How Acupuncture Works
Hi Everyone,
Many of my patients are curious about how acupuncture works. As a result, I created this video to explain the latest scientific research and theories to date. The video is very scientific and can be difficult to understand. If you would like a dulled down version that explains the terminology please read the Blog below.
Welcome and thank you for visiting My Pure Acupuncture!
My name is Joseph Causarano, a licensed acupuncturist in Garden City, New York. I’d like to use this space to explain a little bit about acupuncture, its techniques and how it can benefit you in so many ways. I’ll take you on a brief tour through the world of acupuncture.
The Acupuncture Needle:
The tried and true friend to any acupuncturist. The needles used in acupuncture are sterile, superfine, stainless steel and single-use. They are roughly half the thickness of a traditional needle your family doctor would use and are about as thick as a human hair. Their unique rounded tip allows them to penetrate the skin with very little discomfort.
What Are Acupuncture Points:
Now that you understand acupuncture needles, let’s discuss acupuncture points. Acupuncture points, also known as acupoints, are in very specific locations on the skin. These points have been studied using a synchrotron radiation CT Scan. Scientists concluded that acupoints are located near very important structures known as neurovascular nodes. These nodes contain a high concentration of sensory fibers, blood vessels, fine lymphatic vessels, and mast cells which are vital to our body’s function. It was noted that these structures were not found in non-acupuncture points.
So, just what is acupuncture? How does acupuncture work and what happens when acupoints are stimulated? When an acupuncture needle is inserted into an acupoint the body generates an electric current. This current is generated by the needle being in direct contact with electrolytes found in the body. This basically acts like a tiny battery that creates a microcurrent. This current stimulates the body’s highly sensitive structures such as neurons, fibroblasts, and myoblasts. Nerves then send signals to the spinal cord, brain and organs.
how our body get benefits from a treatment:
When a muscle is injured the muscle shortens. Precisely placed acupuncture needles trigger the muscle to release, which promotes healing. This is called dry needling. The needles cause micro injuries at the insertion site causing the body to release neuropeptides which increases local blood flow. Increased blood flow to an area facilitates healing. Needles also cause a numbing effect by releasing cephalin, endorphins as well as the neuropeptides. This is why acupuncture is so effective for any injury which causes pain.
Somato-Autonomic Reflex via segmental pathways
That sounds very scientific but the action is actually pretty simple. An acupuncturist would stimulate areas located along the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. The needles stimulate spinal nerves called afferent fibers which travel to the dorsal horn of the spine and then sympathetic fibers travel to target the visceral within that segment of the spine. What does that mean? Plainly stated, this means that each segment of your spine has a nerve that directly influences local structures in the body. Stimulating these nerves will, in turn, directly benefit the structures connected along that spinal segment. These acupuncture points are known as Back-Shu points and run along the spine from your neck to your tail bone. The Somato-Autonomic Reflex explains why acupuncture treats internal disorders and is not just used for pain.
Many acupuncture treatments will focus on distal points on the body which can trigger an Autonomic Reflex (the unconscious motor reflexes of the body) in the brain. Distal points are specific acupoints around the body which are used to treat symptoms despite these points not being located near the actual target area. Distal point treatments are designed to send signals to the brain through somatic nerves (sensory perception) and eventually projecting onto the efferent autonomic nerve. The Autonomic Nervous system acts subconsciously to regulate bodily functions such as heartbeat and digestion. For example an acupuncture point located on the leg enables gastric movement by sending a signal from the sciatic nerve to the central nervous system which then targets the vagal nerve which is the main nerve that controls our digestive tract.
Distal Systemic Effects Using Neurotransmitters:
Acupuncture stimulates Neurotransmitters located in the brain. Acupuncture activates the body’s natural secretion of body regulating hormones such as endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine into the limbic system. The limbic system is a system in the brain that includes many structures such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus that control emotional behavior, motivation, sex drive, appetite and more. This is why acupuncture is so effective for weight loss, emotions, and drug addictions. Acupuncture may also affect the level of pain modulating neurotransmitters from the brain which explains why acupuncture can be successful at headaches and other pain-related issues.
How Neuroendocrine Effects: Our Body Get Benefits From A Treatment:
The last way in which acupuncture works is via the neuroendocrine effects. This explains how the body receives signals from the nervous system and responds by making and releasing hormones. A well-studied example of this effect is polycystic ovary syndrome which is a disease of reproductive women associated with modulation and infertility. This is caused by a disfunction of the hypothalamic pituitary gland. Electro-acupuncture restores function and regulates the specific hormone related to the dysfunction.
is acupuncture a placebo:
Studies have shown that false acupuncture can have positive effects but real acupuncture includes a unique needle sensation and in most cases produced better results in animal research studies. Veterinarian randomized control studies ruled out the placebo effect. Acupuncture via this Somatic Autonomic Reflex shows that animal gastric motility stimulation with acupuncture stops with bilateral severance of the vagal nerve and with spinal transection at the cervical spine.
The world of acupuncture is truly fascinating and I hope I was able to lend some insight into the various effects it can have.
Wishing you the very best of health;
Joseph Causarano LAc.
Treat – Heal – Live
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