Acupuncture is one of the most ancient of the healing arts, being used for the last 2500 years. Therapeutic insertion of solid needles in various combinations and patterns is the foundation of the practice. With scientific advances, including the use of PET scanning and functional MRI scanning the physiologic mechanism by which acupuncture works is becoming known.
What does the scientific evidence show? When an acupuncture needle is inserted into a traditional or segmental point, specific nerve fibers are stimulated resulting in a nerve impulse being sent to the spinal cord. At the spinal level, endorphogenic cells are stimulated to release endorphins: enkephalins and dynorphins. These substances provide local inhibition of incoming pain signals providing an analgesic response. Acupuncture pain relief is blocked by the opiate receptor blocker, naloxone.
In addition to effects at the spinal level, the nerve impulse produced by the acupuncture needle is also transmitted to the peri-aqueductal gray area of the mid-brain where enkephalin is released and initiates the release of the monoamine neurotransmitters, serotonin and norepinephrine. The monoamines also play an important role in suppressing the transmission of pain impulses.
A third humoral effect is created by the release of beta-endorphin and ACTH from the pituitary gland into the bloodstream and cerebrospinal fluid. These endorphins produce systemic pain relief (remote from the area where the acupuncture needle was inserted). ACTH activates the adrenal gland to release cortisol into the bloodstream creating the anti-inflammatory effects.
Acupuncture's neurochemical mechanism not only provides analgesia but also promotes homeostasis and enhanced tissue healing, endocrine function and cardiovascular responses (controlled by neural pathways of the autonomic nervous system, especially the vagus nerve pathways).
Introduction of acupuncture needles into muscles also cause muscle relaxation and effects problems associated with shortened musculature. This is one of the mechanisms which provides pain relief and improvement for patients suffering from myofascial pain.
In 2002, the World Health Organization published a document summarizing that many medical conditions may be effectively treated by acupuncture. Acupuncture has shown significant efficacy in the management of chronic pain. In proper hands, acupuncture has a very low complication rate as well as virtually no side effects. Each month there new studies being published in western medicine medical journals regarding the use of acupuncture as sole or complementary with traditional western medical therapies.
Acupuncture is one of the most ancient of the healing arts, being used for the last 2500 years. Therapeutic insertion of solid needles in various combinations and patterns is the foundation of the practice. With scientific advances, including the use of PET scanning and functional MRI scanning the physiologic mechanism by which acupuncture works is becoming known.