Acupuncture 101
By Dr. Renae Haldeman · New to some of these words? See the glossary.
Some of you have tried acupuncture and know how it works. Some have only heard the word and still have lots of questions about this therapy, which is over 3,000 years old.(1) Acupuncture is a whole-body health method that goes back over 3,000 years in China. It is a large part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It is used to help balance the energy in the body.
This whole-body therapy looks at the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual sides of a patient’s health.
Acupuncture balances the two parts of the nervous system: the sympathetic (“fight or flight”) and the parasympathetic (“rest and digest”). These systems control how the body responds to stress, hormone balance, the immune system, emotions, and thoughts. Through acupuncture, we work to get the body into a state where it can learn to heal itself and stay in balance.
Safety: This therapy is very safe. Acupuncture is a drug-free treatment that helps bring feelings of relaxation and well-being. We use sterile, single-use needles as thin as a hair to help balance the energy in the body.
Sensations: People feel different things during acupuncture. You may feel heaviness, tingling, itching, warmth, or numbness, or you may feel nothing at all. Some people also have a mild skin reaction (a histamine response), which is a slight reddening of the skin around the needle. If this happens, it is a sign that your body is responding to the therapy. Basically, the body is listening and starting to make changes.
How does it work? Science suggests that acupuncture works in three ways: 1) it carries electromagnetic signals, 2) it triggers the body’s dopamine response, and 3) it activates nerve cells in the brain, which helps change brain chemistry, sensations in the body, and how the body works.
There are many acupuncturists, and each has a different focus to meet your whole-body health needs. We look forward to helping you on your healing journey!
Resources
- ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM): nccaom.org
Where Did Acupuncture Come From?
The roots of acupuncture have been traced back to acupressure (pressing on points with the hands). In 1991, scientists in the Austrian Alps found a frozen man from long ago and named him Otzi the Iceman. Otzi lived around 3400 BCE, about 5,300 years ago! The tattoos on his body seem to mark acupressure points for treating stomach ulcers and osteoarthritis. Scientists confirmed that, based on his body chemistry, Otzi did suffer from these problems while he was alive. Plants with known medicine-like properties were also found with his body.
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This article is educational and is not medical advice. Individual results vary. Please talk with a licensed healthcare provider about your own health.