How Does Acupuncture Work?

Acupuncture works through the two main functions of enhancing circulation and modulating muscle tone. These two functions are foundational in the treatment of internal medicine and external medicine or sports medicine. By promoting the circulation of bodily fluids such as blood and lymph, acupuncture activates the parasympathetic nervous system, facilitates decreased inflammation and pain, and speeds healing and recovery. Often, the strategy behind acupuncture is creating flow, movement, and circulation through the body or a particular area of the body. Gathering the body’s resources, such as blood & qi, to an area of ‘deficiency’ that lacks good blood flow or dispersing the body’s resources from an area of ‘excess’ or ‘inflammation’ are common treatment strategies to bring the body back into balance.

Chinese medicine is best described with analogy & simile. Recognizing the ecosystem of the body as a reflection of the natural world is a fundamental aspect of understanding Chinese medical perspectives. If a river is clogged with rocks and debris, its ability to flow and move becomes hindered. The same can be said for our circulatory system when we acquire muscle knots and hardened muscle tissue from injury or overuse. If we have knotted muscle fibers blocking optimal circulation from moving through an area, the muscles and tendons downstream often lack the full nourishment they need. Acupuncture is a highly effective tool for picking debris and rocks out of the river, i.e., addressing muscle knots and tissue changes by softening and lengthening muscle fibers.

What Western Medicine Says About Acupuncture

According to Western medicine, acupuncture calms the body and promotes physical and emotional well-being. Acupuncture activates the parasympathetic nervous system, stimulates the release of endorphins, reduces the number of pro-inflammatory markers in the body, and can also affect the level of pain-modulating neurotransmitters at various sites along the nociceptive pathways. Acupuncture also promotes endocrine system harmony, enhances circulation and immune function, and promotes central nervous system calmness. Many biochemical changes occur in the body during acupuncture.