How does Acupuncture work?



I get asked every day how inserting an acupuncture needle into muscles relieves pain. The physiological effects listed below have been proven time and time again in good-quality research carried out in the East and the West. Acupuncture has positive health benefits for the tissues around the needle, the central nervous system, and the whole body. Most of these effects occur as the nerves in the skin and muscles are stimulated to release chemicals, hormones, and neurotransmitters.

Pain relief:

There are several proven mechanisms explaining how Acupuncture relieves pain. Needling stimulates nerves to release several neurotransmitters and chemicals that contribute to the pain-relieving effects of acupuncture. Adenosine is a neurotransmitter that blocks nerve signals. β-Endorphin lessens the body’s perception of pain, Met-enkephalin regulates nociception, and Oxytocin modulates pain and relaxes and calms people. These natural chemical changes act on the body’s pain receptors and transmit signals to the nervous system through the brain and spinal cord. 

Trigger points: Myofascial trigger points (MTRPs) are a common cause of pain in any part of the body, especially headaches. Acupuncture breaks up the trigger points, relieving pain and helping muscles (if stretched accordingly) return to their healthy length/tone.

Chronic pain: Acupuncture can regulate an overactive nervous system, which can modify the way pain signals are received by the brain. 

Releasing tight muscles:

Muscles can become tight when strained or torn; the increase in tone is a protective measure the body puts in place to prevent further injury. The healing effects acupuncture has on tissues (described above) can correct the injury, allowing the muscle to return to its healthy resting tone. Improved circulation to muscles (also described above) is essential for a tight muscle to heal and then release as this allows the vital nutrients to reach the muscles. Muscular tightness can also result directly from ischemia (reduced blood flow), usually due to overuse, injury, or poor posture.

Trigger points are muscle knots that can cause pain and tightness in muscles and tendons. The chemistry around the trigger point can increase muscle tone. If the trigger point is close to a nerve, this can cause the nerve to be hyper-excitable, making it impossible for the muscle to return to its resting tone. Thankfully, Acupuncture is excellent at releasing trigger points, relieving the person of the pain it might be causing and allowing the muscle it is in to release.

Some muscles also become tight due to postural imbalances, as other muscles are too tight or loose. By releasing the muscle that is the original problem, that and that the secondary muscle that is compensating will return to its healthy tone.

Counteracting the stress response:

When someone becomes stressed, the sympathetic nervous system becomes overactive, increasing cortisol and adrenaline levels activating the fight-or-flight response. This has many wide-ranging negative effects on our health and well-being. Acupuncture has been shown to increase activity in the parasympathetic nervous system, which is how our body counteracts the fight-or-flight response. The parasympathetic nervous system stimulates the release of hormones and neurotransmitters that produce a “relax and repair” response in the tissues and body.

Most of us carry stress in our necks, shoulders, or lower backs. The resulting tightness in those muscles is a very common cause of pain and discomfort. This is why reversing the stress response is so vital; it corrects the cause of the pain for many people.

Immunity:



Acupuncture has also been found to regulate immune function by normalising interferon levels and the immune response, speeding up the healing of infection, and reducing systemic inflammation. Cortisol levels are also regulated. When cortisol levels are too high, the immune system isn't the only system affected. This can have many widespread effects on our health.