Acupuncture and How it Cures Illness

A diseased state can occur in the body as the results of various causes, like trauma, toxic substances, or dysfunction of the body's internal mechanisms. Our state of mind can affect the physical aspects of our body when there's emotional turmoil. Internal physical and emotional problems can show externally, in skin and muscle tissue. Specific points or areas can become painful, tense, or sensitive. Diagnosis and treatment was developed by traditional Chinese medicine having a system of therapy. By manipulating those outer layers of tissue, Acupuncture and other therapies will help internal conditions. Oriental medicine have been using Acupuncture for centuries. Modern medicine is simply beginning to explain its effectiveness.

A Viewpoint From Modern Medicine

Here are a few known mechanisms recognized by modern allopathic medicine. There continue to be other possibilities suggested from ongoing investigation.

Biochemical Defense Mechanism: The tiny prick of an acupuncture needle creates a site of injury at the cellular level. The body s reaction to injury is really a release of chemicals vital to cellular repair. The tissue and cellular biochemical defenses are initiated by the acupuncture needle. This helps to cut back local inflammation and relieve pain.

Endorphins: A pain reducing chemical released by a body. Also referred to as 'anti-stress' chemicals which were released by Acupuncture.

Gate Control Theory:
Pain is transmitted from the periphery into the brain via the spinal cord. A mechanism in the spinal cord, or 'gate' stops pain messages from getting to the brain. The insertion of the thin needles of acupuncture, or the manual manipulation of the tissues, can close this gate, thus decreasing the sensation of pain. Endorphins (above) can also block pain pathways by working on these gates.

Electrical Conduction:
It have been noted that acupuncture points have different electrical potentials than other areas of the body. It's not exactly known why these different electric points exist. Research has suggested that acupuncture affects electrical conduction in the body. Further research on this matter is still ongoing.

Autonomic Nervous System: The autonomic nervous system is responsible for coordinating and conducting all of a body's involuntary functions. The conserving and healing function of the autonomic nervous system is helped by acupuncture and tuina. They help turn it on which overrides the fight of flight response. This helps reduce the wear and tear on the body and mind.

Trigger Point Theory: Western doctors have found through research we now have specific points of tension in the body. Releasing those points of pressure are effective in relieving musculo-skeletal pain. These points on tension almost match perfectly with the acupuncture points in Chinese remedies. Colorado acupuncturists are successfully injecting solutions in these Trigger Points. The solutions can be vitamins, saline, or herbal solutions and also have worked well.

An Oriental Medicine Point of view

The traditional account of Oriental medicine's effectiveness is based on an energetic model rather than the biochemical model of western medicine. Ancient oriental physicians proposed that our energetic life-force, called Qi ("Chee") in Chinese, circulates along channels or meridians throughout the body and links all of a body's parts and functions. Qi is a whole body phenomenon affecting a body as well as the mind. Qi helps to keep blood circulating, fights disease and warms the body. When a person is healthy, Qi flows smoothly through the channels but if, for some reason, the flow is blocked, weak, or excessive, then symptoms and/or sickness occurs.

The aim of acupuncture is to repair the flow from your channels by utilizing needles or other techniques. In so doing, a change in the function of a body is achieved. Changes in Qi precede physical change, so acupuncture and tuina can act as precautionary medicine, correcting energy flow before a significant illness occurs. If physical alteration has already occurred, it may be reversed by adjusting the flow of Qi.