How does Acupuncture Work?
Research studies have showed us that acupuncture has both local and systemic effects on the body and brain. Locally, acupuncture needling will improve blood flow and microcirculation to the area, promoting tissue healing, and reducing inflammation and pain. When acupuncture needles are inserted, signals are transferred from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system. In the CNS, neurotransmitters and endogenous opioids are released which contribute to overall mood benefits and analgesic effects. Emerging evidence also indicates that acupuncture works to modulate autonomic nervous system activity helping the body to achieve homeostasis. A study published by the Journal of Pain found that fMRI studies suggest that acupuncture activates sensorimotor brain areas and deactivates the limbic-paralimbic neocortical network areas. These findings suggest that acupuncture needle manipulation modulates the activity of the limbic system and subcortical structures, mediating the cognitive and affective dimensions of pain, resulting in analgesic and anti-anxiolytic effects. Acupuncture also has immune-modulating affects. An article by Wang et all published in the Frontiers of Immunology journal, concluded that acupuncture has an effect on both the innate and adaptive immune responses. It found that acupuncture can modulate immune activity by regulating mast cells and neutrophils, downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines, upregulating anti-inflammatory cytokines, increasing natural killer cell activity, and regulating TH1/Th2 balance.