Acupuncture in London and Kent
The Western theories behind acupuncture relate to the nervous and hormonal systems of the body. The neurological theory behind acupuncture is called the counter-irritation theory of pain management. It is believed that the insertion of needles into the skin irritates the nerves and causes the nervous system to decrease its sensitivity to pain.
The hormonal explanation for acupuncture is known as the endorphin or enkelphin theory. These two hormones are known to be secreted during acupuncture and have the same analgesic qualities as the drug opium.
Studies indicate that acupuncture clearly effects blood flow to centers of the brain and the central nervous system related to sensation and involuntary body functions, such as immune reactions and the regulation of blood pressure, blood flow, oxygenation and body temperature.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, illness is seen to come from imbalances in the basic energetic flow of life, known as qi (pronounced chee,) which in health is smooth and harmonious.
It is not a substance measurable in terms of Western science and from the Western perspective it is not known exactly how acupuncture is effective. Qi flows through 14 channels in the human body, known as meridians, which branch to bodily organs and functions. Disease or illness is the result of a blockage or obstruction in one or more of these meridians. The energy flow is detectable in the pulses of both wrists.
Qi is accessible through approximately 500 different acupuncture points on the body and by inserting extremely fine needles into them in various combinations, acupuncture practitioners rebalance this flow. This will allow your body's natural healing mechanisms to take over.
The British Acupuncture Council provides Briefing Papers which review the evidence of effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of specific conditions. These papers, in Adobe Acrobat format, are available for download at: