Can one needle really make a difference?
If you have had acupuncture in the past, chances are you will probably have been needled with around eight to 12 needles as most points are bilateral (on both sides of the body) so each point, if needled symmetrically, is needled twice. There are however other schools of thought when it comes to acupuncture practice, and I have just finished my training in another one with great results. It is based on ancient channel theory and is known for its use of very few needles and that the points are needled mostly on the hands and feet (distal areas of the body). It is called Balance Acupuncture.
In the late 21st century Dr Richard Teh-fu Tan, systemised ancient classical theories, and drew on Master Tung’s work from the mid 20th century, to teach what he termed Balance Acupuncture. His work and teachings became quickly popular due to its instant results for patients; less needles and results noticed while still on the table.
How can this be possible? It is hard to be sure, but new scientific research published by Fung, PC hypothesises1 that it could be explained by a combination of mechanotransduction, cells durotaxis and mast cell degranulation. But if, like me, all those words don’t mean much to you then here’s my break down of the theory.
Our bodies are made up of our skeletal structure held together by connective tissues such as ligaments, muscles, tendons and the fascia. Between this connective tissue is a mesh of collagen fibres called the interstitium, which contains a “magical” fluid called the interstitial fluid. Interestingly, the interstitium is called by some in the medical profession the newest and largest organ in the human body as it was only identified and accurately described in 20182 and plays such a crucial role in fluid dynamics, absorbing mechanical impact to protect other organs and for its role as a “super highway”.
Your interstitial fluid acts as a “super highway” for all sorts of substances such as water, nutrients, waste, electrolytes and most importantly, cellular messengers like hormones and immune activators. A popular belief in the acupuncture community is that when a needle is placed in one spot on your body it has a ripple effect, like a pebble being dropped into a pond. These ripples pass from cell to cell via the super highway of meridians to facilitate a healing response.
Being a practitioner of both Chinese Medicine and Naturopathy I often find myself relieved to remember one of the basic principles taught to us in our first year of university, Vis Medicatrix Naturae or the “healing power of nature”3 . This core tenet states that our bodies have an inherent, ordered and intelligent capacity to maintain health, resist disease and self-heal. I am relieved to remember this, because it takes the ego out of my work; to know that I don’t have to tell your body how to heal, but rather I can trust that your body is innately intelligent and can heal itself with the help of just one needle.
Read more about Dr Shirley TCM
Dr Shirley O’Dwyer currently practices at Ranges Integrative Health on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Bookings can be made online from our bookings page or by calling 9754 2062.
1 Fung PC. Probing the mystery of Chinese medicine meridian channels with special emphasis on the connective tissue interstitial fluid system, mechanotransduction, cells durotaxis and mast cell degranulation. Chin Med. 2009 May 29;4:10. doi: 10.1186/1749-8546-4-10. PMID: 19480699; PMCID: PMC2694206.
2 Benias, P.C., Wells, R.G., Sackey-Aboagye, B. et al. Structure and Distribution of an Unrecognized Interstitium in Human Tissues. Sci Rep 8, 4947 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-23062-6
3 Snider P, Zeff J. Unifying Principles of Naturopathic Medicine Origins and Definitions. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2019 Aug;18(4):36-39. PMID: 32549831; PMCID: PMC7219457.
