In November 2015 I attended a joint conference at Harvard medical school for oncology, fascia and acupuncture. Many prominent MD’s and researchers presented fascinating cases. But the most profound moment for me was during the second presentation, when an oncology surgeon made this comment: "We know acupuncture works, it's just a matter of how it can work alongside western medicine."
I was blown away, flooded with relief and validation. Sadly, I am way too accustomed to "selling" this medicine to western medical professionals and even some patients. It’s disheartening because I did not study this beautiful, ancient system to be a sales person. I studied because I want to help people get well and I believe it is an essential tool. I don't just mean freeing people from physical pain, I mean freeing them of emotional pain and discomfort. That includes, sadness/depression, anxiety, insomnia, digestive disturbances - the list is long.
Do you know what all these symptoms have in common? Nervous system imbalance. One of the ways acupuncture works so effectively is because it directly affects the nervous system. Most acupuncture points are areas with increased nerve sensitivity and stimulating these points triggers a response in the brain. The brain then sends the appropriate response to the area being treated. It’s a bit more complex than that but that’s another story!