Tag Archive for: how acupuncture works

How acupuncture works?

Acupuncture increases Adenosine 24-fold

acupuncture adenosine

Would you like to hear about the latest breakthrough in acupuncture? I have came across an article on the mechanism of acupuncture in the latest issue of the journal of Nature. A team of amazing scientists from the University of Rochester, New York have discovered that acupuncture triggers an incredible 24-fold increase in neurotransmitter adenosine at the punctured area!

This is big news because it sheds more light the mechanisms of how acupuncture actually works. If you want to learn more about this incredible discovery, check out the Scientific American podcast on the subject or read the article in the latest issue of Nature Neuroscience.

More details in Nature Neuroscience.

Update: there was substantial media coverage of this study, including scientific journals like Scientific American and mainstream media including the New Zealand Herald. I’ve inserted a scanned image of the story in the NZ Herald forwarded to me by one of my colleagues. So go ahead, give it a read and share with your friends!

acupuncture-pain-adenosine-nzherald

Acupuncture for weight loss

Acupuncture for weight loss

This study examines the effects of acupuncture as a treatment option for weight loss in obesity.

Weight loss is a complex health issue. There is more than just a bad diet to it. Decreased insulin resistance, increased stress hormone cortisol levels, erratic/insufficient sleep or sleep disorders to name a few.

The present study summarises the studies on the effects of acupuncture application on obesity.

Some studies have shown that acupuncture application in obesity treatment is effective for weight loss. This natural treatment can regulate appetite, intestinal motility, and metabolism, as well as factors such as stress and sleep.

Additionally acupuncture has number of other effects conductive to slimming:

  • increases neural activity in the ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus,
  • boosts activity in of smooth muscle of the stomach,
  • ups levels of enkephalin,
  • boosts beta endorphin,
  • increases serotonin in plasma and brain tissue.

Application of acupuncture to obese people increases excitability of the satiety centre in the ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus. Additionally it stimulates the auricular branch of the vagal nerve and raises serotonin levels. Both of these activities have been shown to increase tone in the smooth muscle of the stomach, thus suppressing appetite.

Among other beneficial effects, serotonin enhances intestinal motility. It controls stress and depression via endorphin and dopamine production.

In addition to these effects, it is thought that the increase in plasma levels of beta endorphin following acupuncture treatment can contribute to the body weight loss because it helps mobilize the body’s energy depots through lipolithic effect.

Last but not least, as reported in 2019, acupuncture reduces insulin resistance.

During an initial session we look into your situation in detail and decide on the most appropriate treatment. Take the first step today – get in touch to organise your initial consultation.