🌿 Why Does Acupuncture Reduce Pain?
Acupuncture can relieve pain and reduce certain addictions. Scientists from Harvard University have uncovered the secret behind this.
The research team used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to monitor 20 healthy subjects during and after acupuncture treatment.
Researchers first inserted needles into traditional Chinese medicine points known to relieve pain.
Within seconds, they observed a gradual decrease in blood flow in specific areas of the brain. At that moment, participants reported feeling as if their hands were heavy—this sensation indicates that the acupuncture effect is working normally. If some participants reported pain (possibly due to improper acupuncture technique), their fMRI scans showed increased blood flow in those specific brain regions.
The researchers stated that when blood flow decreases, the brain does not need to work as hard, allowing acupuncture to calm specific brain regions.