How Does Acupuncture Work?

This is a great question and one I hear a lot as an Acupuncturist. As humans, we like to be able to see how things work; but with Acupuncture, this is a little bit more difficult as Acupuncture Channels are basically invisible to the naked eye! Before I was an Acupuncturist, I worked in more Western medical environments (mainly Dental Nursing but did consider and started training to become a General Nurse) and I must admit, it was a struggle to change my mindset from viewing things in a more physical sense, to switching over to looking at things in a more energetic view. Don't get me wrong, I still look at things in a physical sense as this can give me a lot of information, but I now combine the two worlds to ensure the best outcomes!

The body is made up of different Channels and Meridians that run from head to toe in the body, these are NOT nerves- think of them as an underground system of energy flowing through our bodies. We know we have energy or electric impulses in our body- it is how our brain and nerves work and how our heart pumps (through an electric pacemaker!). So, you can think of Acupuncture as a healthcare system that works on these systems. Just like a cardiologist works on the heart, or a physiotherapist works on movement and function, Acupuncturists work on the energy (or electric impulses) of the body to help it run smoothly and to get your body to ultimately heal itself!

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years and is still used in many countries as its primary healthcare- it really has stood the test of time and I think that is the best testimonial you can get about if something works! We are now starting to see a lot more research and scientific studies into Acupuncture which is so exciting! Studies have shown that using Acupuncture point (compared to sham points) lights up areas in the brain on MRI's and can alter hormonal profiles! Acupuncture is truly amazing!