How Does Acupuncture Work?
Historically, acupuncture points were believed to
be holes that allow entry into channels. These holes provide us gateways to
influence, redirect, increase, or decrease body's vital substance, qi, thus
correcting many of the imbalances. Many studies and research were directed
since to understand the mechanism of acupuncture.
Effects of Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been shown to stimulate the immune system. It also has affects
the circulation, blood pressure, rhythm and stroke volume of the heart,
secretion of the gastric acid, and production of red and white cells. It also
stimulates the release of a variety of hormones that help body to respond to
injury and stress.
The Gate Control Theory of Pain
According to this theory, pain signals must pass through a number of
high-traffic "gates" as they move from the area of injury upward
through the spinal cord into the brain. Like a road or highway, these nerves
can handle only a limited number of nerve signals at one time. The pain signals
travels very slowly. We can generate other signals which move faster. The
faster signals crowd out the slower ones because of the limited capacity of the
nerves. (Remember the time sitting in traffic near a construction zone, where
the two lanes merge into one. The fast cars on the merging lanes go further and
merge ahead of the slower ones, making it nearly impossible for the slow
traffic on the lane to move forward. Now think about the pain signals are the
slow ones sitting there waiting for an opening to move through. If one can
produce enough fast signals, it can effectively crowd out the pain signals.)
Acupuncture generates competing stimulus and effectively blocks the slow pain
signals from reaching the brain. The result: we never "experience the
pain".
Electrical Theory of Pain
The body continually generates tiny but detectable electrical discharges. This
electrical field influences the growth, maturation, and functioning of some
types of cells. It is known that acupuncture points are concentrated in regions
of low electrical resistance. Studies have shown that there is a correlation
between the electromagnetic fields in the body and the channels or meridians.
So, this electrical theory of acupuncture suggests that acupuncture works by
influencing the body's electromagnetic fields. Acupuncture points have certain
electrical properties, and stimulating these points alters chemical
neurotransmitters in the body
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