How Does Acupuncture Work?

The simple answer to this question is that we don't know. Indeed we see this answer appearing time and time again when we ask the same question about many forms of alternative medicine.

The fact that we don't know often causes great difficulty for those of us brought up in a world where science (including medicine) is supposed to have the answer to everything.

Of course there are many theories around including:

• The "Augmentation of Immunity" Theory which holds that acupuncture raises levels of specific hormones, white blood counts, gamma globulins and overall anti-body levels.



• The "Endorphin" Theory which states that acupuncture stimulates the secretions of endorphins in the body.



• The "Circulatory" Theory: which states that acupuncture constricts and dilates the blood vessels, causing the release of vasodilaters (such as Histamine).



• The "Neurotransmitter" Theory which states that certain neurotransmitter levels (such as Seratonin) are affected by acupuncture.

Whatever the answer to this question, perhaps we should be more interested in whether or not acupuncture works as a cure for insomnia. Here the answer for many people is a resounding – Yes!

Widely used in the West as a pain reliever, acupuncture remains somewhat in the background when it comes to helping relieve insomnia. The Chinese of course know only too well the benefits of acupuncture to assist with sleep and have practiced this art as a cure for insomnia for countless years. Nevertheless, acupuncture is gaining ground in the West and a number of studies now support its use for treating insomnia.

A recent study in Canada carried out over a five week period reported significant results in both helping people to fall asleep and in maintaining a longer and deeper period of sleep.

In another recent study all of those given acupuncture treatment reported a marked improvement in their patterns of sleep following treatment and, indeed, had maintained that improved quality of sleep when followed up some eighteen months later.

Many people are skeptical about any form of medicine or alternative treatment that does not follow the tradition Western pattern with which they grew up.

As someone who spent part of his childhood in the Far East, and who now spends the majority on the year there, I can testify to the potency of Chinese medicine.

On one occasion while on holiday in Thailand I contracted a particularly nasty bug and called the hotel doctor at about ten o'clock one evening. A lovely middle-aged Chinese lady appeared and within minutes she administered a variety of pills in all sizes and shapes and poured some foul-tasting thick black liquid down my throat. What she was giving me was a complete mystery but, at that particular point in time, I was feeling too ill to care.

At about nine o'clock the following morning she re-appeared and more pills and tinctures were duly taken.

Well, to cut a long story short, by that evening I was up, showered , dressed and enjoying dinner in the hotel restaurant.

To this day I don't know exactly what all the pills and tinctures were but according to the hotel manager, with whom I discussed my adventure before leaving, they were all traditional Chinese herbal preparations. He went on to say that many westerners living in Thailand take these medicines in preference to the traditional medicines that they are used to back home, such as antibiotics.

I certainly believe that the traditional Chinese medicines given on this occasion put me back on my feet again faster than anything that I would have been prescribed back home.

Before moving on, I'd also like to make mention of my own experience of reflexology.

A common practice in many areas of the Far East, especially in tourist areas, is that of having a 'foot massage'. Now until a few years ago I would never have dreamed of having a foot massage. I don't know why, but the idea just simply didn't appeal to me. Then one day I complained to a friend that I didn't seem to be able to shake off a headache that I'd suffered for a couple of days. As quick as a flash she said, 'have a foot massage'. Well, I did, and I haven't looked back.

I've enjoyed numerous foot massages since and, whatever they do and however they do it, they work!

I might go in feeling tired, perhaps a bit under the weather, with an upset stomach or whatever, but I always come out feeling like a million dollars.