A diseased state can occur in your body as the result of various causes, such as trauma, toxic substances, or dysfunction from the body's internal mechanisms. Our mind-set can affect the physical aspects of our body when there is emotional turmoil. Internal physical and emotional problems can manifest externally, in skin and muscle tissue. This can leave you with sensitive and/or sore tense areas. Traditional Chinese Medicine created a system of treatment that uses these points both for diagnosis and treatment. By manipulating those outer layers of tissue, Acupuncture and other therapies will help internal conditions. Oriental medicine has been using Acupuncture for centuries. Modern medicine is simply beginning to explain its effectiveness.

A Modern Medicine Point of view

Here are a few known mechanisms recognized by modern allopathic medicine. Ongoing research suggests other possibilities, that are still being studied.

Biochemical Defense Mechanism: A site of injury at the cellular level is formed when the prick of a acupuncture needle is used. Once the body feels the injury, it releases chemicals vital to cellular repair. The tissue and cellular biochemical defenses are initiated by the acupuncture needle. This process helps to scale back inflammation and relieve pain.

Endorphins: A pain lowering chemical released by a body. Also referred to as 'anti-stress' chemicals which were released by Acupuncture.

Gate Control Theory: Pain is transmitted from the periphery to the brain via the spinal cord. A mechanism inside the spinal cord, or 'gate' stops pain messages from reaching the brain. The insertion of thin needles of acupuncture, or the manual manipulation of the tissues, can close this gate, thus decreasing the sensation of pain. Endorphins also act on these gates and can block pain.

Electrical Conduction:
It has been noted that acupuncture points have different electrical potentials than other areas of the body. It isn't known exactly why these dissimilar electrical potentials exist but study suggests that acupuncture, on one level, works by affecting electrical conduction in the body. Research into this event continues.

Autonomic Nervous System: Coordinating and the conduction of the body's involuntary functions are control by this system. Acupuncture and tuina "activate" the conserving, healing function of the autonomic nervous system while overriding the fight-or-flight function which, when overactive, puts significant amounts of damage on our bodies and minds.

Trigger Point Theory: Through scientific research, western physicians have found specific points of tension in the body that, when released, are particularly effective in the alleviation of musculo-skeletal pain. The locations of these points correlate significantly while using the acupuncture points of Oriental medicine. Colorado acupuncturists are successfully injecting solutions in these Trigger Points. The solutions can be vitamins, saline, or herbal solutions and have worked well.

An Oriental Medicine Point of view

Oriental remedies see its effectiveness as an energetic model instead of a biochemical model of Western medicine. Ancient oriental physicians proposed that our energetic life-force, called Qi ("Chee") in Chinese, circulates along channels or meridians throughout the body and links all of a body's parts and functions. Qi is an entire body phenomenon affecting the body along with the mind. It keeps the blood circulating, warms a body and fights illness. When an individual is healthy, Qi flows easily through the channels but if, for some reason, the flow is blocked, weak, or excessive, then symptoms and/or illness occurs.

The aim of acupuncture is to fix the flow through the channels by utilizing needles or other techniques. Changes in functions of the body are achieved by doing this. Qi troubles show up before physical problems. Acupuncture and tuina act as a preventative fixing the energy problem before an illness gets worse. The reversal of physical change is usually accomplished by a change in the flow of Qi.