We don’t know exactly how acupuncture works, from a western medicine perspective that is. There are many theories. However, they are just that, theories. And none of these scientific theories really encompass all that acupuncture can do.
One theory is that acupuncture releases dopamine, the body’s natural pain killer. We see evidence of this when dopamine levels increase during and after an acupuncture treatment. But when Narcan® (a dopamine blocker) is given, patients report to still have a decrease in pain. In addition, acupuncture can treat so much more than just pain. Other common ailments such as stress, anxiety, constipation, and hormone regulation are positively affected by acupuncture, to name just a few!
For me though, I don’t need to know exactly how it works because I see the results in my clinic all the time. People report that their pain has decreased and they are now able to get back to participating in their regular physical activities. Their stress is more manageable so they feel more like themselves and are more present with their family. Or they find more peace throughout their day and are less anxious.
Personally, I don’t need the science to prove that acupuncture works. Science doesn’t always know all the answers anyway, as it relies solely on what can be measured and proven. But there is so much more beyond that!
It reminds me a bit of the physician Ignaz Semmelweis who was able to show that death rates in his maternity ward drastically decreased when physicians were mandated to wash their hands. And yet, Semmelweis was shunned by the medical community of his time. It took a century for hand hygiene to be widely recognized.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska
My understanding and belief in science has made me somewhat hesitant to fully embrace the more energetic side of acupuncture. In the past, I’ve found that the scientific theories explained what I intuitively understood. Lately, I’ve been really excited to embrace the unknown a bit more.
I remember a friend of mine saying, the unknown and waiting is so hard. I think it is in the unknown where hope, curiosity, excitement, drive and wonder live. I love that my job allows me to explore this unknown every day. What is your potential that we can unlock within an acupuncture treatment?
Speaking of ground breaking science, have you heard about the push to get acupuncture in space? (Pun intended)