A natural approach to your health and well-being
A natural approach to your health and well-being
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Welcome!
Welcome to the website of Healing Hands Acupuncture, Michele Rehrer located at 6275 A1A South, St. Augustine, FL. I thank you for visiting the website. It is my hope that I can assist in informing you of what Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine can do for you and your health. It is also my mission to bring health and healing to each and every patient that walks in our office. While we can't guarantee success in every case, that is most certainly our goal and to help you achieve better health!
~ Michele A. Rehrer, AP, DACM, RM
For more information on Acupuncture & Oriental medicine, scroll down or click on the Services tab.
How does it work?
There are several explanations for acupuncture’s effects on the body and I will elaborate of two explanations: the traditional view and the contemporary, scientific view.
Traditional View
The traditional view of how acupuncture works involved the mechanism of Qi. Ancient practitioners discovered and believed that Qi flows in 12 major meridians or pathways throughout the body in a 24 hour cycle. Qi is the vitalistic principle that gives the body “life” and is accessed at specific points along these channels where it collects. Certain points have affinities for addressing certain pathologies in the body either adding energy to the system or taking it away in conditions where it is in pathological excess. Altering and manipulating the flow of Qi in the body aids in restoring balance to the system increasing a person’s potential for health and alleviating pain.
Scientific View
The scientific view of acupuncture’s effect involves several different theories which include the Placebo, Neurological or Gate, Neurhumoral, and Bio-electromagnetism theories.
Placebo Theory
It could be said that any and all medicines and interventions have the potential of having a placebo effect on healing and could be said that acupuncture is no different. Although belief most certainly is a very powerful aid to healing and wellness, acupuncture’s effect far surpass just a belief. This explanation for acupuncture’s effects though is incomplete.
Stimulation of acupuncture points has been shown to produce a wide variety of physiological responses in the body. Secondly, there is controversy on placebo based studies which may produce inaccurate results. Some pain studies involving acupuncture has produced 70-80% results while only 30% with placebo.
Neurological or Gate Theory
In 1975 the Gate theory of nerve transmission was formulated in which the premise of acupuncture stimulation primarily affects the nervous systems causing a block to pain stimuli and producing pain relieving messages. This process involves the brain and spinal chord in a messenger and signal oriented relationship. While this explanation is useful, it is also incomplete as acupuncture’s effects go beyond the treatment of pain oriented conditions. In addition, acupuncture's effects continue after the needles are removed and may last for days or longer.
Neurohumoral Theory
The neurohumoral theory was developed in the 1970’s after scientist discovered the body chemical endorphins. This theory states that acupuncture stimulates afferent fibers within the muscle tissue where these fibers connect the hypothalamus-pituitary axis, an important link with the nervous systems response to pain. New research is showing that acupuncture release substances that trigger other physiological responses such as:
- Increased white blood cell production
- Decrease in cholesterol and triglycerides
- Glucose and cortisol regulation
- Regulation of serotonin directly related to mood elevation
Bioelectromagnetism Theory
Within the human body are very low-intensity electromagnetic (EM) fields that signal certain physiological states, influencing things such as biological and circadian rhythms, immune and endocrine functions, and many others. These weak fields are much more difficult to detect that the larger EM fields of the earth and man-made EM’s, however these field have shown to have an influencing at the atomic level of the cells.
Some researchers believe acupuncture works by transmitting electromagnetic signals to adjust physiological process towards a state of homeostasis or balance. Other hypothesis have sprung up from this theory, such as the Zhang-Popp Hypothesis, which relate to this bioelectromagnetic principle and correspond more closely to the ancient concept of Qi in the body.
Is it safe?
When practiced by a licensed, trained acupuncturist, acupuncture is considered extremely safe. There is no concern of overdose or drug interaction involved with the therapy. As with any medical intervention there are always risks however. Your practitioner takes the appropriate and lawful steps to insure that whatever risk is associated with the intervention will be minimized. Before treatment, your practitioner will go over any of the risk associated with acupuncture and answer whatever questions you may have regarding the therapy.
