Western Medical Acupuncture can be seen as scientific Acupuncture. In this form of Acupuncture the use of current understanding of structure and function of the body is utilised. This is an evolving area as there are still large gaps in the understanding of neurophysiology of the human body. With future research there is little doubt that there will be even better understandings into the mechanisms of Acupuncture.
Current known mechanisms of acupuncture include:
Local Hormone effects -various local hormones are released on insertion of local needling.
Segmental Analgesia -needling triggers action potentials which travel to the spinal cord releasing natural opiates.
Extrasegmental analgesia -action potentials from needling can travel beyond the segmental level to the brainstem, stimulating the bodies own suppressing mechanisms.
Central regulatory effects -action that travel beyond the brainstem to the midbrain can influence structures such as the hypothalamus and limbic system. This explains acupunctures calming effects and feeling of well being.
Myofascial trigger points are essentially areas of nervous excitability within muscle. This results in the development of tight bands of muscle or fascia. Acupuncture can be used to reduce this excitability.