Exciting new research studies demonstrating the effects of acupuncture on the human body are being published almost daily!  Here's a glimpse of the latest:

• Neuroimaging studies show that acupuncture calms areas of the brain that register pain.
• Doppler ultrasound shows it increases blood flow in treated areas. This creates a systemic response for tissue repair and muscle relaxation.
• Brain scans demonstrate that acupuncture creates signals to the brain that cause the release of pain-killing endorphins. 
• In Nature Neuroscience, adenosine (a natural compound in the body) became active in the tissue where the acupuncture was performed. This compound has been found to play a key role in modulating pain. This research shows another way in which acupuncture reduces pain in the body, furthering the connection between acupuncture and central nervous system.

All of these studies demonstrate that the physiological process of how acupuncture works is a complex system involving the immune system and central and peripheral nervous systems. It also explains why acupuncture can effectively treat so many diseases and has been a mainstay of medical treatment around the world for thousands of years!