Acupuncture and Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM)
Why Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an effective treatment for various painful conditions and illnesses, including stiff shoulders, lower back pain, neuralgia, and joint pain. Although not widely recognized, these techniques improve blood circulation and activate immune cells. They also help regulate the autonomic nervous system, which oversees the functioning of internal organs and enhances the body’s homeostasis.
As a result, patients who initially visit an acupuncture clinic for issues like lower back pain or stiff shoulders may notice improvements in their overall physical condition after treatment. These improvements can include a reduced likelihood of catching colds, feeling lighter, improved sleep quality, increased appetite, and better bowel movements. Many patients choose to continue visiting acupuncture clinics regularly, even after their symptoms have resolved, to prevent illness and promote overall health.
Recently, a new research method known as Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) has been adopted in the medical field, leading to studies on acupuncture and moxibustion using EBM principles. Some of these studies compare the effectiveness of acupuncture with that of Western medicine for various symptoms and diseases. Large-scale comparative studies funded by public resources in Germany and the United States focused on four conditions: tension headaches, migraines, knee pain, and back pain. The findings revealed that while acupuncture is nearly as effective as the latest Western medical treatments for migraines, it excels in effectiveness for the other three conditions and offers superior safety and cost-effectiveness across all four, including migraines. Following the publication of these results, acupuncture has since been covered by insurance in both Germany and the United States.
Discover the Benefits of Acupuncture
The human body has the natural healing power to heal itself from illness and injury and the immune system to protect the body from pathogens that enter from the outside. When injured, these systems are activated, causing various reactions in the body. For example, blood vessels dilate to bring fresh blood rich in oxygen and nutrients and increase metabolism. White blood cells that fight foreign substances are attracted to prevent infection from the injured area. Acupuncture treatment uses these reactions to create invisible microscopic wounds and stimulate the skin and muscles, improving blood circulation in the muscles to cure stiff shoulders and lower back pain and promote the repair of injured areas.
The human body also has various mechanisms to suppress pain. Everyone has probably experienced that pressing or rubbing a painful area relieves pain or that pain is relieved while feeling good or doing something fun. The stimulation of acupuncture triggers the activation of such pain-suppressing mechanisms, resulting in an analgesic effect.
Furthermore, the body has a mechanism that changes the activity of the autonomic nervous system when the skin or muscles are stimulated and reflexively regulates the functions of the organs and tissues controlled by the autonomic nervous system. Stimulation from acupuncture and moxibustion utilizes this mechanism to change the activity of the autonomic nervous system, regulating blood vessels and improving the function of organs. As a result, a wide range of systemic effects are produced, such as regulating blood pressure, balancing hormones, and activating the immune system. Therefore, continued acupuncture and moxibustion treatment improves physical condition and makes you less likely to get sick.
Acupuncture can stimulate the release of a hormone that acts similarly to morphine within our central nervous system. This hormone, known as an endogenous opioid, is highly effective at reducing pain by blocking the nerve pathways that transmit pain signals to the brain. What makes this particularly fascinating is that this dual approach—targeting both the brain and the spinal cord—can lead to effective pain relief. The key to acupuncture’s effectiveness lies in this remarkable mechanism.
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