Acupuncture helps to create homeostasis in the body and help the body function optimally. In terms of Chinese medicine, we call this the balance of yin and yang.
When we needle acupuncture points it elicits a cascade of responses in the body. Some of the things it helps with are hormone regulation, blood flow and heart rate, metabolism, sleep cycle, mood regulation, and pain management.
Acupuncture regulates the neuroendocrine system, which is the system in your body that keeps you in homeostasis (balance). Neuroendocrine cells receive and transmit information. Cells receive messages from the nervous system and respond by making and releasing hormones. Hormones control many of the functions in our body.
Acupuncture helps the blood flow properly so that oxygen and nutrients can get to all the major organs and the peripherals. When blood isn’t flowing properly in the body that is when health problems and disease start to occur. In Chinese Medicine this is what we call stagnation.
In his article on PubMed, Zhen Ci Yan Jiu, discusses how acupuncture helps keep homeostasis within the body. In the article he states that, “Acupuncture has a bidirectional regulatory ability to restore the body from either an up or a down state bringing the body back to balance.” Therefore, acupuncture has the ability to treat many different health concerns.
In terms of pain management, acupuncture is one of the most effective treatment options for patients. When you needle acupuncture points it elicits a chemical response in the body. When the needle is inserted it sends a signal to the brain and your body releases endorphins and enkephalins. The endorphins and enkephalins attach to the opioid receptors in the cells eliminating the pain. In a basic sense acupuncture does naturally what opioid medications do pharmaceutically. There are two medical facilities in Minnesota, St. Francis Regional Medical Center and Northwestern hospital, that allow patients in the emergency departments to choose whether they want acupuncture or pain medication to help manage their pain.
Acupuncture also activates the parasympathetic nervous system. When you receive acupuncture, it has a calming effect on the body and mind. I feel that most people in this society are over stimulated and in sympathetic overload, which creates many health problems. Acupuncture helps to mitigate that and getting acupuncture regularly is a way to help keep you in balance and help your body function properly.
Another positive accolade for acupuncture is that it produces a short-term response, as well as long term effects in the body.
To recap, acupuncture regulates the neuroendocrine system, increases blood flow in the body, manages pain, and activates the parasympathetic nervous system. These processes create homeostasis in our bodies, which is essentially balancing yin and yang.
Pan WX. [Bidirectional regulation of acupuncture and its plausible mechanisms]. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2019 Nov 25;44(11):843-53. Chinese. doi: 10.13702/j.1000-0607.190260. PMID: 31777237.
Uchida C, Waki H, Minakawa Y, Tamai H, Miyazaki S, Hisajima T, Imai K. Acupuncture Relaxation, Vigilance Stage, and Autonomic Nervous System Function: A Comparative Study of Their Interrelationships. Med Acupunct. 2020 Aug 1;32(4):218-228. doi: 10.1089/acu.2020.1420. Epub 2020 Aug 13. PMID: 32879648; PMCID: PMC7455475.
(Doane Education, n.d.)
Written by Katrina McLaughlin
