"...observations could not be explained as either nonspecific or psychological/placebo effects of needle stimulation. This study provides strong evidence for the presence of a specific acupuncture point that causes the modulation of cardiac autonomic function."
Acupuncture improves outcomes in carpal tunnel syndrome in part by remapping the brain.
Chinese medicine has been discussing the connection between the gut and neurodegenerative conditions for millennia.
The current opioid epidemic has become a well-known topic of discussion, with national health leaders, recovery advocates and families talking about the issue nationwide. From governmental funding to prescriber guidelines, continued improvements have been made toward ending the epidemic – good news for those who have experienced addiction or whose loved ones have been afflicted.
Though changes are underway, there continues to be a push for understanding or offering alternative therapies in both the medical environment and treatment centers, both to stop perpetuating the abuse cycle of opioids and to provide remedy when recovering. Among the many alternative therapies that exist – meditation, yoga, art therapy – is acupuncture, which many believe could be a promising conduit to both preventative and treatment mechanisms concerning opioid use and abuse.
According to a review of 22 clinical trials studying more than 4,000 migraine sufferers, acupuncture was found to be as effective as medication—and sometimes even more effective than medication—for preventing migraines.
An acupuncture trial in four Melbourne emergency departments has found it is just as good as drugs in relieving lower-back pain and that from sprained ankles and migraines.
The finding could open the door to Australian hospitals offering the low-cost Chinese therapy, which is used by more than 1 billion people worldwide for pain relief.
One of the leading schools of thought on the physiology behind the Qi mechanism or sensation elicited during acupuncture involves the fascial network of the body, a massive web of non-specific connective tissue that creates planes and groupings of muscle and tissue, not unlike acupuncture meridians. This tissue surrounds and connects every muscle, down to the myofibril, and winds around and throughout every organ of the body. It is the matter that connects us and helps to give us shape. Fascia has been shown as an important element in our posture and movement organization. Disruptions, knots, tears or tangles in this tissue super-highway are what prevent us from reaching optimal health and can be viewed as a form of Qi stagnation in Chinese medicine, preventing optimal flow of information or fluids.
(For visual evidence of our myofascial networks and their similarity to acupuncture meridians, please read “Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual & Movement Therapists” by Tom Myers. Please note however that “Anatomy Trains” is not light reading so for those who aren’t “anatomy nerds” like myself, you might want to look for another source).