How Acupuncture Works

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At the center of Oriental Medicine is the concept that qi (pronounced “chee”), or life energy, flows through the body within acupuncture meridians. As long as qi is abundant and flowing freely, the body remains in balanced health, also known as homeostasis. When the qi flow is obstructed, it becomes backed up in one area of the body and restricted in another area.

 

There is a saying in Chinese Medicine, “If there is pain there is no free flow; if there is free flow there is no pain”.

 

Many life factors can influence the quality and quantity of qi within the body; these factors are also implicated in the obstruction of qi. Common sources include trauma (both physical and emotional), imbalanced structural alignment, poor diet, stress, lack of exercise or over-exertion, environmental toxins, and seasonal changes. Acupuncture promotes and reestablishes the free flow of qi, allowing the body to self-correct. 

 

Terms such as "qi" and "meridian", however, remain very obscure from a modern medical and science-based perspective. Difficulties in translation and interpretation of ancient Chinese medical principles and terminologies created these terms that are essentially useless within the modern medical community. More current translations connect "qi" with "oxygen" and other life-giving components circulating within the blood, and "meridians" with nerve and circulatory pathways that stretch from head to toe.

 

Many acupuncture points identified hundreds of years ago by the ancient Chinese appear to exist in areas with a high concentration of nerves and blood vessels also known as "neurovascular nodes" that reach very specific areas deep within the organ system as well as on the surface of the body. Increasingly, science is revealing what the ancient Chinese mapped out through centuries of clinical observation and documentation.

 

Thus, there is an explanation that is easier for most people in our modern medical and scientific model to understand: needling acupuncture points has a direct effect on increasing blood circulation locally and in areas that are distal to (far from) the actual needle insertion due to nerve and vessel pathways. The needles additionally activate and stimulate the nervous system to release chemicals into specific areas, including the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. 

 

We know blood is rich in life-sustaining and healing chemicals, including oxygen and natural analgesics, anti-inflammatories, immune components and endorphins. Much of the problem with healing from injury and disease is due to obstructions in access to blood, due to local inflammation, scar tissue/adhesions, toxic buildup, and the nature of the tissue itself (tendons inherently lack the blood supply of muscle tissue). 

 

On a more systemic level, the improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture results in stimulating the body's innate healing abilities, and thus in promoting improved physical and emotional wellbeing.

 

No matter which explanation works best for you, acupuncture is simply a 3000-year-old time-tested medical technique that works! National surveys show that one in ten Americans have tried acupuncture, and that 20 million Americans over the age of 18 have tried acupuncture at least once. 

 

Clinical trials continue testing acupuncture and its effectiveness for a wide variety of ailments. At Denver Community Acupuncture we post monthly newsletters that include these studies and their results. Sign up here for our newsletter or access our blog page for more information.

 

Acupuncture is recognized by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to be effective in the treatment of:

 

• Muscle, Bone and Nerve Pain and Disease

• Joint Pain and Arthritis

• Digestive Disorders, such as IBS, colitis, and reflux

• Respiratory Disorders, such as asthma, sinus infection, cough

• Immune Disorders, such as flu/cold symptoms, allergies, and lowered immunity

• Circulatory Disorders

• Dermatological Disorders, such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis

• Gynecological Disorders, such as PMS symptoms, fertility problems, menstrual pain, and menopausal syndrome

• Emotional and Sleep Disorders, including anxiety and depression

• Men's Health

• Addictions

• Preventive Health