The Tradition and Science Behind Acupuncture by Amy Adams, L.Ac.
Why try acupuncture? For starters, Western medicine has shown that it releases feel-good hormones called endorphins, and activates your body’s natural pain killers. One study from Indiana University School of Medicine found that it prompts the release of stem cells, which can help tendons and other tissues repair while also producing anti-inflammatory substances that are associated with healing. According to research at UCLA Medical Center, the needles trigger the release of molecules of nitric oxide, a gas that improves circulation in the smallest blood vessels in the skin. By carrying substances that can help dull pain and reduce inflammation, this microcirculation is essential to the healing process.
Acupuncture also has a dramatic effect on your nervous system, calming you down so your body can rejuvenate faster. When a needle is inserted, it stimulates small nerves beneath the skin, setting off a chain reaction that shuts down your fight or flight response. As a result, your stress levels take a nose dive.
A 2013 article in the Journal of Endocrinology presented the results of a series of animal studies done at Georgetown University Medical Center which showed that rats who endured stress conditions and then received acupuncture had lowered blood hormone levels secreted by the hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, which controls reactions to stress and regulates processes like the immune system, digestion, emotions and moods, and sexuality.
Of course, you can’t really discuss acupuncture without mentioning qi (pronounced “chee”).
Qi generally refers to some type of vital force. Hawaiians refer to it as mana. Yogis know qi as prana. Modern medicine often equates it with metabolic function, or the chemical reactions constantly taking place in the body.
Qi forms the foundation of Chinese medicine, a philosophy based on a very simple principle: Any system in harmony tends towards health, well-being and sustainability while a system in disharmony tends towards illness, suffering and collapse.
Qi, quite literally, means ‘air, breath’ in Mandarin. But it’s much broader than that. Qi embraces all manifestations of energy, from the most material — the earth beneath your feet, an apple, a human being — to the most immaterial, i.e. thought and emotion. For examples of the latter, simply consider the lift you get when listening to a favorite song or the lethargy associated with depression. You may not see qi, but you can definitely sense when it’s present…and when it’s not.
Through the insertion of hair-thin, filiform needles into specific points on the body, acupuncture addresses and adjusts qi flow via meridians, or energetic channels associated with each major organ. This provides nourishment to every cell, organ, tissue and muscle along the pathway. Certain acupuncture points stimulate the central nervous system. This, in turn, releases chemicals into the spinal cord and brain. Others work on specific muscles or joints, bringing fresh, oxygenated blood into injured areas. These biochemical changes stimulate the body's natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.
Acupuncture & Detox
In the mid-1970s, Michael Smith, a medical doctor at Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx, modified an existing system of auricular acupuncture into a simple technique for the treatment of many common drug addictions. This effective strategy became what is now referred to as the NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) protocol. The treatment involves shallow insertion of extremely thin needles on five points on both ears to help ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. When combined with other forms of treatment, such as individual therapy, group counseling, and support groups, it’s proven beneficial to those suffering from substance addiction.
Acupuncture can also help with other types of detoxification. The human body is constantly filtering and removing waste (toxins) through the skin, lungs, liver, kidneys, and intestines. If your goal is to support these organs, traditional Chinese medicine can assist. It can also provide safe, drug-free relief when treating symptoms associated with detoxification: headaches, nausea, cravings, fatigue, GI upset, and more.