How does Acupuncture Work?

The exact mechanism of acupuncture has, not yet been explained by modern science. It has been shown, however, that “stimulating acupuncture points can affect the nervous, endocrine, circulatory, and immune systems.” It is generally thought that acupuncture has pathways other than the nervous system and operates via signals other than currently known neuro-humoral ones. These pathways and signals may be part of a system that precedes the development of the nervous system and other physiological systems in the human embryo.

The traditional, Chinese, philosophical view is that human beings are an energetic conduit between heaven and earth, that the flow of energy is continuous, and that disease is the result of a blockage in the normal flow of energy. By tapping into these meridians and releasing blockages, acupuncture enhances the free flow of energy in the body.

My own understanding of how acupuncture works is that needles break down connective tissue, aligning fascia polymers into a higher crystalline state, which enhances conductivity along fascial planes. The “free flow of Qi” described in traditional Chinese medicine can thus be perceived as conduction of biochemical and biomechanical signals through the connective tissue.