Brief Thoughts on Acupuncture
From the desk of an Acupuncture student
Acupuncture is a widespread, effective, evidence based form of medicine.
As a student, I find myself talking about it all the time.
So I’m often surprised when people come to me, asking if it works. I’m also surprised that it is often labeled “alternative or complimentary.” Tens of millions of people receive acupuncture each year, so I personally believe, we should just start calling it medicine.
The Stats 📈
ON USE
Year over year, acupuncture appointments have doubled in two decades, with 7,442,376 people receiving treatment in the USA alone in 2022. Note, this is after COVID—the numbers fell and rebounded quickly.
According to this paper from the NIH, the projection of patients serviced by acupuncture (not including herbal prescriptions) will reach 9.84 billion people worldwide by 2045—which is 20 years from now.
ON EFFECTIVENESS
As for effectiveness, there is about an 80% positive outcome rate, with 50% of patients saying acupuncture caused a major shift in their health.
The Problem
The problem with acupuncture’s credibility is one of explanation.
People practicing acu often don’t know how to describe its impacts, or why it works, from a Western lens. After studying both systems, here’s the explanation I offer—
Acupuncture impacts our bodies by innervating reactions based on needle stimulation and placement.
It also directly impacts muscles through local stimulation, increasing blood flow and endorphin release.
Acupuncture’s largest impact is via modulating the central nervous system through Afference (nervous system signals that arrive at the CNS) and Efference (signals that exit said system).
All the tissues, glands, and organs in our bodies are connected via the nervous system. This is the signaling system that regulates and communicates just about everything.
Acupuncture essentially impacts that system, directing blood flow, endorphins, and other substances such as hormones, to various areas of the body, as well as the organs themselves.
TL;DR
Acupuncture works by impacting the nervous system
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!