WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?

(I) Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective

The general theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is founded on the belief that the body contains more than 71 interrelated channels, known as meridians. These channels facilitate the flow of blood and energy (qi), supporting, nurturing, and connecting various organs and parts of the body.

Disruption of this flow is considered the root cause of all diseases. Acupuncture aims to correct these disruptions by supplementing deficiencies, reducing excesses, and removing pathogens. This approach can alleviate various mental and physical symptoms, such as depression (which may indicate deficient or stagnant qi), menstrual cramps (caused by stagnant blood), insomnia (resulting from blood deficiency), and coughing (which may occur when qi moves in the wrong direction).

(II) Biomedical Perspective

Inserting needles into acupuncture points affects the central nervous system by sending peripheral nerve impulses to the brain, which initiates a series of neurochemical interactions. This stimulation leads to increased levels of endomorphin-1, encephalin, β-endorphin, opioids, serotonin, and dopamine. In other words, acupuncture enhances the brain's production of sedating and pain-reducing chemicals.

In addition to its effects on the neurological level, acupuncture also positively impacts the cellular level. It can alter tissue properties, causing fibroblasts to spread and lamellipodia to form at the insertion sites. As a result, acupuncture can promote wound healing by modifying the mechano-transduction processes within connective tissue.

Words about ACUPUNCTURE

“Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture have been reported to the FDA, in light of the millions of people treated each year and the number of acupuncture needles used.”
      - National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)

“One of the advantages of acupuncture is that the incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same conditions.”
        - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

“The therapy of acupuncture has a long history. In its 2500 years of development, a wealth of experience has been accumulated attesting to the wide range of diseases and conditions that can effectively be treated with its approach.”
     - World Health Organization (WHO)

Clinical Studies on ACUPUNTURE

(1) Autoimmune Disorders

Acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Allergic Diseases

A review of neuroendocrine immune system abnormalities in IBS based on the brain–gut axis and research progress of acupuncture intervention

Acupuncture on treating asthma

(2) Pain Syndromes

Acupuncture for Low-Back Pain

Acupuncture for Pain

Acupuncture in Adult and Pediatric Headache: A Narrative Review

Efficacy of Dry Needling and Acupuncture in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

(3) Reproductive Health