Historically, acupuncture points were believed to be holes that
allow entry into channels. These holes provide us gateways to influence,
redirect, increase, or decrease body's vital substance, qi, thus
correcting many of the imbalances. Many studies and research were
directed since to understand the mechanism of acupuncture.
Effects of Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been shown to stimulate the immune system. It also
has affects the circulation, blood pressure, rhythm and stroke volume
of the heart, secretion of the gastric acid, and production of red
and white cells. It also stimulates the release of a variety of
hormones that help body to respond to injury and stress.
The Gate Control Theory of Pain
According to this theory, pain signals must pass through a number
of high-traffic "gates" as they move from the area of
injury upward through the spinal cord into the brain. Like a road
or highway, these nerves can handle only a limited number of nerve
signals at one time. The pain signals travels very slowly. We can
generate other signals which move faster. The faster signals crowd
out the slower ones because of the limited capacity of the nerves.
(Remember the time sitting in traffic near a construction zone,
where the two lanes merge into one. The fast cars on the merging
lanes go further and merge ahead of the slower ones, making it nearly
impossible for the slow traffic on the lane to move forward. Now
think about the pain signals are the slow ones sitting there waiting
for an opening to move through. If one can produce enough fast signals,
it can effectively crowd out the pain signals.) Acupuncture generates
competing stimulus and effectively blocks the slow pain signals
from reaching the brain. The result: we never "experience the
pain".
Electrical Theory
The body continually generates tiny but detectable electrical discharges.
This electrical field influences the growth, maturation, and functioning
of some types of cells. It is known that acupuncture points are
concentrated in regions of low electrical resistance. Studies have
shown that there is a correlation between the electromagnetic fields
in the body and the channels or meridians. So, this electrical theory
of acupuncture suggests that acupuncture works by influencing the
body's electromagnetic fields. Acupuncture points have certain electrical
properties, and stimulating these points alters chemical neurotransmitters
in the body.
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