The Mechanics of Acupuncture: Applying Mechanoreceptors
Holly McChesney
Course/Number
October 26, 2016
Dr. Jaskic
The Mechanics of Acupuncture: Applying Mechanoreceptors
Mechanoreception is a practice where mechanical sensations of touch reinforce the stimulation of mechanoreceptors applied affecting the body’s tissue. Equal parts of impulse effects of mechanoreceptor input can excite and inhibit functions. Acupuncture points are special sites with deeper sensory disbursement to different body parts and connective tissue. The insertion of a needle into these points acts as a mechanical stimulus that activates the mechanoreceptors and sends conduit (vessels) signals to the central nervous system (CNS), where pain is processed in the brain. Neurochemical processes of pain modulation are consequently activated, inducing acupuncture analgesia.
What are Mechanoreceptors? Mechanoreceptors are structures in the body that enable people to experience physical sensations. They feed perceptible data to the brain in order to be processed. There are several forms of mechanoreceptors, intended to sense diverse types of perceptible information, and these constitutions function in different ways. In disorders concerning sensory sensitivity, some people have issues with their mechanoreceptors or the nervous system does not transfer information normally from these structures to the brain (place reference here).
Physical sensations can create a sense of pressure, distortion,
* Acupuncture is said to help relieve pain by either diverting or changing the painful sensations that are sent to the brain to then alert you to the pain within the body. (Arthritis Research UK)
However, there is much research in this area of interest that can prove the detection of change in blood flow, but not enough claims to support any actual positive impact from this change. One study to analyze the effects of acupuncture used photoacoustic tomography on ten mice to map the blood flow of the brain after the administration of acupuncture. The results yielded a direct change in blood flow upon acupuncture administration. However no further claims could be reported and therefore it was concluded that future research is needed in order to support any actual correlation of acupuncture and its beneficial remedy (Li,
Acupuncture involves “the insertion of extremely thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body” (Mayo). The idea of inserting needles into specific points in your body is to help realign the energy flow “Chi” (Mayo) in your body to
Acupuncture comes from Latin origin as is a Chinese form of medicinal treatment in which many, many tiny needles are inserted into various parts of the skin. Particular places of the body, referred to as energy lines are targeted in order to relieve pain. Acupuncture also claims to cure disease and help treat the symptoms of the following conditions: allergies, respiratory conditions, nervous conditions and disorders associated with the eyes, nose and throat. In addition to this it has
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice, in which tiny filament needles are inserted at strategic points of the body to treat conditions ranging from headaches and neck pain to fibromyalgia. The needles provoke the release of endorphins and other hormones in the body; promoting enhanced circulation and a noticeable reduction in pain and inflammation.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical treatment for multiple issues, and is characterized by needles being strategically inserted into pressure points on the body to relieve symptoms. This is believed to reset you qi or life force within your body. This practice is carried out by acupuncturists all over the world. In western medicine, while we don’t know the exact mechanism of action, it is thought to increase blood flow and raise natural painkiller levels in the body. This rise in natural painkillers and increased blood flow are the major benefits of acupuncture. The risks are very few, there is a very limited chance of organ damage, infection, or soreness after a treatment (Mayo Clinic 2012).
Acupuncture is an ancient art of healing that dates back to at least 2,500 years. It has been widely practiced in China and many other Asian countries. Only recently has acupuncture made its way into the western world. Acupuncture accentuates on the natural healing of the body. It involves stimulating acupuncture points by the insertion of very fine, solid, metallic needles.
Acupuncture Taylorsville UTMillions of people deal with chronic pain of some sort on a daily basis. For some, that chronic pain is in the lower back or the neck. For others, the pain resides in the joints. And for some, chronic migraines are a serious problem. Generally, migraines are considered chronic if they last for four hours or longer and occur at least 15 days a month. Can acupuncture in Taylorsville UT be a solution for chronic migraines? Some people say yes!
The weaknesses of acupuncture are very few, as mentioned earlier. The main issue would be trypanophobia, which is the fear of needles, and that would obviously hamper treatment as it would cause more stress being treated with needles, and then having to sit there for 15 minutes. Another weakness would be how untested acupuncture is. The study by Kim (2012) showed a that acupuncture does help with the alleviation of acne, and in the study they cited a few other studies that had similar conclusions that supported the theory, but as a whole there are very few studies on the effectiveness of acupuncture and the improvement of acne. Because of this, it is hard for acupuncture as a treatment for acne to become a common practice, as there is
Acupressure allows the blood to circulate freely, allowing toxins to be emitted or removed, and allowing the nerves to rest. Emotions are stabilized through acupressure by venting the related tension caused by suppressed feelings. Acupressure also has amazing soothing effects on the body. Acupressure also helps upgrade muscle strength, and tone and helps sports injuries by increasing circulation as well as lowering pain. A safe alternative to problems associated with stress such as headaches, ulcers, cramps and insomnia is acupressure therapy. Acupressure techniques are meant to correct imbalances in all systems of the body, by regulating these systems. Acupressure is different from acupuncture in that it is performed without needles. The practitioner uses his or her thumbs, hands, knees or elbows where needed. Glands become stimulated once pressure is applied in that region. Their are fourteen invisible meridians in the human body that carry energy throughout the body. These meridians begin at the fingertips, and are attached to the brain and the related meridian organ. A barrier in the meridian causes the energy to flow slower, which in effect causes something to go wrong in the organ which is related to that meridian. Through acupressure the energy can flow with regularity and the organ can continue its usual function. Acupressure simply reduces pain by stimulating the release of endorphins, which are the body's pain relievers. Acupressure also raises the nutrient supply to muscles by advancing cellular exchange. At the same time, development of damaging fatigue products, metabolic wastes and lactic acid from extreme excercise are deterred. The most significant idea of acupressure is pulse reading. A pulse is a point in the arm where you can feel to find the flow of energy in a meridian. Pulses may also be imaginary. There are nine pulses in the lower arm area that attaches to the wrist. There are two
Many people shy away from trying acupuncture because they don't know how it works, there's no visible proof. Even though acupuncture doesn't require taking a pill or being injected with medicine, it does have positive effects on many people. The human body has approximately 800 to 1000 acupuncture points (Dr. Michael). These points were found through ancient Chinese medicine theories and are where the needles are inserted into the body. Each point has a specific purpose and name. These points lie on one of the body’s fourteen meridians which run from head to toe and connect to the body’s organ systems (Dr. Dorel). The body is a matrix of electromagnetic energy which flows through the fourteen meridians (Acupuncture). Acupuncture works through these organ systems and meridians.
The gate control theory is a theory that researchers believe an area of the spinal cord acts as a gate that either blocks pain messages or transmits the message to the brain. We can feel pain when small, slow-conducting nerve fibers carries the message causing the gate to open, but when large, fast-conducting nerve fibers are carrying the pain message the gates remain close so we don’t feel any pain. The reason why acupuncture works is because endorphins are being released during acupuncture which also happens when we are injured or experiencing stress or extreme pain. Psychological aspects that contribute to our perception of pain is our attention to painful stimulus like when kids are getting shots if we distract them like the study of having
Numerous testing in animals and humans have proven that acupuncture can cause many biological responses. These responses can occur locally, i.e., at or close to the site of application, intermediated by sensory neurons to several constitutions within the central nervous system. The physiological systems can be greatly affected by activating the sensory pathways in the brain. The core attention has been the role of endogenous opioids in acupuncture analgesia. Substantial evidence supports the claim that opioid peptides are released during acupuncture and that the “analgesic effects” of acupuncture are partly explained by their actions. That opioid antagonists such as naloxone reverse the analgesic effects of acupuncture further strengthens this hypothesis. Stimulation by acupuncture may also activate the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, resulting in a wide-ranging spectrum of systemic results. Modification in the secretion of neurotransmitters and neurohormones and changes in the regulation of blood flow, both centrally and peripherally, have been documented (Cherkin D, Sherman K, Avins A,
Acupuncture is practice based on the theory that throughout our body there are vessels. The network of vessels are called meridians. Running through these meridians is something the Chinese refer to as Qi. Qi most closely translates to energy. Qi can be thought of as spirit, nerve impulses, or energy but it can also be blood, lymph, or other body fluids.
Who would have thought that having 10 to 20 small stainless steel needles inserted into your body can actually alleviate pain and improve health? Well for cancer patients this practice can ease nausea, hot flashes, and yes pain. The practice is acupuncture, a 2,000 year old component of traditional Chinese medicine involving stimulation of predetermined points on the body called acupoints. These acupoints have needles inserted for a therapeutic effect. According to the Chinese history, it is the traditional belief that energy flows through the body through channels called meridians. Certain organs, tissue, or organ systems can have increased energy flow through these meridians by stimulating specific acupoints. Thus, in a 30 minute session any person can have a specialized treatment that targets only the ailments specific to that person. This is a great medical practice for anyone, with most patients experiencing no pain from needle insertion, and a fewer than 1 in 10,000 adverse event statistic in risk of injury to the patient (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 2010).