Why Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture Franklin
Most people are a little weary when they hear about the idea of needles in their body. It does sound foreign and even a bit scary to the average American who is familiar with getting poked by needles that either draw blood or inject some kind of serum into the system. These needles do hurt so its not surprising that people get fearful of Acupuncture needles. However, Acupuncture really is not supposed to hurt. If it hurts, your practitioner is doing it wrong! These needles are as a standard very thin and are inserted into particular spots on the body, where an invisible hole exists, that avoids vessels, arteries and capillaries. It does go through soft tissue, and once it gets to a level of depth the Acupuncture needle is supposed to just barely nick the nerve to activate the nervous system. Again, this should not cause pain, but rather just a mild level of stimulation. It is with this slight brush up against the nerve, where the magic works.
The nervous system is the hub of the body, where it directs biochemical messages and instructs the body to create such things as energy, metabolic pathways, hormone secretion, neurotransmitter release in the brain, and any other bodily response that is important for normal daily activity and homeostasis. You could say that the nervous system acts as ‘the general’, directing the body on what to do. Acupuncture is a direct pathway that sends a message to the nervous system, and each point has specific instructions, in its mission to tell the body what to do. It is very much up to the skills and the knowledge of your Acupuncturist to direct the body properly and tell the nervous system what it needs to do, and in what order to help the body feel better. If someone comes in with multiple system complications, it is important for the Acupuncturist to know what to do first, and how to gently direct the nervous system on the path of least resistance so the body is accepting of the treatment. The body does not like drastic measures and often it does not like to be radically pushed, but rather gently prompted. Typically, we are the ones who push our bodies out of balance either through poor diet, stress, poor sleep and bad choices. Acupuncture helps the body to be guided back to a state of calm and balance. If the patient then compliments the treatment with healthier habits, the Acupuncture will be that much more effective.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at Renew Acupuncture Franklin.
