Health can be defined as the body being in balance, with all our systems balanced and interacting harmoniously. Disease occurs when one or more systems gets out balance, which obstructs our energy, and sometimes other body fluids like blood and lymph. When we’re out of balance it’s common to experience aches and pains that may seem random.
But over 2,500 years ago acupuncture practitioners began to ‘map’ out the body, identifying lines of energy that seemed interconnected. Points along these lines were noted for being more sensitive to pressure and became even more sensitive during times of different kinds of illness. Acupuncture works by promoting the free flow of energy and blood throughout the body by inserting very thin, sterile needles at these points.
Modern science also tells us that the insertion of acupuncture needles also releases endorphins and other ‘feel good’ neurotransmitters, anti-inflammatory proteins and more. Other studies have documented that acupuncture increases local levels of adenosine, a vasodilator and analgesic that increases circulation while reducing pain and also make you feel a little sleepy. This helps explain that often when you receive acupuncture, you’ll take a short nap and wake up feeling refreshed. And other studies using MRI’s are documenting that acupuncture can reduce pain activity in the brain by up to 70%! (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3322129/)
There is a famous saying in Chinese medicine: ‘No free flow, pain; free flow, no pain’ (‘Bu tong ze tong, tong ze bu tong’). Come get acupuncture today and restore your free flow.