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Acupuncture Body Points, How Acupuncture Works

December 8th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

Most people in the United States have some idea of what acupuncture is. The average person probably knows that it is a treatment in which a acupuncture practitioner punctures the patient’s body points with needles in order to heal a condition from which that person suffers. What the average person may not know is how acupuncture is purported to work and exactly what it is for.

Acupuncture was developed over 2,000 years ago as part of traditional Chinese medicine. This system teaches that the patient is kept healthy by making sure that the life energy, or Qi, is allowed to flow freely through the body. The Qi flows along pathways called meridians, which are connected via about 2,000 points all over the body. If the energy is blocked, then problems begin. Most acupuncturist have traveled great distance, to get acupuncture training. Mostly in the orient. Many have come from families that have practiced ancient chinese acupuncture for centuries.

The needles used in acupuncture are inserted into specific body points which are traditionally believed to correspond with particular organs and systems in the body. By stimulating a point, a practitioner allows the healing Qi to flow to a particular body part, say the pancreas, with which the patient is having trouble. Once inserted, the needles are manipulated either by hand or by electrical current.

According to some studies, the needles actually cause chemicals, such as endorphins, to release into the patient’s body, thereby providing the pleasant outcomes: pain relief or increased energy. Many people report feeling relaxed and happy after an acupuncture treatment.

Endorphins are “feel-good” chemicals produced by the pituitary gland and hypothalamus that allow us to experience pleasure and relax. They are alternatively called “endomorphines,” as researchers have likened their effects to those produced by morphine. You have probably experienced what it is like to have your body flooded with endorphins, especially if you enjoy somewhat strenuous workouts. For instance, when you run for extended periods of time, your body will eventually begin to produce these pleasure chemicals. That feeling of well-being you have afterward is the result of endorphins doing their job. Note that this is still only a theory, since it is difficult to prove that endorphins directly cause the runner’s “high”.

One ailment for which acupuncture is known to be useful is fibromyalgia, a condition in which connective tissue and muscle is frequently in pain, causing the sufferer to feel constant fatigue. Though there is no known cure for the condition, many fibromyalgia patients have reported using acupuncture to successfully control their symptoms.

In addition to providing relief for chronic pain, acupuncture has been found useful in treating postoperative pain, depression and anxiety. As you can see, the acupuncture body points, and stimulating the right one, can have a very successful outcome.