How does acupuncture work?  Why is acupuncture effective?  When you ask an acupuncturist, they will talk of the life force known as Qi or Chi coursing along pathways, channels or meridians.  To a lay person the language used to describe acupuncture treatment sounds alien.

The western medical community observed that acupuncture was effective.  They sought to know why it was effective so they performed studies before and after acupuncture, using blood draws to measure biomedical changes in the body.

Here are the 5 prevailing theories of how acupuncture works using western medical terminology.

The Gate Control Theory: Pain signals must pass through a number of high traffic gates as they move from the area of injury upward through the spinal cord into the brain. Like a road or a highway, these nerves can only handle a limited number of nerve signals at one time. Acupuncture generates competing stimulus and effectively interrupts the neurotransmitters of the pain signals from reaching the brain. This results in the patient never getting the pain signal and therefore never getting the pain. This is the most popular theory among Western scientists.

The Augmentation Theory: Acupuncture raises levels of triglycerides, specific hormones, prostaglandins, white blood cells (WBC’s), gamma globulins, opsonins and overall anti-body levels. This is why acupuncture can treat disorders relating to immune deficiencies. Raising WBC’s can help every patient. According to research, more and more conditions are being linked with a weak immune system. Whether or not you are immune compromised, you always want your immune system as strong as possible and this is a positive bi-product of all acupuncture treatments.

The Endorphin Theory: Acupuncture stimulates the secretion of endorphins in the body (specifically Enkephalins). Endorphins are our bodies’ natural painkillers. They are 1000 times stronger than morphine.

The Neurotransmitter Theory: This states that certain neurotransmitter levels (such as Seratonin and Noradrenaline) are affected by Acupuncture. This is why acupuncture is so successful with depression, mood disorders and weight loss. Seratonin levels are affected by sugar intake and low Seratonin levels may cause cravings for sugar. This is why people feel so amazing after a treatment.

The Circulatory Theory: There is an effect of constricting or dilating of blood vessels, from doing acupuncture. A possible explanation of this is the release of the body’s vasodilators (such as Histamine), in response to acupuncture. Increasing circulation of fresh red blood cells (RBC’s) and WBC’s to an injured area helps to create a faster healing process. Acupuncture is very effective in treating edema by this concept of promoting dilation.

I live within walking distance of Zucotti park where for the past month, occupy wall street protestors gather for general assemblies to decide how best to marshall their resources to shine a light on the imbalance of power that has brought us to the brink of economic collapse.  Something has been missing in our democracy for a while: It’s called fairness.  One of the protestors demands are for economic justice from the very institutions that have failed them.

On any given day you go down to Zucotti Park now renamed Liberty Square, you will witness democracy in action.  It’s truly is a beautifull sight.  When you talk to people you’ll realize that their stories and struggles to provide safety and security for themselves and their families are the same as yours.

The Zucotti Park encampment is one city block – and all the elements of a civil society are within it’s boundaries.  There is an information booth, a media tent, a kitchen, and first-aid Medic tent.  Tables are set up for donations of clothing, blankets, and sleeping bags.  People do donate:  items, money and their time and expertise.  There are working groups that meet to discusss: vision and goals, sustainability, healthcare for the 99%,  education and jobs to name a few.

I volunteer to provide ear acupuncture at the Medic tent.  I work alongside other allied health volunteers: nurses who have mobilized on a national level, street medics, social workers, therapists, reiki masters, and even ER doctors.  I’ve treated many young people who have graduated college to unemployement and are drowning in student loan debt.  The community of people take care of each other.  Decisions are made by the General Assembly where there is no leader but everyone is encouaged to bring solutions to the GA and vote on them as a group.

The simple act of participating as an acupuncturist has filled me with a sense of hope.  Hope that we are stronger together as a group and that we can stand up against injustice, and inequity in a system that is currently very much imbalanced.

The 99% working together will provide solutions to the current economic crisis that effects everyone.  We just need to encourage this movement to grow into a force for substantive change.

Links:

http://www.occupywallstreet.org

http://www.nycga.net

http://www.moveon.org

When I meet a new patient, I wonder, “Who is this person? How is she feeling? What does she need to become whole on all levels — physical, emotional and spiritual?” To find out, I ask deeper questions about her well-being in order to find the symptom’s cause and treat it.

Any symptom a patient reports can be the result of an imbalance in one of the five elements — Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal. Once this happens, the imbalance can spread throughout the body, because all five elements are connected like members of a family. When one member is sick, unable or unwilling to do his tasks, the rest of the family suffers. In time, they all become symptomatic, too.

Because symptoms and imbalances are interrelated in this way, I need to know more than just that my patient has migraines, arthritis or insomnia. Those symptoms can be the result of imbalances in any organ or function, so I have to find the elemental cause.

In classical five-element acupuncture, this is done through the senses — perceiving the odor (yes, odor!), color, sound, and emotion that identifies which element is out of balance. Then I work empathetically — feeling what the patient feels in order to understand the level of disease.

If a roof gutter fills with leaves, water may stagnate rather than drain, encouraging clogging and the growth of unwanted seedlings. In the same way, when the body’s gutters and drains stop flowing, manipulation of an acupuncture point opens and clears out stagnation, encourages flow and returns the body to a balanced state so that it can heal itself.

Symptoms are the body’s distress signals, clues to what’s going on inside. When symptoms are suppressed by prescription drugs, the body is being told to “shut up!” But centuries of Chinese medicine have demonstrated the wisdom of listening.

Today is the first day of Autumn. The time of year when the sun crosses the celestrial equator and moves toward in the northern hemisphere – the Autumnal equinox. The sun is beginning to set earlier and rise later as the leaves turn multi shades of red, orange and yellow.

Fall has arrived and now is the time to harvest the bounty that grew during the summer so we can store up for the cold winter ahead.  It is a time to organize, work hard, and finish projects you began in spring and summer.

Chinese medicine recognizes the change in nature and gives us practical tools to live in balance with this season according to nature’s laws. Ancient Chinese physicians observed the natural cycles of the season and have given us tips for the best daily practices for staying healthy and harmonizing our own energy with that of the environment.

“In the three months of autumn all things in nature reach their full maturity.  The grains ripen and harvesting occurs.  The heavenly energy cools, as does the weather.  The wind begins to stir.  This is the changing or pivoting point when the yang, or active, phase turns into its opposite, the yin, or passive, phase.  One should retire with the sunset and arise with the dawn.  Just as the weather in autumn turns harsh, so does the emotional climate.  It is therefore important to remain calm and peaceful, refraining from depression so that one can make the transition to winter smoothly.  This is the time to gather one’s spirit and energy, be more focused, and not allow desires to run wild.  One must keep the lung energy free, full, clean and quiet.  This means practicing breathing exercises to enhance lung Qi.  Also, one should refrain from smoking and grief, the emotion of lung.  This will prevent the kidney or digestive problems in the winter.  If this natural order is violated, damage will occur to the lungs, resulting in diarrhea with undigested food in the winter.  This compromises the body’s ability to store in winter”. -Huangdi Neijing Suwen

Fall is the perfect time to reflect as it is associated with the metal element which according to Chinese medicine, governs the mind, organization, order and stability. We tend to be more reflective, turning inward to our work, our families and our homes during this time.  It is a time to organize and prepare for the winter season ahead and a time to reflect on our lives.

Emotionally, this is the season associated with grief and sadness.  It is important to keep the mind clear and “let go” of negative emotions, which can impact health more strong during the fall.

Associated Organs:  Lungs and Large Intestine

Fall corresponds to the lungs, skin, and large intestine. The lungs and large intestine are in charge of respiration, digestion, and elimination.  Common symptoms associated with lung and large intestine imbalances are respiratory problems, such as asthma, shortness of breath, frequent colds, and sinus infections, as well as constipation and skin problems.

Fall Imbalances Produce Symptoms

The body is particularly susceptible to wind and cold during the fall. Dryness can cause symptoms of coughing, dry nose, sore throat, dry skin, dry hair and scalp, dry mouth and cracked lips, and hard and dry stools.  Adding more nourishing yin foods to your diet can promote body fluid, soothe the lungs and protect you from dryness.

Fall Seasonal Eating

Eat fewer cold, uncooked foods – such as salads, and more warm, cooked foods.  Switch from salads to soups and steamed vegetables such as winter squash, winter peas, broccoli, sweet potatoes and yams.  Incorporate yellow and red foods into your meals.  Start your day with hot otameal.

Warm and Nourishing foods and herbs to add to your Fall diet:

Apple, Banana, Beets, Bell pepper, Bok choy, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Cinnamon, Cranberry, Figs, Garlic, Ginger, Grapes, Horseradish, Leeks, Pears, Persimmons, Plums, Pomegranate, Pumpkin, Red Cabbage, Rosemary, Sage, Spinach, Thyme, Whole grains, Wild rice, Winter squash, Yam

Protect Your Lung Qi

Lung 7 is one of the most powerful poins on the lung channel.  It is a popular acupuncture point to use for stopping a persistent cough and relieving a sore throat.  Lung 7 is often used to treat conditions related to the head and neck, such as headaches, migraines, stiff neck, facial paralysis, and toothache.

Lung 7 is considered to be the ”command point” of the head and neck and is also used to improve circulation in the brain and stimulate memory.

Lung 7 is located above the wrist on the inside of the arm.
To find this point, interlock your thumb and index finger of one hand with those of the other, the point lies on the edge of the index finger, in a depression between the sinew and the bone on the thumb side of the wrist.

Stimulate this point on both hands with the tip of your index finger for approximately 30 seconds or until your cough subsides.

Today is the first day of Autumn is an important transitition in Five Element Philoposphy.  The long days of sunshine slowly peaks and gives way to a time of decrease.  The leaves turn color, fall from the trees and  decay to replenish the earth.  Daylight hours shorten, the weather turns cooler.

Our bodies naturally feel the effects of this transition and if we do not pay attention to subtle changes in nature during this time, we may feel out of sorts.  Symptoms may include:  shortness of breath, and a dislike of speaking.  Catching colds easily.  Coughing, a hoarse or weak voice, a dry mouth and throat.  Difficulty dealing with loss, vulnerable to outside criticism.  Tiredness, constipation or diarrhoea.

In Chinese medicine – the Metal element is associated with Autumn, a time of harvest, where we reap the fruits and vegetables of the season and prepare them for storage duirng Winter.  The Organs Associated with Metal are the Lungs and Large Intestine.

Dr. Worsley, my teacher, spoke of the lungs as “the Official who receives the pure Ch’i from the heavens”.  The first breath at birth sustains our life force  throughout our lives until we take our final breath.  The Chinese view the the Lungs as the receiver of energy and the Large Intestine as the “Dust Bin Collector, the Drainer of the Dregs” where its main functin is to store and eliminate waste.   These two Officials when balanced work beatuifully together to allow us to “take in”  air, chi, inspiration and “let go” of waste, and negativity.

Autumn is the perfect Season to support the Lungs and Large Intestine with  habits that strengthen these Officials.

Here’s simple ways to smoothly transition through Autumn.

1.  Awake during Lung’s peak time, between 3-5 am.  Practice 30 minutes of Tai Chi, Qi Gong, or Yoga, meditate or just breathe deeply.   Deep breathing stimulates the Large Intestine to eliminate (good for those with constipation) between 5-7 am, it’s peak hours.

2.  Use a Neti pot with a saline solution to irrigate your sinuses.  This simple habit can be incorporated  into your morning routine and acts to prevent sinus infections and sore throats.  I use a Neti Pot during Autumn to help alleviate seasonal allergies.  It works, along with taking 500 mgs of Quercitin-C.

3. The gift of the Metal element is the ability to inspire.   Hike or drive to the mountains and renew what inspires you.  Grief is the emotion associated with Metal.  Extreme grief can injure the lungs but can be processed through the awe-inspiring reach of the great outdoors.   Nature herself is healing and transformative.

4.  Eat mildly spicey foods to help support the Metal element.  Tai, Indian, and other Asian foods try and balance the five flavors of bitter,sweet, spicey, sour and salt.  Try combining all these tastes at EVERY meal instead of dieting.  Our modern diet has too much sweet (in the form of refined sugars) and salt and too little of bitter, sour and spicey.

As is true in nature, Autumn is a time were we consolidate our energies and prepare for the austerity of Winter.  When that breaks down, so too, does our ability to preserve what is nourishing to the body, mind and spirit.