Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine, sterile needles into specific areas of the body.

While acupuncture has been practised for thousands of years within Chinese medicine, modern research has also investigated its effects through anatomy, neurophysiology and pain science.

From a contemporary perspective, acupuncture can be understood as a form of sensory stimulation. Inserting and manipulating a needle activates sensory receptors and peripheral nerve fibres, sending signals into the spinal cord and brain.

These signals can influence the way the nervous system processes pain and other sensory information, including through spinal and brainstem pathways involved in descending pain modulation.

Local effects around the needle site may also contribute to changes in blood flow, connective tissue signalling and the chemical environment of the tissues.

Rather than viewing acupuncture as one single mechanism, it is more accurate to think of it as a stimulus capable of interacting with several overlapping nervous-system and local physiological processes.

How Does Acupuncture Interact With the Nervous System?

The nervous system is constantly receiving information from the body and deciding how that information should be interpreted and responded to.

Acupuncture adds a controlled sensory input into this system.

Needle stimulation activates peripheral sensory nerves, which transmit information to the spinal cord and onward to areas of the brain involved in pain processing, sensory integration and autonomic regulation.

Research into acupuncture has explored several potential mechanisms, including:

• modulation of pain signalling within the spinal cord

• activation of descending pain-modulating pathways from the brainstem

• changes in endogenous pain-modulating chemicals, including opioids

• modulation of sensory processing within the brain

• local effects within muscles, connective tissue and surrounding tissues

• interactions with autonomic nervous system activity

The relative importance of these mechanisms varies depending on the type of stimulation, treatment location and condition being treated, and many aspects of acupuncture neurophysiology are still being investigated.

This is also why acupuncture treatment at East Brunswick Acupuncture is not based on using the same set of points for everyone. Your symptoms, examination findings, sensitivity to stimulation and response to previous treatments all help guide how treatment is applied.

What Can Acupuncture Be Used For?

People seek acupuncture for many different reasons, particularly when pain, muscle tension or persistent symptoms are affecting day-to-day life.

Some of the presentations I commonly see in clinic include:

• Lower back and neck pain

• Headaches and migraine

• Shoulder, elbow, hip and knee pain

• Jaw pain and TMJ dysfunction

• Sciatica and other nerve-related symptoms

• Persistent musculoskeletal pain

• Peripheral neuropathy

• Menstrual and menopause-related symptoms

• Stress-related symptoms and sleep disturbance

The amount and quality of research supporting acupuncture varies considerably between conditions. For some pain conditions there is a relatively substantial evidence base, while for others the evidence remains limited or developing.

For this reason, acupuncture should not be presented as a treatment that is appropriate for every condition or every person. Where your symptoms require medical investigation or another form of care, I will recommend this as part of your treatment plan.

What Happens During an Acupuncture Appointment?

Your first appointment begins with a detailed consultation so I can understand what has brought you in, your health history and what you would like help with.

Where relevant, this may be followed by a physical or neurological assessment, movement testing and palpation to better understand the tissues and nervous-system structures that may be involved.

From there, treatment is selected according to your individual presentation.

This may include manual acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, Tuina massage, cupping or other techniques where clinically appropriate.

Treatment plans are not predetermined. The number and frequency of appointments will depend on your presentation, how long you have experienced the symptoms and how you respond to treatment.

What Does Acupuncture Feel Like?

Acupuncture needles are extremely fine and are very different from the needles used for injections or blood tests.

You may feel a brief sensation as a needle is inserted, followed by sensations such as heaviness, warmth, tingling, pressure or a dull ache around the area.

Strong stimulation is not necessary for every person or every condition. Needle technique and intensity can be adjusted according to your sensitivity, presentation and treatment goals.

If you are nervous about needles, please let me know. Treatment can be adapted and explained as we go.

Manual Acupuncture and Electro-Acupuncture

Both manual acupuncture and electro-acupuncture use acupuncture needles to provide sensory stimulation, but the way that stimulation is delivered differs.

With manual acupuncture, needles may be gently manipulated by hand.

With electro-acupuncture, a small electrical current is passed between selected acupuncture needles. This allows the frequency and intensity of stimulation to be controlled more precisely.

Different frequencies of electro-acupuncture are being investigated for their effects on peripheral nerves, spinal pathways, brainstem networks and endogenous pain-modulating systems.

At East Brunswick Acupuncture, electro-acupuncture is used when it is appropriate for the individual presentation rather than as a default part of every treatment.

Learn more about how electro-acupuncture works

Is Acupuncture Safe?

When performed by a suitably trained and registered practitioner, acupuncture is generally considered a low-risk intervention.

I use single-use, sterile acupuncture needles and follow Australian infection-control and professional practice standards.

Minor effects such as temporary tenderness, small bruises or light bleeding at a needle site can occasionally occur. Some people may also feel temporarily tired or light-headed following treatment.

Before treatment, your medical history, medications and any relevant health conditions are discussed so that acupuncture can be adapted appropriately or avoided where necessary.