Acupuncture Mechanisms - Acupuncture Needle

Acupuncture Mechanisms

Acupuncture Needle

In the last post, I discussed these deeper connective tissue mechanisms that could be a potential effect that the filiform needle is having to make physical changes to the tissues that are having issues.

If you follow my posts you would have also heard me repeat that with the Japanese Style Acumoxa that I tend to use, that I am usually not as focused on the connective tissue aspect when needling and will usually tend to rely on my bodywork or direct musculoskeletal issues. This more superficial needle will usually have distinct effects on the neurological aspects of the body.

A 2012 study tried to look at the process of needle stimulation and the effect it hands-on aspects of the brain. In this study when the practitioner looked for the “de qi” sensation the researchers noted

“SPECT scans from subjects with de qi sensation demonstrated significant activated points mainly located in brodmann areas 6, 8, 19, 21, 28, 33, 35, 37, 47, the parahippocampal gyrus, lentiform nucleus, claustrum and red nucleus; deactivated points were seen in brodmann areas 9 and 25.”(Chen)

In another study, one point, in particular, was looked at. ST36 a point heralded for its many different uses is highly correlated with benefits to the digestion system. In the study done in 2003 the conclusion stated “ Acupuncture on ST36 can lead to increase in glycometabolism in the vegetative nerve centers, which is correlated with gastric function.”(Yin)

These are just two small examples of some connection between the internal processes of the body/brain and the different functions that can be affected with the use of the needle. Although Acupuncture and moxibustion have been used for quite some time, there is always a continued striving to find the science behind the mechanisms behind these tiny needles.

There are some that need these scientific studies to choose whether to try one system or another some however will usually take their personal experiences of treatment with this medicine.

In my cases, I have seen the many benefits that can happen from the use of needles and while prefer to use the bodywork for musculoskeletal issues, there are still many places in which AcuMoxa can be a very helpful modality for those with particular issues.

In following posts, I will go into some of the mechanisms that may be underfoot with the big aspect of my particular style of acupuncture. Moxibustion.

References

Chen, J.-R., Li, G.-L., Zhang, G.-F., Huang, Y., Wang, S.-X., & Lu, N. (2012). Brain areas involved in acupuncture needling sensation of de qi: a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) study. Acupuncture in Medicine, 30(4), 316–323. https://doi-org.ezproxy.ocom.edu:2443/10.1136/acupmed-2012-010169

Yin, L., Jin, X., Qiao, W., Sun, J., Shi, X., Tian, J., Yin, D., Yao, S., Shao, M., Zeng, H., Shan, B., Tang, Y., & Zhu, K. (2003). PET imaging of brain function while puncturing the acupoint ST36. Chinese Medical Journal, 116(12), 1836–1839.