How Acupuncture Transforms The Body

Even after having been an acupuncturist for over a decade, I'm still amazed when I press an acupuncture point and symptoms go away. The body is truly amazing, and as much as we know how it functions, no one will ever know everything about the human body. 

In my nearly 20 years of practice, I've read numerous studies about how acupuncture works, including research about specific acupuncture points and their affect on the nervous system and studies that specify treatment protocols for specific conditions (often these studies don't factor in that every individual is unique and only a handful show results worth embracing). The one study that continually stands out in my mind is from 2002, which was the first study that illustrated what happens when a needle enters the body.

I was in school when I first read this research. The words were less intriguing. Rather, the images of how connective tissue twirled around an acupuncture needle grabbed my interest. Since seeing this study, especially at the very beginning of my journey towards becoming an acupuncturist, I've seen every acupuncture point needled as an opportunity to help the connective tissue netting of the body release itself. 

And every day, I'm fascinated by everyone's unique netting.

Releasing what's tight helps blood flow smoother through vessels. It helps hormones find their connections to have their effect of the body. It helps white blood cells fight disease and it helps nerves conduct better signals throughout the body. All of these things become more difficult when there's constriction, tightness, dehydration, scar tissue and whatever else tightens connective tissue. 

The next time you receive a treatment, imagine yourself as a three dimensional net. As you rest during the treatment, you may feel the subtle changes happening as the connective tissue releases.