The Science Behind Acupuncture

The Science Behind Acupuncture

The World Health Organization (WHO) has long recognized the effectiveness of acupuncture when it comes to the treatment of diseases. However, tackling the question of exactly how acupuncture works still keeps the scientific community busy to this day.

My favorite explanation is as follows. The spinal cord, at the para-spinal level, has within its grey matter, two “horns” protruding from it. One is the lateral, posterior or dorsal horn. The second is the anterior or medial horn. Between both, there is a nerve impulse that only transfers its signal when the signal from the posterior horn signal overwhelms it. This forces the nerve to pass on the signal to the anterior horn. The posterior horn regulates pain perception, while the anterior horn connects with the organs of the body. When it comes to pain management, the posterior horn is extremely significant. The posterior horn connects to our limbs with peripheral sensory nerves. Our skin and muscles are serviced by these sensory nerves, which gather into branches and trunks, like a tree. These trunks start at the level of our vertebrae, and once they reach our limbs, they branch out into structures given different names. The shoulder and arms are supplied with impulses by ulnar, radial, median, and axillary nerves. Each nerve pathway coincides with a meridian or energy channel. For example, the Large Intestine and Lung meridians connect to the radial nerve, the ulnar with the Small Intestine and Heart meridian, while the Pericardium connects with the median nerve. The belly of a muscle contains motor points, whereas trigger points are found along the entire muscle. Many motor, trigger, and neuromuscular points coincide with acupuncture points. Yun Tao Mao, Lac, PhD has found that some acupoints have a major influence on nerve pathways, while Travel & Simon MD discovered that the deactivation of trigger points within a muscle releases the muscle and alleviates pain. Therefore, the scientific community has shown acupuncture works by stimulating enriched nerve tissue on the skin, which sends signals to the muscles that need treatment, traveling from the peripheral nerves to the trunks located at the spinal level.

Acupuncture treats more than pain. The WHO has admitted that it works for many other diseases, and the CHOCRANE study confirms its efficacy. You are invited to experience the power of acupuncture at Caulo Care. Please contact us for an appointment.

References

MD, J. C. (1998). Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction A Trigger Point Manual. Williams & Wilkins. Quiroz-Gonzalez, S. (2017).

Acupuncture Points and Their Relationship with Multireceptive Fields of

Neurons. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, 81-89.

Yun Tao Ma PhD, L. (2004). Biomedical Acupuncture for Pain Management. Elsevier.