| The number one question I get from patients | | | | energy and could be the biophysical basis for |
| is: How does acupuncture work? They will | | | | the communication system affected by |
| often ask during a treatment once they start | | | | acupuncture and moxibustion. Dr. Yoshio |
| to feel the effect of pain relief and a deep | | | | Nagahama and Hiroshi Motoyama, Ph.D, two |
| sense of relaxation. | | | | leading researchers form Japan, have |
| | | | independently concluded that the meridian |
| Most articles I have found on the subject | | | | system does in fact lie in the superficial |
| either give a classical view of acupuncture | | | | fascia. |
| using terminology that is foreign to most | | | | |
| westerners or they focus on effects that | | | | Another concept that provide an additional |
| occur in the body as result of receiving an | | | | explanation of the movement of energy through |
| acupuncture treatment. The most clearly | | | | the body if the research of the Bjorn |
| documented physiological effect of | | | | Nordenstrom. His discovered that an |
| acupuncture is the release of endogenous | | | | electrical current is transmitted though the |
| opioid peptides. These are pain relieving | | | | circulatory system via ionic transfers and |
| compounds that are naturally produced within | | | | and difference of electrical potential in the |
| the body such as endorphins, enkaphalins, and | | | | tissue-capillary bed. It well documented that |
| dynorphins. Dr. Zang-Hee Cho, a medical | | | | acupuncture increases micro-circulation at |
| physicist and professor at the University of | | | | the site of needle insertion. The increased |
| California, has also shown with the aid | | | | circulation as a result of acupuncture has a |
| magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that certain | | | | positive effect on the electrical |
| area of the brain are influenced by the | | | | transmission discovered by Nordenstrom. |
| insertion of acupuncture points on the body. | | | | |
| There are also various theories that involve | | | | Another discovery that has profound |
| the nervous system such as the gate theory. | | | | implication is the discovery of bio-photons |
| | | | by German biophysicist Fritz-Albert Popp. |
| Before we go any further, I would like to | | | | Biophotons are weak emissions of light that |
| introduce a concept from quantum physic that | | | | are radiated from the cells of all living |
| all matter, once thought to be solid, is | | | | things. Research has shown that there is |
| really composed of nothing more than | | | | bio-communication that occurs between |
| pulsating, energetic vibrations. Qi | | | | different organisms through biophoton |
| (pronounced Chi) the Chinese term for the | | | | emission and that the biophoton fieldreflects |
| energy present in all matter. Qi as defined | | | | biological rhythms as well as left-right |
| by the Chinese for thousand of years | | | | symmetry of corresponding points in the case |
| describes the phenomenon described by quantum | | | | of healthy individuals. Healthy cells will |
| physic today that solid matter is nothing | | | | also have a different biophotonic signature |
| more than vibrating strings of energy. | | | | than the same type cell that is unhealthy or |
| | | | in a disease state. This important discovery |
| Acupuncture regulates the flow of energy or | | | | provides another explanation for the |
| qi through the body by inserting fine needles | | | | communication that occurs throughout the body |
| at certain acupuncture points in the body | | | | as a result of acupuncture and moxibustion |
| that lie along organized pathways called | | | | and the absence of physical structure that |
| meridians. The acupuncture points and | | | | corresponds with the meridian system. |
| meridian pathways coincide with the points on | | | | |
| the surface of the body where there is | | | | I have presented three mechanisms through |
| lowered electrical resistance and and greater | | | | which is energy is transmitted through body. |
| electrical conductivity, according to | | | | It is likely that acupuncture and moxibustion |
| measurements of many scientists. This flow of | | | | facilitate the flow ofenergy through all |
| energy that circulates through the meridians | | | | three mechanisms presented in this article. |
| acts as a communication network that promotes | | | | As the fields of quantum physics and |
| healing and normal function of the body's | | | | biophysics advance, we are sure to further |
| systems. | | | | uncover more about the essence of how |
| | | | acupuncture and moxibustion create beneficial |
| We must also consider the intricate network | | | | changes in the body. |
| of connective tissue, known as the fascial | | | | |
| system. The fascial system literally connect | | | | References: |
| everything in the body. You trace any one | | | | |
| point on the body to any other point in the | | | | Matsumoto, Kiiko and Birch, Stephen. Hara |
| body running up or down or outside to inside. | | | | Diagnosis:Reflections on the Sea. |
| The meridians also travel up and down the | | | | Massachusetts: Paradigm Publications, 1988. |
| body and from exterior to interior connecting | | | | |
| to their associated organs. The fascia and | | | | Maccioca, Giovanni. The Foundations of |
| connective tissue have been shown to conduct | | | | Chinese Medicine. |