Acupuncture is one of the oldest and best known types of alternative medicine. Originating in China, the practice has reduced pain and cured ailments in the East for over two millennia. It wasn’t until the 1970s, with Richard Nixon’s trip to China, that the West was exposed to this revolutionary technique. Despite initial reservations, Americans have fully embraced acupuncture. Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Elle Macpherson, and Jim Carey rave about the increased quality of life derived from acupuncture, and Sarah Michelle Gellar even sends her dog for treatment.
Despite overwhelming popular support, some people still remain skeptical about the benefits. The practice does seem a little far fetched–sticking needles in you curing, rather than harming–which make its very real benefits all the more incredible. While acupuncture is not a replacement for conventional medical treatment, clinical evidence demonstrates that acupuncture can provide effective pain management. It has also been shown to treat depression, infertility in men, and hypertension. But how does it work?
The jury’s still out on the exact mechanism that allows acupuncture to deliver so many benefits. Traditional acupuncture theory rests on the belief in Qi, or life force. In a healthy person, Qi runs through the body on meridians without any obstruction. If Qi is disrupted in some way, the body responds with illness. Acupuncture stimulates points on the meridians to get Qi flowing again.
Modern studies on acupuncture have focused on how acupuncture affects brain chemistry. Numerous studies have been conducted, and a variety of rationales have been proposed. In a review of physiologic rationales from clinical trials, researchers found that the most common explanation is that the pain from the needle stimulates increased production of endogenous opioids (including endorphins) or serotonin, which relieve pain. This seems to suggest that even randomly sticking pins would produce the same results as acupuncture. However, acupuncture points usually correspond with nerves and pressure points. Therefore, it is important to go to a trained acupuncturist to receive the maximum benefits.
If you want an all natural way to feel better and alleviate pain, acupuncture can be a great option. This marriage between old and new, East and West, tradition and modern science, benefits all who utilize it.