For thousands of years people have sought to answer this vital question and I look forward to spending my life exploring this mystery.
Eastern perspective: The body is made up of pathways called meridians. In a state of health these pathways flow freely and carry virtuous fluids. In illness these pathways are congested or empty lacking flow and nutritious fluids. Our medicine balances and revitalizes these pathways allowing the body to heal itself.
Western perspective: There are many partial explanations for acupuncture in western medicine. Broadly these include:
- Nerve activation/deactivation
- Fluid exchange and transportation
- Bio-chemical – stimulating the body’s creation of secretion of drugs like opioids, dopamine, endorphins.
- Fascia communication – the ability of the body’s fascia to communicate and regulate the body
Of these my favorite is the fascia. It is one of the newest trends of research and reflects the language and ideas presented in our classical texts. A compilation of these functions are responsible for the “magical” effects of acupuncture.