's natural endorphins. Acupuncture unlocks a dormant quality within the body, which, when activated, operates at a strength ten times any drug on the market. For example, researchers at UNC are using acupuncture instead of spinal injection to increase the effectiveness of a new drug. Unlike more publicized options, acupuncture is safe and causes no side effects.

The effects of acupuncture on pain are immediate. A patient called me in significant pain from a sprained wrist. I quickly applied acupuncture and asked him to rotate his wrist at the end of the treatment. His expression brightened and his eyes became wider as he was able to not only move his wrist without pain, but also with a significantly larger range than when he had first strained it just a few hours earlier. I continued to apply acupuncture and added an herbal compress to increase his circulation and heal the wrist completely, but acupuncture brought him immediate relief from pain that he did not hope to expect.