The Procedure

As we have seen earlier, acupuncture promotes health and relieves pain. Though the method seems quite strange, it is a time tested and validated process practiced for a number of years.

Since the principle of acupuncture involves the balance and imbalance of the energy flow in the meridians or channels, the acupuncturist’s perspective of treatment depends on this system.

Based on this principle, the acupuncturist thus stimulates certain areas in the meridians called the “accupoints” with the help of needles which are slender and fine.

Modern acupuncturists also use other things for stimulation of the accupoints like herbs, magnets, lasers and even electricity. The ultimate objective though is to adjust the vital energy in such a way that the body heals itself.

The procedure of acupuncture has been evaluated and adjusted over the centuries according to the various new inventions and discoveries. Modern thinking states that diseases and injuries can be set right by a set of responses which are complex.

According to the modern western perspective, diseases are caused by a problem in these responses which are caused by the signalling systems like the peptides and other bio chemicals travelling from the site they were released at to various other sites in the blood circulation.

Diseases according to modern medical science are caused by the breakdown of the immune system in the human body due to metabolic failures, changes in the DNA structure or micro organisms.

Normally, upto a point the imbalance or disturbance is set right by the cellular functions of the human body which by themselves are designed for healing.

Chronic diseases are caused due to the weakening of the immune system or the self protecting systems which can be due to various reasons like stress, poor nutrition, unhealthy habits, etc.

Modern findings have revealed that acupuncture actually increases the ability of the cells or the mechanisms of the body to heal itself. Acupuncture stimulates the signalling systems which in turn increases the response to healing. Acupuncture thus considerably cures a lot of diseases or in extreme cases helps in alleviating symptoms like reducing the intensity of pain, etc.

The nervous system, as we all know plays the role of signal transmitter. Signals are transmitted by the nerves with the help of peptides. During this process, various biochemicals are emitted which influences the cells of the body.

The hormonal system is connected to the nervous system through the adrenal gland and is thus connected to all cells and systems of the body. A Department of Neurology, Loyola University of Chicago study reports that cranial nerves and spinal nerves were dispersed in and around the area of the accupoints.

Research has further shown that Acupuncture has an effect on endorphins which are one of the neuropeptides. Endorphins are said to alleviate pain. Acupuncture therefore is used predominantly for treating chronic pain and for the treatment of drug addiction especially in the West.

The person who is undergoing the acupuncture treatment has to feel the needling sensation according to eminent traditional Chinese doctors. Sensation caused by the needles varies according to the treatment that is being given.

Acupuncture treatment usually is not supposed to and does not cause pain except in some particular areas. The needling process creates a warm, tingling sensation which sometimes makes you feel numb in that area.

Sometimes, during the needling procedure, the patient feels the pain radiating from the point of needling to another point in the body. Basically while the acupuncturist uses the needle on the patient, what happens is it stimulates certain parts of the nervous system which are responsive.

This in turn sets off a biochemical series speeding up the healing process. Some points in the body called the broad spectrum points, when needled have the capacity to heal more than one disease in the body at a time. Other points are limited in their applications. They affect only one point in the system.

Acupuncturists normally combine both points for an effective healing process. The broad spectrum points are used by almost all acupuncturists to treat a variety of common ailments.

Accupoints which are on the meridian lines do not correspond though to the neural connections very clearly. Modern acupuncturists have identified certain other points based on the similarity to the layout of the human body.

These points include certain points on the outer ear. Acupuncturists have also identified other zones like points on the scalp and hands which corresponds to larger areas of the body. This may be because the spinal cord connects various parts of the body with secondary branches.

Modern concepts and research thus are focussed on finding effective points which will stimulate biochemical responses rather than the traditional qi regulation. Modern methods of acupuncture relies more on electrical stimulation either with or without needling and laser stimulation in contrast to the traditional method of needling and moxibustion which is application of heat.

The process of Acupuncture has thus come a long way since the olden days. Acupuncturists are now using finger pressure which is called acupressure, small balls of metal which is held to the skin with the help of a tape, magnets which are either with small needles or without, piezoelectric stimulus which is an electric discharge of small magnitude and electrical pulsing of low energy.

Acupuncture treatment has to be of the exact duration. If the treatment is of a shorter period than required it may have no effect. Alternately, if the treatment is given more than what is required it may cause the person undergoing the treatment to feel more exhausted and tired. The point is stimulated with a repetitive process of applying pressure or a slight thrust or a twirl.

Extensive research has been done to have a deeper insight into how the process of acupuncture alleviates or reduces pain. The basic thing that happens in the body when a person goes in for acupuncture procedure is that upon stimulating the acupuncture points, the central nervous system like the brain and the spinal cord are also stimulated.

They then release certain chemicals to the muscles, brain and the spinal cord. These chemicals may then mask the pain or change the pain experience or may even instigate the secretion of certain hormones which influence the body’s natural healing and regulating system.

There are three mechanisms by which this is achieved –

Conduction of Electromagnetic Signals – According to evidence found by Western Scientists, the acupuncture points actually conduct electromagnetic signals. Upon stimulation, these acupuncture points facilitate in faster or speedier conduction of these signals than under normal circumstances.

The faster conduction of these signals enables the bio chemicals like endorphin to flow freely. Endorphin, being a pain killer along with some other immune system cells starts flowing to the injured or diseased sites in the body to provide the patient some relief from pain.

Opioid System Activation – Some other research has proved that acupuncture releases several types of opioids into the central nervous system which reduces the pain of the patient.

Changes in Involuntary body functions, Sensation and Brain Chemistry – Studies have shown that acupuncture changes the release of neurohormones and neurotransmitters thereby altering the brain chemistry.

Moreover, acupuncture is also found to affect parts of the central nervous system which are directly related to sensation. These parts are also related to involuntary functions of the body like the immune processes and reactions. These include the patient’s blood flow, blood pressure, body temperature, etc.

How exactly does acupuncture work within the framework of the Western medicine is still not very clear. According to the statement issued by The National Institute of Health Consensus acupuncture as a therapy is very predominant in the United States.

Results of the usage of acupuncture on patients undergoing chemotherapy and suffering from nausea and vomiting, in control and reduction of postoperative pain, dental pain, etc have been very positive and encouraging. Acupuncture thus with its pain relieving properties considerably reduces the need for pain killers thereby reducing the side effects for patients.