Diane Timewell Acupuncture
For health and well-being
How does acupuncture work?
The therapeutic effects of acupuncture have been widely researched. They can be understood in Western biomedical terms which has gone down the microscope to discover the tiniest building-blocks of human life and disease and through the Chinese energetic model of how the body works together as a unified whole.
Western Biomedical Perspective
From a biomedical viewpoint, acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system, influencing the production of the body’s communication substances – hormones and neurotransmitters. The resulting biochemical changes activate the body’s self-regulating homeostatic systems and stimulates its natural healing abilities.
The acupuncture points are located between the skin and the muscle in the fascial plane.
The fascia is a nerve-rich continuous sheet of connective tissue which wraps around every organ, muscle and cell in the body – even the nerve cells in the brain. Acupuncture points are located between the skin and the muscle in the fascial plane. Movement through the fascia can perhaps explain how the stimulation of acupuncture points at the surface of the body can affect internal processes and also the speed by which tender areas can be reduced by needling a point at the opposite end of the body.
Many people are surprised at how quickly acupuncture can work to relieve their symptoms. How a point on the foot can resolve their headache or a point at the knee can relieve muscle pain on the top of the shoulder. Understanding the fascia may be key to understanding how this works.
Acupuncture treatment has also been shown to:
Improve circulation and increase blood and lymph flow: this helps transport vital substances to and from target areas to nourish the body and to eliminate waste products.
Calm the system: calming the adrenal glands helps decrease the production of adrenaline to help switch off the ‘fight-flight’ stress response. This promotes para-sympathetic activity of ‘rest, digest and repair’ which is essential for good health.
Reduce muscle tension: for example, releasing muscles in the neck not only relieves pain and discomfort but it also allows for better circulation to the brain, which can help with symptoms such as headaches and insomnia.
Relieve Pain: through stimulating the production of natural pain-relieving substances such as endorphins.
Modulate the immune system: this helps your body fight disease better and may help improve auto-immune conditions.
Resolve structural imbalances: any twist or misalignment in the body often leads to pain, discomfort and dysfunction and, if left untreated, may also affect the underlying organs. For example, hunched shoulders may lead to difficult breathing or other lung issues.
The above actions can in part explain the wide-reaching therapeutic effects of acupuncture treatment.
Chinese Medical Perspective
The therapeutic effects of acupuncture can also be understood through the energetic model of Chinese medicine. According to Chinese Medicine, our health is dependent on the body’s motivating energy ‘Qi’ moving in a smooth and balanced way through a series of channels (meridians) which connect to our internal organs. Correct circulation ensures that the body is properly nourished and is able to function well.
The channels can be compared to blood vessels in how they supply oxygen to every cell in our body. They start to develop at conception, forming, in the beginning, the basic axes of the body. This network of channels that develops with the growing embryo is the blueprint of the body. All physical structures – bones, muscles, organs, blood vessels, nerves- are arranged around this network and are held together and influenced by it.
Pain, illness or disease results from a blockage or imbalance in the circulation of Qi through the channels which may affect the internal organs. By inserting fine needles into specific points, acupuncture treatment helps restore proper circulation which regulates the organs and triggers the body’s own healing mechanism to restore health and promote physical and emotional well-being.
The majority of acupuncture points are located along the 12 major channels which connect to the internal organs. These are arranged in yin/yang pairs according to the 5 Elements:
| Internal Organ (Yin/Yang pair) | Element | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Stomach and Spleen | Earth | Front of the body |
| Kidney and Bladder | Water | Back of the body |
| Liver and Gallbladder | Wood | Sides of the body |
| Lung and Large Intestine | Metal | Thumb/index finger to chest |
| Heart and Small Intestine | Fire | Little finger to chest, shoulder, face |
| Pericardium and Triple Heater | Secondary fire element | Middle and ring finger to chest, neck, head |
The existence of this energetic system is a leap of faith for Western minds since we do not have any concept of Qi in our day-to-day lives.
Sceptics often rely on the argument that Qi and the meridian structure cannot be found when we cut open the body. This is true. Then again, electricity cannot be found if we open a light bulb, nor cyber-space found when you open a computer. Like electricity and cyber-space, as well as gravity and other non-material forces, the existence of Qi is known in its function. Only through experiencing acupuncture for yourself will you be able to judge its true value.
In acupuncture treatment, the regulation of Qi helps improve a person’s health and well-being. This can be both felt by the patient and measured systematically in clinic.
Contact our practitioner Diane to see if acupuncture treatment could be suitable for you, or to book an appointment.