People are frequently nervous when they come in for the first acupuncture treatment and it’s usually because they either don’t know what to expect or they have incorrect visions of what actually happens during a session. So let’s break it down to give everyone a better understanding of what occurs biologically in the body when someone receives and acupuncture treatment.
The first thing to understand is that the “pain” everyone expects is not really an issue. The needles are so small and thin that they rarely are felt. And even if a patient does feel the needle being placed, it is usually very quick and mild. What is taking place is the stimulation of sensory nerves. The needle activates small sensory nerve fibers in the skin and muscle. These signals travel to the spinal cord and brain. This can alter pain processing pathways, reduce hypersensitivity and modulate how the brain interprets pain signals. In fact, functional MRI’s have shown that acupuncture can change activity in brain regions associated with pain and emotional regulation.
Once a needle is sitting there, the tissue around it gets to work without any effort from you. Blood flow picks up locally and the small controlled stimulus nudges your nervous system into releasing its own pain-dampening chemistry, along with a rise in adenosine, a natural painkiller. When needles are inserted into muscles, they can decrease excessive muscle tension, improve local circulation, influence motor unit activity and reduce inflammation by modulating cytokine levels, affecting immune cell activity and influencing autonomic nervous system balance.
Then comes the best part. Somewhere in the first ten or fifteen minutes, something shifts in the whole body. Your breathing gets deeper and slower. Your shoulders come down from around your ears. The mental chatter fades out. Many patients fall into a light nap. Physiologically your body has slid out of fight-or-flight and into rest-and-digest. And that shift is the single most dependable thing acupuncture does, as well as the state in which the body actually repairs. This is proof that acupuncture positively affects the central nervous system. Acupuncture stimulates the release of endogenous opioids (your body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals), including endorphins and enkephalins. It can also influence serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, the neurotransmitters involved in pain, mood and stress regulation.
Once the needles are removed, many patients feel relaxed and even sleepy. So I always suggest that patients listen to their bodies upon leaving a session. The effects of a session can last for several hours. Acupuncture stimulates nerves, influences the brain and spinal cord, modulates inflammatory signaling, and affects muscle function. It is not magic. It is a form of neuromodulation. When used appropriately and consistently, acupuncture can provide relief in many ways, as well as help keep the body functioning optimally. So don’t fear the needle and give it a chance to help transform your life.