Understanding Pain
Chinese medicine and SCENAR therapy addresses pain by helping the body heal itself. They not only treat symptoms, like taking a painkiller, but also corrects imbalances in the body, thereby promoting health and wellbeing.
Acupuncture is a key therapy within Chinese Medicine; it is like a switch reminding the body of what it should be doing - reprogramming the body to achieve health. This can be explained by taking the example of back pain. Although you may feel pain in your back, the perception of pain is created in the brain. Acupuncture works not only to heal the pain locally, in your back, but also in your brain. Unlike other approaches, acupuncture treats both aspects of the pain, without the side-effects of drugs.
Over the past 30 years many scientific studies have attempted to understand what exactly this healing process is. Various theories have been put forward as to how acupuncture works:
1. Biochemical changes – the brain’s production of neuropeptides such endorphins are stimulated and reduce pain sensitivity. They are potent analgesic agents and different amounts are released into the central nervous system due to the insertion of needles. They also promote feelings of wellbeing.
2. Effects on specific neurotransmitters – serotonin and hormone production is increased. This effect is cumulative and it is thought acupuncture is regulating the body’s autonomic mechanisms that control physiological reactions to pain. It activates the parasympathetic nervous system to decrease stress, muscle tension, anxiety and irritability.
3. Pain-gate theory – acupuncture has been found to block the conduction of pain sensations via ‘gates’ within the nervous system, so that impulses do not reach the spinal cord or brain.