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How Acupuncture Works? By: Chris Kresser LA.c

2/5/2016

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In this post we’re going to explore how acupuncture works from a western scientific perspective. As I’ve argued in the previous articles, there is no disagreement between the fundamental anatomical and physiological concepts of western and Chinese medicine. However, as methods of scientific inquiry have progressed, the mechanisms of acupuncture are beginning to be more clearly understood. Acupuncture effects every major system of the body, including the cardiac, gastrointestinal, circulatory, cerebral, genitourinary, endocrine and immune systems. It would take an entire book to describe all of the mechanisms involved, and in fact there is such a book for those who are interested in that level of detail. In this post my purpose is to summarize that research in a way that’s easy for lay people to understand, while providing links to more technical resources for medical professionals and others that might be interested. Broadly speaking, acupuncture has three primary effects:  It relieves pain.
  1. It reduces inflammation.
  2. It restores homeostasis.
Homeostasis refers to the body’s ability to regulate its environment and maintain internal balance. All diseases involve a disturbance of homeostasis, and nearly all diseases involve some degree of pain and inflammation. In fact, research over the last several decades suggests that many serious conditions like heart disease previously thought to have other causes are in fact primarily caused by chronic inflammation. If we understand that most diseases are characterized by pain, inflammation and disturbance of homeostasis, we begin to understand why acupuncture can be effective for so many conditions.
Several modes of action have been identified for acupuncture, which I’ll discuss below. The mechanisms can get quite complex. But ultimately acupuncture is a remarkably simple technique that depends entirely upon one thing: the stimulation of the peripheral nervous system. It’s important to point out that when nerves supplying acupoints are cut or blocked there is no acupuncture effect.
A large body of evidence indicates that acupoints, or “superficial nodes” as they are more accurately translated, have abundant supply of nerves. According to Chen Shaozong, “For 95% of all points in the range of 1.0 cm around a point, there exist nerve trunks or rather large nerve branches.” 1
The following is a list of mechanisms that have been identified so far:
  • Acupuncture promotes blood flow. This is significant because everything the body needs to heal is in the blood, including oxygen, nutrients we absorb from food, immune substances, hormones, analgesics (painkillers) and anti-inflammatories. Restoring proper blood flow is vital to promoting and maintaining health. For example if blood flow is diminished by as little as 3% in the breast area cancer may develop. Blood flow decreases as we age and can be impacted by trauma, injuries and certain diseases. Acupuncture has been shown to increase blood flow and vasodilation in several regions of the body.
  • Acupuncture stimulates the body’s built-in healing mechanisms. Acupuncture creates “micro traumas” that stimulate the body’s ability to spontaneously heal injuries to the tissue through nervous, immune and endocrine system activation. As the body heals the micro traumas induced by acupuncture, it also heals any surrounding tissue damage left over from old injuries.
  • Acupuncture releases natural painkillers. Inserting a needle sends a signal through the nervous system to the brain, where chemicals such as endorphins, norepinephrine and enkephalin are released. Some of these substances are 10-200 times more potent than morphine!
  • Acupuncture reduces both the intensity and perception of chronic pain. It does this through a process called “descending control normalization”, which involves the serotonergic nervous system. 2 I will explain this process in further detail in the next post.
  • Acupuncture relaxes shortened muscles. This in turn releases pressure on joint structures and nerves, and promotes blood flow.
  • Acupuncture reduces stress. This is perhaps the most important systemic effect of acupuncture. Recent research suggests that acupuncture stimulates the release of oxytocin, a hormone and signaling substance that regulates the parasympathetic nervous system. You’ve probably heard of the “fight-or-flight” response that is governed by the sympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system has been called the “rest-and-digest” or “calm-and-connect” system, and in many ways is the opposite of the sympathetic system. Recent research has implicated impaired parasympathetic function in a wide range of autoimmune diseases, including arthritis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Several other mechanisms have been identified, but the ones I’ve listed above are the most relevant and clearly understood.
Some purists object to acupuncture being described in biomedical terms. They claim that such descriptions are “reductionistic” and narrow-minded, and don’t take into account those aspects of acupuncture that we may not yet understand.
Others who are still committed to the “energy meridian” model are opposed to the biomedical descriptions because, in their eyes, such scientific inquiry “takes the magic” out of acupuncture.
While I agree that there we don’t yet fully understand how acupuncture works, I think it’s vital that practitioners of acupuncture are able to explain what we do know about it from a biomedical perspective to their patients and colleagues in the medical profession. As practitioners we have a moral obligation to provide each patient with the latest medical understanding available in terms they can understand and relate to. Doing this will improve patient outcomes and open the door for acupuncture to be integrated into the healthcare system, which is needed now more than ever.
I would also suggest that explaining the mechanisms of acupuncture in scientific terms should not in any way lessen our appreciation of its uniqueness. The fact that inserting fine needles into the skin can have such a broad range of powerful effects is just as remarkable when those effects are explained in terms of the nervous system as when they are explained in terms of “energy” and “meridians”. When you consider that the Chinese made these discoveries hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, acupuncture is even more impressive.
What’s more, as others have pointed out, acupuncture is inherently holistic even without the “energy meridian” theory because it restores internal homeostasis through the simple act of piercing the skin with a needle.
In the next article I’ll explain the latest theory on how acupuncture relieves pain in more detail. Stay tuned, and as always, I welcome your comments!
 
  1. Shaozong, C. Modern acupuncture theory and its clinical application. (Chapter 5 The Morphologic Relationship between Points and Nerves). International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture. 2001;121(2):149-158 
  2. Dung HC. Anatomical features contributing to the formation of acupuncture points. American Journal of Acupuncture. 1984;12:139-143 
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Thousand Oaks Acorn 9/24/2015

11/23/2015

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http://www.toacorn.com/news/2015-09-24/Business/New_option_for_acupuncture.html

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Grand Opening August 1, 2015

11/21/2015

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    Megaformer Classes

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One-Stop Health and Wellness Hub Opens in Newbury Park
By Mira Reverente
The Megaformer classes are for all ages and all fitness levels.
What if you could do almost everything fitness and health-related in one place? That is Kristin Beierle’s vision. A chiropractor by profession, Beierle does consultations and spine alignments during the day and manages to find time to teach about 40 classes per week at her newly-opened BodyRestoration Chiropractic Clinic off of Old Conejo Road in Newbury Park.
Lithe and limber, the 33-year-old is a walking advertisement for her specialty classes using the Megaformer.“I actually discovered it after chiropractic school,” said Beierle, referring to the workout regimen founded by fitness guru Sebastien LaGree. Quite versatile, the Megaformer machine stimulates and tones the muscles. Every low-impact movement targets different muscle groups and can be modified according to one’s ability or fitness level.
Beierle emphasizes incorporating the chiropractic philosophy of “how structure determines function” into her program. “I target the structure of the body in my treatment room, so people can function their best on the machines,” she said Chiropractor Kristin Beierle (left) currently teaches all of the Megaformer classes in Newbury Park.
Beierle’s 40-minute classes have been described in a recent article as “the love child of CrossFit and Pilates “It’s good for anybody and everybody because it helps you achieve balance, toning and gets your adrenaline pumping,” she said.
And they seem to appeal to everyone, whether they’re high-schoolers or seniors. “It’s for people ready to make a change,” said Beierle.
This writer got to sample one of the “lunch rush” classes. The Megaformer was initially intimidating with its straps as well as yellow and red springs that needed to be adjusted every now and then to increase or decrease intensity. As class progressed, this writer got into the energetic flow moving with Beierle’s expert and soothing guidance.  Suffice it to say, the Megaformer not only engages your muscles but your mind as well. Unlike other “auto-pilot” workouts, this one involved a lot of focus and concentration.
Licensed acupuncturist Becky Castaño lends her Oriental medicine expertise to Body Restoration Chiropractic.
What if you already take care of your workout regimen but want to de-stress more? Some relaxing acupuncture may be just what you need. Focused on the wellness of mind, body and spirit, Becky Castaño practices this type of Chinese medicine at the clinic. A licensed acupuncturist, Castaño believes that the ancient practice is good for everyone, whether  young or old, active or sedentary. “It increases blood flow and decreases inflammation and pain,” said Castaño, holding up a typical needle, no thicker than a cat’s whisker. “If you’re stressed or feeling ‘off-balanced,’ acupuncture can make you more centered and relaxed.”
Castaño also practices Japanese-style “cupping,” which increases warmth and circulation in the body and can be used alongside acupuncture. In addition, she is schooled in Chinese herbal medicine, moxibustion and aroma touch, all designed to achieve balance and wellness.

For deeper tissue work, holistic health practitioner Todd Sellers is also on-site. Specializing in a blend of Eastern and Western modalities, including deep tissue massage, Sellers believes in “getting to the root of the problem.”The Megaformer workout engages your body as well as your mind.“I like to ask questions and figure out what the patient needs, what he/she does, in order to figure out how I can best help him/her,” said Sellers, who is a licensed massage therapist. “I pay attention to micro-signals, say a bit of twitching, which may signal that there’s another issue or pain in a different area other than what the patient mentioned.”
Especially with the proliferation of newer gadgets and widespread technology, it is not unusual for Sellers to come across an increasing number of hand, shoulder or back issues with computer users. “It’s just the way it is, the price we pay for technology,” he said. “Fortunately, we can address that here.”
To complete the clinic’s total wellness approach, there’s an on-call registered dietitian, according to Beierle. “It’s all part of our inside-out approach to helping people maintain an active and healthy lifestyle,” she said.Body Restoration Clinic’s formal grand opening celebration is on Saturday, August 1, from 12-4 p.m.
For more information or to book a class or an appointment, click here.
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TRUST

2/23/2015

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Trust and Gratitude Musings 
By: Becky Castano LAc., Dipl.OM
January 20, 2015 
  1. Feeling Blessed!
  2. "I truly believe we can either see the connections, celebrate them, and express gratitude for our blessings, or we can see life as a string of coincidences that have no meaning or connection. For me, I'm going to believe in miracles, celebrate life, rejoice in the views of eternity, and hope my choices will create a positive ripple effect in the lives of others. This is my choice." - Mike Ericksen
  3. Sometimes you have to put all the stress, worry and fear behind you and truly step fully into trust; reminds me of the moment i chose to jump out of a perfectly descent airplane Skydived at 21, or the moment i met my husband for the first time alone in Houston International Airport; reminds me of the level of trust to enroll in a Master's Degree Program and actually finish what you start and trust that you can do it. It reminds me of the deep level of Trust my husband executed after a medical incident this year; he trusted his body and he trusted his full recovery. 
  4. Divine Strength comes through when you had no idea it existed in such strong potencies.
  5. I am overwhelmed with Gratitude of connecting to these important life events that required a large surmountable quantity of Trust. What does it fully mean to Trust? I suppose allowing high quantities of Love, Trust to over power Fear and worry. Its like a grid once you attach your thoughts to gratitude and trust you spin in that vortex or frequency of pure divine trust. 
  6. I choose to invoke Trust I am willing to surrender into full unwavering divine trust. thank you divine 
  7. This Divine trust will carry you it will guide you. Trust it! trust me I know that your Soul as mine belongs to Trust, light, love and gratitude. 
  8. Before I leave this world I want to be remembered as someone who was filled to overwhelming abundance of Gratitude. I had faith in your Body temple to heal itself. Executed large quantities of Trust. Sometimes we need support along our Journey and the more Grateful we are the more we trust the more support is knocking on our doors. 
  9. I am so grateful throughout my life on so many levels of community support, community love, generosity, charity and kindness. 
  10. all i can ask Is for someday everyday to give back, never quit, continue to serve, continue to love, continue to choose love & trust. 
  11. May we listen to our heart to that still small voice inside that guides us protect us and obeys our thoughts commands. AMEN 
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Fertility Acupuncture 

1/9/2015

 

Coming Soon 

Pregnancy Acupuncture 

1/9/2015

 

Pregnancy Acupuncture 

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MOBILE MATERNITY CARE 

1/1/2015

 

MOBILE MATERNITY ACUPUNCTURE 

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Mobile Maternity Care is when a provider is willing to offer treatment in the comfort of your own home. Becky Lee Castano LAc understands the busy life of mother's and understands the mind set of pregnancy and all the demand's on a woman's body. She offers Concierge mobile acupuncture in Conejo Valley, Ventura County and surrounding cities. To set up an appointment for Concierge Mobile Maternity Acupuncture you can send her a TEXT  (805) 2067615 or EMAIL  Beckycastano@live.com with your Interest in Mobile Acupuncture care. 

Featured in Cosmo Magazine

12/16/2014

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http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sexlove/news/a31330/what-its-really-like-to-have-a-home-birth/_
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Cosmopolitan Magazine: Birth interviews Becky Castano as "Mom B"sharing her 2009 Water Birth in Marina Del Rey, CA  By: Heather Wood Rudulph

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What is your Fertility Type?

12/9/2014

 

What is your Fertility Type?

Check out this talented successful colleague in New York and all her amazing resources this Website is a reflection of her best selling book "Making Babies" By: Jill Blakewell LAc I highly recommend her book to my patients and this wonderful questionaire.

http://www.makingbabiesprogram.com/questionnaire/

Free Birth Plan Template 

12/2/2014

 

FREE BIRTH PLAN TEMPLATE 
http://blog.earthmamaangelbaby.com/birth-plan/

FREE Herbs & BREASTFEEDING (PDF)
http://blog.earthmamaangelbaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/EMAB-Herbs-and-Breastfeeding-eBook.pdf

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415 Rolling Oaks Dr. Suite 180 ​Thousand Oaks, CA 91361
  • HOME
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  • ACUPUNCTURE
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  • CONTACT US
  • MATERNITY
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  • RESOURCES
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  • YELP
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