Western Perspectives

As mentioned in previous weeks, acupuncture has been proven to provide some pain relief, reduction of inflammation, and other minor health benefits. There are few arguments against acupuncturist effectiveness in these areas from Western medicine. However, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) makes claims as to how and why acupuncture works and these explanations of meridians and Qi flow do not align well with Western medicine. So to resolve this confusion, I sought to explore why acupuncture works from a Western perspective.

Takayama, Watanabe, Kusuyama, Nagase, Seki, Nakazawa, and Yaegashi (2012) found that acupuncture increases blood flow, which has a variety of positive health benefits. Tests were run using various acupressure points and increases in blood flow where seen in the traditionally associated body systems. Acupuncture effected the sympathetic tone in these areas, which caused blood vessels to constrict and dilate, changing blood flow to certain areas.

Acupuncture has been used to manipulate levels of endorphin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. The increasing some of these chemicals has strong pain relief effects and can also help combat withdrawal symptoms and decrease addiction cravings (Cabýoglu, Ergene, & Tan, 2006). Various acupuncture sites can act as triggers to manipulate chemical release.

Langevin and Yandow (2002) found an interest correlation between acupuncture points and fascia planes in the body. The fascia planes form a network that closely resembles the meridian lines than are used in acupuncture. Nerves within these planes could explain how the clinical effects of acupuncture work, especially in the case of anti-inflammatory effects.

Other TCM concepts that are needed for acupuncture can also be understood in terms of Western medicine (Cheng, 2013). Most acupuncture points have high concentrations of nerve endings and connective tissue, highlighting the importance of these spots over other points in western medical terms. Qi is often explained in terms of nerve signals or the transportation of neurotransmitters and other chemicals. Even the balance of yin and yang can be seen in terms of Western medicine, as it closely relates to the homeostasis between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

It seems the connection between the mechanics of Western and Eastern medicine is closer than I previously believed. All of the studied effects also work together to improve general health and reduce stress -- two things that alone could account for other claimed benefits of acupuncture. Though acupuncture and its related concepts make up only a small part of TCM, it’s interesting to see how much the two very different systems of medicine align with each other.

Works Cited

Cabýoglu, M. T., Ergene, N., & Tan, U. (2006). The mechanism of acupuncture and clinical applications. Int J Neurosci, 116(2), 115-25.

Cheng, K. J. (2013). Neurobiological Mechanisms of Acupuncture for Some Common Illnesses: A Clinician's Perspective. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, 7(3), 105-14.

Langevin, H. M., & Yandow, J. A. (2002). Relationship of acupuncture points and meridians to connective tissue planes. Anat Rec, 269, 257-65.

Takayama, S., Watanabe, M., Kusuyama, H., Nagase, S., Seki, T., Nakazawa, T., & Yaegashi, N. (2012). Evaluation of the Effects of Acupuncture on Blood Flow in Humans with Ultrasound Color Doppler Imaging. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM, 2012, 513638. doi:10.1155/2012/513638