Acupuncture

Functional Profile of

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a functional and therapeutic technique rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body. While historically explained through the movement of Qi along meridians, modern perspectives recognize its influence on the nervous system, blood flow, fascia, and terrain regulation.

What makes acupuncture unique is that it can feel both stimulating and stabilizing, depending on the body’s starting terrain. The insertion of a needle creates a tiny micro-injury that sparks circulation, nervous system signaling, and tissue repair. On this level, acupuncture is stimulating, it moves what is stuck, awakens dormant functions, and often brings sensations of warmth, tingling, or release.

At the same time, the nervous system sends feedback to the brain, which can shift the body from fight-or-flight into rest-and-digest. This makes acupuncture stabilizing, it calms over-excitation, lowers stress hormones, and reduces pain signals.

In this way, acupuncture works as a bidirectional regulator rather than a one-directional force. If someone is usually slow moving and sluggish, it may feel awakening and circulating. If someone is tense and overdriven, it may feel grounding and calming. Its intelligence lies in nudging the body back toward balance rather than pushing it in a fixed direction.

• Qualities

  👉Qualities describe the felt nature of a substance or practice, and how it acts in the body beyond nutrients or chemistry.

  Stimulating (circulates stagnation, awakens dormant functions)

  Stabilizing (down-regulates overexcited patterns)

  Penetrating (reaches deep layers of fascia, nerves, and organs)

  Modulating (shifts between stimulating or relaxing depending on point selection and terrain needs)

• Medicinal Actions

  👉 Medicinal actions describe the specific ways a food influences organ systems and body functions.

  Nervous System

  Neuroregulator – Balances sympathetic and parasympathetic tone, shifting body out of chronic stress.

  Analgesic – Reduces pain perception by altering neurotransmitters (endorphins, serotonin).

  Circulatory System

  Vasodilator – Enhances local and systemic blood flow.

  Microcirculation Restorer – Reduces stagnation and improves tissue oxygention.

  Endocrine System

  Hormone Modulator – Helps regulate menstrual cycles, fertility, thyroid, and adrenal output.

  Stress Response Stabilizer – Lowers cortisol and moderates HPA axis dysregulation.

  Musculoskeletal System

  Anti-spasmodic – Relieves muscular tension and cramping.

  Structural Restorer – Improves posture and releases fascial constriction.

  Immune System

  Immunomodulator – Balances immune over- or under-reaction.

  Anti-inflammatory – Reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines.

  Digestive System

  Motility Regulator – Improves sluggish or erratic peristalsis.

  Digestive Harmonizer – Helps reduce bloating, nausea, and irregular appetite.

• Medicinal Strength Level

  1st Degree: Gentle regulation (relaxation sessions, stress reduction, nervous system balance).

  2nd Degree: Targeted point prescriptions for pain, digestion, or hormonal cycles.

  3rd Degree: Clinical interventions for chronic or entrenched conditions (migraines, autoimmune flares, metabolic syndromes).

  4th Degree: Advanced therapeutic use in acute or complex cases (post-stroke recovery, infertility protocols, adjunctive cancer care).

• Scientific Mechanisms

  Neurological: Stimulates peripheral nerves → modulates spinal cord reflexes → alters brain signaling (pain perception, mood regulation).

  Circulatory: Increases nitric oxide and vasodilation → improves local and systemic blood flow.

  Endocrine: Regulates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis → balances cortisol, stress hormones, and reproductive hormones.

  Immune: Modulates cytokine release → reduces inflammatory overreaction while supporting defense.

  Fascial/Mechanical: Influences connective tissue planes → restores movement, relieves adhesions, and improves proprioception.

• Herbal Drug Interactions

  Caution if combined with strong blood-moving herbs/medications (anticoagulants, high-dose ginseng, etc.) as acupuncture itself improves circulation and may amplify effects.

  Monitor when clients are on strong nervous system drugs (SSRIs, benzodiazepines, opioids), as acupuncture can alter perceived need for dosage—should be coordinated with prescribing provider.

• Safety & Contraindications

  🚫 When Acupuncture Is Not Suited

  Severe Atrophy / Degenerative Collapse – When tissues are extremely wasted or depleted, acupuncture alone cannot rebuild structure. Examples: Advanced muscle wasting, Connective tissue thinning, Severe nutritional deficiency.

  Note: People often seek acupuncture for infertility without realizing the underlying terrain matters. Acupuncture will not help infertility if it’s due to atrophic/degenerative collapse . Examples: Ovarian failure from nutrient depletion, Uterine lining too thin from atrophy, Sperm production severely compromised by degenerative states.

  Profound Nutrient Deficiency – When the root issue is lack of building blocks (food, vitamins, minerals).
  Examples: Malnutrition, Severe anemia, Chronic protein deficiency.

  Excessive Cold / Depression without congestion – When the system is deeply slowed and underactive, acupuncture may not provide enough stimulation.
  Examples: Profound fatigue with no movement of Qi, Cold digestion with no irritative overlay, Deep hypo-metabolism.

  Acute Medical Emergencies – Acupuncture does not replace urgent care interventions.
  Examples: Heart attack, Stroke, Severe infection, Acute trauma.

Indicated Patterns by Affinity

👉 Indicated patterns describe the functional state of the body and its organs and/or tissues, showing whether they are dry, atrophied, too damp (pressure), stagnant, lax, inflammed, sluggish, tense or underactive. The Primary Indicated Pattern is the main state where this remedy works best. Secondary Indicated Pattern(s) are the patterns that often develop over time when the primary state is left unaddressed. The primary pattern must be supported first, as this allows the secondary patterns to naturally ease or resolve.

👉Affinities are the organ systems and tissues where the remedy acts most strongly.

• Nervous System (Affinity)

  Dysregulated (Primary Indicated Pattern) – When nervous signaling flips between overactivation and underactivation.
  Examples: Anxiety alternating with fatigue, Restless sleep cycles, Stress reactivity with energy crashes.

  Excitation (Secondary Indicated Pattern) – When the nervous system is overfiring, leading to tension or restlessness.
  Examples: Insomnia with racing thoughts, Nervous agitation with palpitations, Tension headaches from nervous heat.

  Depressed (Secondary Indicated Pattern) – When nervous signaling is sluggish or muted.
  Examples: Numbness, Brain fog, Low mood with poor responsiveness.

• Cardiovascular System (Affinity)

  Congestive (Primary Indicated Pattern) – When circulation and flow are stagnant.
  Examples: Cold hands and feet, Heavy limbs from poor flow, Poor healing from low microcirculation.

  Congestive Pressure (Secondary Indicated Pattern) – When tension in vessels restricts smooth flow.
  Examples: Stress-induced hypertension, Head pressure, Facial flushing.

• Musculoskeletal System (Affinity)

  Tension / Spasmodic (Primary Indicated Pattern) – When tight muscles or spasms restrict comfort and function.
  Examples: Neck and shoulder tightness, TMJ or jaw clenching, Low back pain with spasms.

  Atrophy (Secondary Indicated Pattern) – When muscle tone is depleted from weakness or injury.
  Examples: Weak recovery after injury, Muscle wasting in chronic illness, Poor postural support.

• Digestive System (Affinity)

  Hyporesponsive (Secondary Indicated Pattern) – When sluggish digestive signaling reduces motility or appetite.
  Examples: Constipation with low peristalsis, Bloating from slow motility, Low appetite during stress.

  Irritative (Secondary Indicated Pattern) – When nervous-driven gut sensitivity needs modulation.
  Examples: IBS flares, Stress-related cramping, Gut agitation linked to dysregulated nerves.

• Endocrine / Metabolic System (Affinity)

  Erratic Regulation (Primary Indicated Pattern) – When hormonal or metabolic rhythms swing unpredictably.
  Examples: Irregular menstrual cycles, Hot flashes with energy crashes, Cortisol swings tied to stress.

  Hypometabolic (Secondary Indicated Pattern) – When metabolism is sluggish and underactive.
  Examples: Cold body type, Fatigue from low thyroid function, Slow recovery after meals.

Acupuncture excels in patterns of dysregulation, congestion, and tension, helping restore flow, rhythm, and balance without adding external substances. It clears stagnation while calming excitation and tension and gently tonifying congestive and heavy systems.

• References

  Langevin HM et al. "Connective tissue: a body-wide signaling network?" Med Hypotheses. 2004.

  Vickers AJ et al. "Acupuncture for chronic pain: individual patient data meta-analysis." Arch Intern Med. 2012.

  Napadow V, Harris RE. "What has functional neuroimaging taught us about acupuncture?" Semin Pain Med. 2004.

  Zijlstra FJ et al. "Anti-inflammatory actions of acupuncture." Mediators Inflamm. 2003.

  WHO. Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials. Geneva: WHO, 2002.

  Nervous System Regulation - Hui, K. K. S., Marina, O., Liu, J., et al. (2010). The integrated response of the human cerebro-cerebellar and limbic systems to acupuncture stimulation at ST36 as evidenced by fMRI. NeuroImage, 27(3), 479–496.
  → Shows acupuncture’s ability to modulate central nervous system activity.

  Stress & HPA Axis Modulation - Eshkevari, L., Egan, R., Phillips, D., Tilan, J., & Carney, E. (2013). Acupuncture blocks cold stress–induced increases in the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis in rats. Experimental Biology and Medicine, 238(3), 298–306.
  → Evidence for balancing cortisol rhythm and reducing erratic stress responses.

  Cardiovascular Effects - Kim, H. J., Jeong, S. Y., Lee, S. D., et al. (2012). Effect of acupuncture on heart rate variability: A systematic review. Autonomic Neuroscience, 155(1-2), 5–13.
  → Acupuncture improves autonomic regulation of cardiovascular rhythms.

  Fertility & Reproductive Health - Smith, C. A., Armour, M., & Dahlen, H. G. (2019). Acupuncture for subfertility. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 6.
  → Mixed evidence; may improve outcomes when paired with IVF, but insufficient for severe atrophy/degeneration.

  Pain & Musculoskeletal Applications - Vickers, A. J., Vertosick, E. A., Lewith, G., et al. (2018). Acupuncture for chronic pain: Update of an individual patient data meta-analysis. The Journal of Pain, 19(5), 455–474.
  → Strong evidence for relieving tension/spasmodic musculoskeletal pain.