Acupuncture and the Manner in Which it Stops Pain

A diseased state can occur in your body as the result of various causes, such as trauma, toxic substances, or dysfunction from the body's internal mechanisms. Our mind-set can affect the physical aspects of our body when there is emotional turmoil. Internal physical and emotional problems can manifest externally, in skin and muscle tissue. Specific points or regions can become painful, tense, or sensitive. Diagnosis and treatment was created by traditional Chinese medicine using a system of therapy. Acupuncture and other traditional therapies affect your body's internal condition by manipulating these outer layers of tissue. Oriental medicine has been using Acupuncture for centuries. Modern medicine is simply beginning to explain its effectiveness.

A Modern Medicine Point of view

Here are a few known mechanisms known by modern allopathic medicine. There are still other possibilities suggested from ongoing research.

Biochemical Defense Mechanism:
The tiny prick of an acupuncture needle creates a site of injury at the cellular level. Once a body feels the injury, it releases chemicals important to cellular repair. The tissue and cellular biochemical defenses are initiated by the acupuncture needle. This process helps to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

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

Gate Control Theory: The spinal cord transmits the peripheral pain location into the brain. There is a mechanism (or "gate") inside the spinal cord, which stops pain messages from getting to the brain. The insertion of thin needles of acupuncture, or the manual manipulation of the tissues, can close this gate, thus lessening the sensation of pain. Endorphins (above) also can block pain pathways by acting on these gates.

Electrical Conduction: It have been noted that acupuncture points have dissimilar electrical potentials than other areas of a body. It isn't known exactly why these different electrical potentials exist but study suggests that acupuncture, on one level, works by affecting electrical conduction in the body. Research into this phenomenon continues.

Autonomic Nervous System: Coordinating and the conduction of the body's involuntary functions are control by this system. The conserving and healing function of this 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 a body and mind.

Trigger Point Theory: Through scientific research, western physicians have found specific points of tension in the body that, when released, are particularly effective in the alleviation of musculo-skeletal pain. These points on tension almost match perfectly with all the acupuncture points in Chinese remedies. Acupuncturists in Colorado can also do injection therapy (of vitamins, saline or herbal solutions) that is an especially effective method for treating Trigger Points.

A Perspective From Oriental Medicine

Oriental medicine see its effectiveness as an energetic model instead of a biochemical model of Western treatments. Oriental doctors from ancient times called that life-fore Qi (Chee) in Chinese. This Qi circulates through meridians, or channels, in the body and is connected together. Qi maintains and nurtures our physical body in addition to our mind. It keeps the blood circulating, warms a body and fights illness. When healthy, Qi flows easily but if it's blocked, or excessive or too little, symptoms and illness follow.

In treatment, the aim of a therapist is to correct the flow of Qi by inserting needles or making use of other techniques to specific points over the channels. In so doing, changing the function of a body is achieved. Qi troubles show up before physical problems. Acupuncture and tuina act like a preventative fixing the energy difficulty before an illness gets worse. If physical change has already occurred, it may be reversed by adjusting the flow of Qi.