How does acupuncture work?

[Katherine Berry]

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What do you think of this video?

[Carole Rogers]

I have heard so many 'how acupuncture works' explanations that another hardly matters. It is as good as many and probably better than most. What troubles me a little is that every explanation is offered as the definitive answer. Acupuncture is undoubtedly a combination of many physiological (and psychological) mechanisms but to define an exact, single cause/effect mechanism will always be open to question. This does not mean that the system should not be investigated - quite the reverse - but we are still a long way from really understanding 'how acupuncture works'. To offer theories is fine, but to claim they are the definitive answer is folly.

[treayorwsmith]

I just say that acupuncture is the manipulation of the electromagnetic field's flow through the human body. Getting a treatment is merely unblocking the rivers of energy flow. The earth emits an electromagnetic field. The people that discovered how the channels worked lived by nature. They woke up when the sun rose, and went to sleep when the sun set. The only reason why the channels are mapped the way they are is because they all came up with the same routes through trial and error. However the problem with herbal medicine is that our TCM materia medicas only have the qi movement resulting from plants native to east asia.

The schuman resonance effect, the electromagetic field, and gravity all play a part in how acupuncture works. The biggest conflict most of us come across is if the universe does the work after the needles go in, or does the pracitioncer transmit his/her own energy to the patient.

Then again is the energetic field that is being played with our very own energies? souls? we know it leaves the human body at death. Numerous glows above DU-20 have been witnessed from bedside at hosiptals.

[firehorse]

I have a problem when acupuncture is explained in "western terms". Qi is not just electricity! I believe patients are more than capable of understanding the concept of Qi .

[luoqingyang]

HI Everybody,
To explain how acupuncture works to a non-Chinese, you need to read this book Dao of Chinese Medicine by Donald Kendall. He explains it all in there. You can get that book through amazon or through www.evherbs.com