Gaynor Hollis Acupuncture
  • Home
  • About
  • Treatments
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • British Acupuncture Association
  • World Health Organisatioin
  • Blog
  • Data Protection

ACUPUNCTURE BLOG

Nitric oxide and why acupuncture works

10/12/2018

0 Comments

 
Science has provided some information about why acupuncture can help with pain in muscles, tendons and other areas of the body. And it’s all to do with nitric oxide.
Apparently the endothelium (inner lining) of blood vessels uses nitric oxide to signal the surrounding smooth muscle to relax, thus resulting in vasodilation (the widening of blood vessels) and increasing blood flow. Nitric oxide is highly reactive (having a lifetime of a few seconds), yet diffuses freely across membranes.
The researchers found that acupuncture and heat which could be from moxabustiin can lead to elevated levels of nitric oxide in the skin at the "acupoints" where the needles are inserted and manipulated. They noted that nitric oxide increases blood flow and encourages the release of analgesic or sensitizing substances, which causes the skin to feel warmer and contributes to the beneficial pain reducing effect of the therapies.
It’s good to know that after nearly 2000 years of use, science is contributing to an understanding of why acupuncture and moxabustion works.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    About
    Gaynor Hollis is a Classical Five Element Acupuncturist with a thriving practice in Birmingham. She is interested in all things healthy and life style related not just Chinese and Japanese acupuncture.


    Archives

    February 2020
    August 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017

    Categories

    All
    Courses For Acupuncturists
    Food
    Sleep

    RSS Feed

Picture
  • Home
  • About
  • Treatments
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • British Acupuncture Association
  • World Health Organisatioin
  • Blog
  • Data Protection