Acupuncture | hornsby-acupuncture

Acupuncture

A therapy with thousands of years of history, is increasingly understood through modern medical research. Beyond physical stimulation, it precisely modulates the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems, producing whole-body regulation effects. This explains its broad therapeutic value, from chronic pain relief to improving sub-health conditions and restoring balance.

🧠 Nervous System – the “Information Highway”

Acupuncture activates nerve endings at acupoints, sending fast electrical signals to the brain (up to 120 m/s).
It has bidirectional regulation:
- For pain, it promotes endorphin release in the spinal cord (natural morphine-like analgesia).
- For insomnia, it calms overactive neurons, shifting brainwaves from beta (alert) to alpha (relaxed).
Electroacupuncture at ST36 (Zusanli) increases vagus nerve activity by 30%, helping regulate heart, gut, and other organs.
Specific points such as LI4 (Hegu) and LR3 (Taichong) are shown to modulate cortical and vascular functions, beneficial for headaches and migraines.

🛡️ Immune System – the “Smart Switch”

Experiments show acupuncture at DU14 (Dazhui) boosts macrophage activity by 40%, strengthening pathogen clearance.
In autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, acupuncture reduces inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α ↓28%) and increases anti-inflammatory ones (IL-10 ↑35%), preventing tissue damage.
For allergic rhinitis, it reduces eosinophil counts by 52%, easing nasal congestion.
Moxibustion (e.g., at BL12 Fengmen) accelerates recovery from colds and, if practiced regularly, lowers winter flu incidence by ~30%.

⚖️ Endocrine System – the “Fine-Tuning Knob”

Menopause: Acupuncture at SP6 (Sanyinjiao) raises estrogen by 15% and lowers FSH, relieving hot flashes.
Diabetes: Moxibustion at CV4 (Guanyuan) enhances β-cell function and increases insulin sensitivity by 20%.
Stress & anxiety: Needling GV20 (Baihui) three times weekly suppresses overactive HPA (hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal) axis, lowering cortisol by 23% in 4 weeks.
Thyroid disorders: Acupuncture around thyroid acupoints helps regulate hormone secretion and shortens treatment duration when combined with medication.

🏮 Conclusion

Acupuncture is no longer seen merely as a traditional practice but as a scientifically validated therapy capable of:

Modulating nervous signals,
Boosting or balancing the immune system,
Fine-tuning hormonal activity.

It demonstrates whole-body regulation and self-healing activation, bridging ancient wisdom with modern biomedical science.