How does Acupuncture work?
The easiest way to understand Acupuncture is in the the treatment of pain. After an injury the pain signals from the peripheral nervous system reach the central nervous system and there are specific pain areas established in the brain involved in chronic pain. According the gate theory a complex interplay of periferal and central nervous system is initiated. A neurogenic "highway" is established between the brain and the site of injury. It is the brains' job to "protect" the area of concern and start a healing process. However this process is often COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE due to failure of the repair process. The Acupuncture breaks this highway and down regulates the inflammatory process. Needles are not locally inserted into the pain areas but in corresponding "distal" locations. When this process is repeated several times in course of weeks or month, the pain center in the brain reverses and disappears and so does the chronic pain.
When answering this complex question one has to keep in mind what conditions are being treated. No condition stands on its own and everything is connected as a whole body!
Traditional Chinese medicine explains Acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force — known as Qi— believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance.
In contrast, many Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. This stimulation appears to boost the activity of your body's natural process to inhibit pain, regulated the immune system and increase blood flow.
At Natureworks Acupuncture, we practice the "Balance Method" which is based on I-Ching Acupuncture theory. I-Ching theory explains how life unfolds through origin, growth and completion. Humans are part an inseparable trinity of heaven, human and earth forming the universe. Yin and Yang is the binary system and its this theory forms the Early Heaven Ba Gua, the structure of the 8 trigrams.which form a perfect numerological system of opposites. This system ultimately led to the well known 5 phases or Wu Xing and directly applies to the human body as part of the " Universal Supreme Ultimate" or Tai Ji.
At Natureworks Acupuncture we strongly believe that these systems of opposites ultimately reflect the balances of Yin and Yang. The state of disease is Qi stagnation caused by imbalances of Yin and Yang. Targeting specific Yin and Yang Meridians in opposites of (eg. foot - hand, ankle -wrist, knee - elbow) and distal relationships is the ultimate and original form of Acupuncture as described in the Nei Jing Su Wen.
In simple terms by treating the balancing points on the corresponding Meridians the normal Qi flow is restored. Qi and Blood can get to the area or organ of concern and healing is initiated.
