The exact mechanism of how acupuncture works to treat pain is not fully understood, but several theories have been proposed. One theory suggests that acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins, which are natural painkillers produced by the body. Another theory suggests that acupuncture stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals that regulate pain and inflammation.
Research has shown that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for various types of pain, including chronic pain, back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Some studies have also suggested that acupuncture may be useful for treating other conditions such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
One of the challenges of studying acupuncture is that it is difficult to design controlled experiments to test its effectiveness. For example, it is difficult to blind patients to whether they are receiving real acupuncture or a sham treatment, which makes it difficult to determine whether the observed effects are due to the acupuncture itself or to other factors, such as the placebo effect. Despite these challenges, there is a growing body of evidence that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for pain and other conditions.
Studies have shown that acupuncture can cause changes in the brain, including activation of certain regions and increased white matter integrity. One study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine changes in brain activity during acupuncture and found that acupuncture stimulation caused activation of several regions of the brain, including those involved in pain perception, emotion regulation, and the autonomic nervous system.
Another study used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate changes in white matter integrity in the brain following acupuncture treatment. The researchers found that acupuncture treatment led to increased white matter integrity in several regions of the brain, including those important for cognitive and emotional processing and communication between different areas of the brain.
While these studies provide some evidence that acupuncture can lead to changes in the central nervous system (CNS), more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms underlying these changes and their clinical significance. It is important to note that the effects of acupuncture may vary depending on the specific condition being treated and the individual receiving the treatment. If you are considering acupuncture, talk to your healthcare provider to see if it may be a good option for you.
References:
Zhang, Y., Liang, X., Lian, Y., Xie, B., Liang, H., Bai, J., … & Tian, J. (2014). Acupuncture modulates the abnormal brainstem activity in migraine without aura patients. NeuroImage: Clinical, 6, 534-540.
Wu, M. T., Sheen, J. M., Chuang, K. H., Yang, P., Chin, S. L., Tsai, C. Y., … & Lee, Y. C. (2002). Neuronal specificity of acupuncture response: a fMRI study with electroacupuncture. NeuroImage, 16(4), 1028-1037.
Chen, C., Fan, Y., Wang, X., Wu, H., Yang, J., Zhang, J., … & Hu, D. (2014). Diffusion tensor imaging of acupuncture effect in treating brain functional disability in Parkinson’s disease rats. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014.