The Nervous System and Acupuncture
The Nervous System and Acupuncture
How important is our nervous system?
Our brain and spinal cord dictate the main interactions of all of our body and mind's information. And it expands out to every aspect of our selves in a massive information highway that controls how we live, move and even feel. Our muscles, organs, skin, our every sensation and movement, our ability to think and process information, even our breathing and hearts beating- all are dictated by the communication between our brain and the rest of our body via the nervous system. The nervous system is the command and maintenance center for our physical, mental, and emotional health.
In a way it can be analagous to the motion of walking. We don't think twice about it, it's an inherent ability. But it all starts with the conscious thought to walk, then the nervous signals from the brain activate all the muscles down to the limbs. The lungs must provide respiration, the heart must provide circulation, it’s an entire intricate electrical signaling and energy production system that works to activate and sustain movement. Before you know it, your arms are swinging, your legs are taking steps, and your entire body propels forward. It's something we are able to do instinctually without thinking, but when you break it down, you can see how synergistically and even mechanically everything actually works together. There are so many different parts that must come together to create one collective function.
So naturally, there needs to be both a focal point and also the big picture view when we deal with health, to have a holistic view. The body and its health is not its singular parts. Disease is all about recognizing the symptoms and understanding the root cause of why it is there. We must be able to see which part is in dysfunction and how it affects the whole system as a whole. That would be considered true holistic health.
Acupuncture is its own medical system with its own diagnostic systems and approaches. However, despite the different medical schools of science and thought, ultimately they are different languages discussing and relating to the same body structure. So it is no surprise that modern research shows many overlaps in the ancient science of acupuncture to discoveries of the nervous system.
Acupuncture has a direct effect on our nervous system and it is highly effective in utilizing specific therapeutic methods in treating conditions of the brain and the functions of nerves. The application of acupuncture sends strong signals to activate the nervous system, accessing the full scope of its involvement and processes. By doing so, it can affect every aspect of the human body and regulate both body and mind. Changes and results are systemic and often immediate.
Modern research shows that numerous acupuncture points that have been discovered and applied centuries ago, coincide with many nerves, particularly nerve bundles. So there is great efficacy in acupuncture accessing the response of the nervous system, especially when specific needling techniques are applied. So what does that mean? It means that in conjunction with the diagnostic applications of acupuncture, accessing the nerves can work towards regulating and healing either overactive or underactive nerve function.
So that explains how the treatment of acupuncture offers expansive results.
The Nervous System Overview
These may be bullet points that we have already read or heard or been lectured about before. It’s not new information, but let’s still do a broad overview and be reminded how powerful and far-reaching the nervous system is. To understand how it links up to the treatment of acupuncture, so we can see how it relates to us and our health today.
The nervous system is comprised of the central and peripheral systems connecting the brain to the mind and body. It allows for motor control, sensory perception, thought processing, and emotion. It is generally the makeup of our abilities and essentially makes us who we are.
Central Nervous System
The Central Nervous System comprises of the brain and the spinal cord.
The brain functions can be broadly divided into the categories of:
-Thought processes, such as information collection, analysis, judgment, memory, planning, execution, motor function, speech, etc.
-Emotional and sensory perception, such as cold, heat, joy, grief, sight, taste, smell, sound, pain, irriation, etc.
-To regulatory processes necessary to staying alive and healthy, such as heart rate, respiration, appetite, body temperature, sweating, swallowing, blood pressure, etc.
So the brain essentially makes up who we are, how we feel, and how we present to others and to the outer world.
The spinal cord relays and receives information to and from the brain. It has 33 vertebrae that makes up its structure. It not only provides physical mobility but every single vertebrae has associated nerves that at every level allows for motor function, sensory perception, and they all link to specific parts of our organ system which directly affects its autonomic functions to keep them working.
Acupuncture and particularly with Neurological Acupuncture directly accesses the functions of the brain and spinal cord. What that means is that it can affect all the aforementioned aspects- having great influence in treating motor and sensory dysfunction, as well as dysautonomia. This is why it is so highly effective for neurological conditions because it can help restore disabilities derived from neurological diseases in specific areas of the nervous system, such as aphasia, tremors, facial paralysis, stubborn shooting pain, loss of balance or control, etc.
Beyond that, acupuncture and herbal medicine can further support any condition with holistic support of the immune system, regulate blood pressure, improve digestive function, treat inflammation, and work on stress management. All of which combines for the well-rounded well-being of the patient.
Peripheral Nervous System
The peripheral nervous system connects the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body as well as its external environment. It is the connectivity between the various layers of tissues and organic matter. Similarly to acupuncture meridians, it is the livelihood of physiological functions, movement, and perception. The PNS relays specific functions of communication which are divided into 3 main categories: motor, sensory, and autonomic.
Motor – This would be considered the output channel, relaying information from the brain to the external environment. It is the command output that leads to a chain of actions allowing the human body to make any movement at all. A disconnection in this part of the system, meaning when there is a failure of the person to accomplish an intended movement, would be diagnostic.
Sensory – This would be considered the input channel, relaying information from the external environement to the brain. This includes the cranial nerves that connect all of the sensory input of taste, sight, sound, smell. On a more expansive scale, it relays a myriad levels of touch sensation to the brain. Signals of heat, cold, different types of pain, and even numbness are diagnostic signs.
Autonomic – the autonomic nervous system maintains base physiological functions that needs to be active and regulated consistently, like heart rate, respiration, digestion, detoxification, etc. It is parallel in function to acupuncture meridians to support organ function of all the systems. In its regulatory means, it modulates the systems from either hyperactivity or hypoactivity, to homeostasis.
Acupuncture accesses the full scope of the nervous system, which is why it works so well for motor issues like pain management, joint immobility, muscle tension, trauma and injury. For sensory issues like numbness, hypersensitivity, nerve pain, paralysis, neuropathy. And it's probably best known for its autonomic applications, commonly called stress management, and what that often means is it regulates blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, respiration, and so forth.
In many more severe neurological conditions, conventional medicine may offer muscle relaxants, steroids, painkillers, surgery. They may work in temporarily relieving pain by altering our perception of pain, but the physical cause of pain is still there. It’s the conditions that create the disease.
Acupuncture can directly access the nervous system and resolve issues such as the varying degrees of numbness, misfiring nerves that cause shooting pain, and helping to release the knotting of surrounding tissues to heal and lift pressure off of the nerves. It’s a multi-level curative process that eases the body back into natural function.
A healthy nervous system helps us move through all activities, allows us to perceive sensations, and maintain balanced health. It encompasses the rhythm of our breath, the pace of our hearts, how we respond to stimulation. It even affects our body temperature, appetite, sleep, and how we feel pain or pleasure. It can calm us down from the flight or fight mode.
Any disruption in its signals can progressively lead to illness and pain.
An unhealthy nervous system can cause excruciating pain, stiffness of limbs and joints, hypersensitivity, immobility, paralysis, weakness, atrophy of muscle tissues, inexplicable states of stress, loss of memory, aphasia,
The nervous system is the command and maintenance center for our physical, mental, and emotional health. Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine work seamlessly at every level of the body’s nervous system to restore, correct, improve, and heal.
If you find any problematic issues in these areas, it's likely your nervous system could be improved and requires healing.
Call us now at A New Day Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic and see how we can help make your life healthier, better, naturally.