How does acupuncture work? Acupuncture works to restore energy in a person's system. Before a patient seeks acupuncture treatment for any type of pain or illness, a patient and the acupuncturist need to...
Before a patient seeks acupuncture treatment for any type of pain or illness, a patient and the acupuncturist need to complete a comprehensive evaluation. The patient and the acupuncturist complete three pages through communication based on the patient's diagnosis. The point of the evaluation is to find an imbalance in the person's system, according to Annie Sturman, a licensed acupuncture physician and owner of Annie Sturman Acupuncture. She has been treating patients with illnesses and ailments for the past 20 years.
Acupuncture is a centuries-old means of treating a human through the use of needles, electrical current or moxibustion (heat and herbs) to stimulate or realign the body's electrical fields, Sturman says. It encourages the body to promote natural healing and to improve functioning. The classical Chinese explanation of how acupuncture works is that channels of energy run in regular patterns through the body and over its surface. The purpose of acupuncture is to correct the flow of energy throughout the body. According to the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, "these energy channels, called meridians, are like rivers flowing through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues. An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers is like a dam that backs up in others." The purpose of the Academy is to promote the integration of concepts from traditional and modern forms of acupuncture with Western medical training.
The meridians are influenced by the insertion of needles in the acupuncture points. The acupuncture needles unblock the obstructions at the dams and reestablish the regular flow through the meridians. Sturman says there is an energy field in the body and there's a circuitry system that acts like an electrical system in the body. So the energy flows through what we call the channels of meridians. If a disease or injury blocks the flow of the energy in the channel then pain and disease occurs. Acupuncture unblocks the channel, relieving pain and restoring balance.
The modern scientific explanation of acupuncture is that needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal chord, and brain, according to the Academy of Medical Acupuncture. The improved energy flow and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture results in stimulating the body's natural healing abilities, which promotes physical and emotional well-being.
The three areas of health care in acupuncture are the promotion of health and well-being, prevention of illness, and treatment of various medical conditions. It is most often associated with pain control. Acupuncture can treat a wide range of medical problems, such as digestive disorders, respiratory disorders, neurological and muscular disorders, and urinary, menstrual and reproductive problems. Acupuncture can also help with stress and emotional conditions. The number of acupuncture treatments needed varies from person to person. For chronic pain and long standing conditions, several acupuncture treatments over a short time period are ideal, due to treating the root of the problem, Sturman says. As the energy in the body is redirected, internal chemicals and hormones are stimulated and healing begins to take place. According to the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, occasionally the symptoms worsen for a few days or other general changes in appetite, sleep, bowel or urination patterns, or emotional state may be triggered.
