When most people think of acupuncture they often think of its use in the realm of pain management. It's not much of a surprise to people that acupuncture is great for pain but what is the mechanism of action and why does it work so well for this common complaint? The following are a few of the most common conclusions to these questions.
1. The Gate Theory:
One popular mechanism explaining acupuncture's role in pain management is referred to as the Gate Theory. Simply put, this "gate" controls how much sensory information gets through to our brain. If the "gate" is open, we will feel pain. If the "gate" is closed, pain is diminished. Acupuncture is able to close the "gate" and stop the pain. However, the Gate theory fails to explain why acupuncture is so successful at treating health problems which are not necessarily pain related (ie nausea, digestive problems, menstrual issues etc).
2. Acupuncture Releases our Natural Pain Killers:
Many scientific studies have shown that acupuncture initiates the release of our body's natural pain killers or endogenous opioids; also commonly known as endorphins. Dr. Bruce Pomeranz, at the University of Toronto, has researched this area extensively and is world renowned for his discoveries.
1. The Gate Theory:
One popular mechanism explaining acupuncture's role in pain management is referred to as the Gate Theory. Simply put, this "gate" controls how much sensory information gets through to our brain. If the "gate" is open, we will feel pain. If the "gate" is closed, pain is diminished. Acupuncture is able to close the "gate" and stop the pain. However, the Gate theory fails to explain why acupuncture is so successful at treating health problems which are not necessarily pain related (ie nausea, digestive problems, menstrual issues etc).
2. Acupuncture Releases our Natural Pain Killers:
Many scientific studies have shown that acupuncture initiates the release of our body's natural pain killers or endogenous opioids; also commonly known as endorphins. Dr. Bruce Pomeranz, at the University of Toronto, has researched this area extensively and is world renowned for his discoveries.