Why Is 'Acupuncture' Helpful And How Does It Work?
Acupuncture needles can be used in several ways…
It is known that many painful symptoms are caused by the development
of trigger points within the muscles and connective tissues of the body.
These can develop as a result of imbalances in the optimum functioning
of the spine and peripheral joints, as a result of overuse or incorrect
use of parts of the body, or as a result of direct injury. They are
often found around the shoulders, around the knees or in the lower back,
and often can be the cause of a headache or general tension in the body.
These trigger points are capable of becoming a source of both local
and referred pain. Following the identification of these points, needling
techniques are capable of deactivating them and thus reducing the pain
associated with them.
Occasionally, as a result of injuries and particularly spinal injuries, severe muscle spasm can develop. Not only can this cause additional pain in itself, but it can also prevent the body from returning to its healthy state. Acupuncture needles used to treat these particular muscles are capable of releasing this spasm, thus allowing the body to return more quickly to normal and also to allow further treatment to be carried out.
Sometimes pain arises as a result of chronic irritation and strain to structures of the body. With 'Tennis Elbow' for example, there is chronic irritation at the attachment of the tendons to the bone. Inflammation and pain develops with the result that the muscles tighten and shorten. This causes further strain and a self-perpetuating cycle ensues. In this case needling of the affected tissues can stimulate local healing processes as well as releasing trigger points and shortened muscles.
There are also neurological mechanisms that can be activated to reduce the sensation of pain. This occurs through complex feedback loops throughout the nervous system. Some of these 'neurological reflexes' actually alter and reduce the experience of pain and others stimulate the body to release endorphins, which are the bodies own naturally occurring pain relievers.