Physiological Effects of Needling:

• Physiological Effects of Needling:
  

 
There is a general effect ofSoreness, Numbness, Distension or Heaviness caused around the site of needlingand along the limb or part of the body punctured.  This general effect also accompanies faintingin some persons and a feeling of shifting of something  within the body. This effect is known as the“Deqi” effect or take effect of the person being treated.  While removing the needle after sometime,there will be a tightening of the muscle fibers around the spot (felt by theAcupuncturist). This effect is referred as Acupuncturist’s deqi. 
Apart from the generaleffect felt by the patient and the healer, the actual Major Physiologicaleffects are explained in the following passages.
 
Analgesic Effect: The nerve endings producecertain neurotransmitters (peptide group of chemical mediators) likeAcetylcholine, Adrenaline, Endorphine and Encephaline.  In addition to the nerves, the Brain andPituitary gland produce Endorphine, which is responsible for a great amount ofpain relief.  Acupuncture needling orAcupressure, effectively increases the levels of such analgesic substances inthe Cerebrospinal fluid, resulting in Pain relief.  Besides Endorphine, Encephaline is a mediatorsecreted in the cells of the Stomach, Large Intestines and of course the Pinealgland and the Brain cells.  Owing to alarger surface area of the Stomach and the Bowels, very important AnalgesicPoints of Acupuncture lie over the Stomach and Large Intestine Channels. Manualor Electrical stimulation to certain points, results in the elevation of thePain Threshold of a person.
 
Sedative Effect:  The secretion of Melatonin over a Day-night(Diurnal) scale has a rhythmic cycle. The Melatonin level in Blood increases during darkness and decreaseswith dawn.  Certain points treated inAcupuncture influence the secretion of Melatonin and such other mediators likeDopamine, for treating  all Psychosomaticdisorders.  Moreover, as the Five elementtheory states, Fire stands for thoughts, emotions, anger, passion, anxiety anda state of sleeplessness.  Sedation ofFire is the goal of certain sedative points.
 
Homeostatic Effect: Various Ions and Plasmaproteins in Blood are responsible for the Homeostatic states of the Lifeprocess like Fever and Chillness, Acidity and Alkalinity of Blood, Urine andCerebro-spinal fluid, High Blood Pressure and Low Blood Pressure, ESR(Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate), Hemoglobin content and so on.  The Midbrain glands function to establish theEquilibrium conditions at times of distress. Acupuncture points that are specific in establishing Homeostasis havebeen found to have tremendous effect on the Homeostasis, more than any otherform of conventional therapy.
 
Immune Enhancing Effect:  The Liver, the Spleen and Bone Marrows aregreatly influenced by the stimulation of certain points, which help in theproduction of Gamma Globulin, Antibodies, Antitoxins and Leucocytes to enhancethe Immunity in a natural way, unlike any other medicine.  Thus Acupuncture is the best preventiveTherapy.
 
Motor Recovery Effect:  There are specific points over muscularregions in the body, which help in the restoration of  the muscular activity in cases of Paralyticdiseases.  This will be better explainedin the advanced sessions.