Scientific proof of acupuncture
There has been alot of debate regarding whether or not TCM/acupuncture/qigong can be validated via the scientific method (which to some translates to "is it real" or "does it work").
After much research, I would like to share a small portion of what I have found:
Animal and human studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can cause multiple biological responses. These responses can occur locally (close to the site of the stimulation) or distally (at a distance). The studies briefly discussed below were some of the best because they defined the anatomy and physiology of the acupoints, how their stimulation affected other sites in the body, and what biochemical and physiological properties were elicited by acupuncture, resulting in changes in bodily response and medical outcome.
Bioelectrical properties- Niboyet, a French researcher, identified bioelectrical properties related to acupuncture. He scanned skin surfaces with a galvonometer, then stimulated points of low resistance with direct and alternating currents. He found that electrical conductance at acupoints is different from that at other skin sites and that stimulating acupoints results in physiologic responses not elicited from other skin sites similarly stimulated. Niboyet observed that points of lowered electrical resistance are usually found in the acupuncture zones illustrated on Chinese meridian charts.
Low resistance points- Grall verified Niboyet's work and found points of low resistance on the face and forearms corresponding to acupoints. Resistance values varied from subject to subject and from anatomical zone to anotomical zone. Values at acupoints ranged from 5 to 50 kilo-ohms, while nonacupoints ranged between .5 and 3 mega-ohms. When the low resistance points were traced on overlaying paper, they matched the classic acupuncture channels.
Radioactive tracing- A radioactive tracer, Technnetium 99, was injected into classical acupoints and into locations that were neutral (not acupoints). Pathways were compared by following the tracers with a scintillation camera. Radioisotope injected into acupoints diffused along a pattern corresponding to the classically described acupuncture channels, while neutral points did not. Others argued that transportation away from acupuncture and control points occured through the vein and lymphatic systems, not acupuncture networks.
Isotope migration- Darras, an investigator using nuclear tracers, rejected this last arguement by observing that the scanned pathway moved beyond a tourniquet blocking the surface peripheral blood circulation. Stimulation of the injected points with a needle, electricity, or helium-neon laser increased the migration rate along the channels. Since these rates did not correspond to vascular or lymphatic circulation rates, the authors concluded that the observed isotopic migration clearly demonstrated the pathways of acupuncture channels.
Radioactive isotopes were injected into human acupoints and tracked with a gamma imaging camera. Within 4-6 minutes, the isotopes traveled 30 centimeters along previously identified acupuncture meridian tracks. Isotopes were then injected into blood vessles at random points. These isotopes did not travel in any manner similar to how they traveled at acupoints, suggesting that meridians comprise a separate pathway system within the body.
I also found much research on "current resistance", "potential differences", "endogenous opiods" and many other interesting effects/mechanisms of acupuncture action.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS-
Acupuncture/TCM/qi gong is REAL, it WORKS. Modern science is trying to figure out what the ancients somehow knew thousands of years ago. I only put in research for the validity of the acupuncture meridians, but research is there for other aspects of TCM as well. I ask the skeptics which frequent this board (in anticipation of remarks like "Well that only proves that the channels exist"): If an ancient culture could determine the exact pathways (and specific points on the pathway) that the unseen, "non-measurable" force called qi moves thru, without the use of modern imaging/tracing techniques, and we proved that it was correct, why not listen to the other "truths" that they discovered (or at least recorded) as well? In my mind, one cannot separate acupuncture from qi gong or TCM. The core is the same. It does not matter to me whether the results are caused by "qi", opioids, or peripheral nerve conduction.
As it stands now, Western Medicine (as an institution) views acupuncture/TCM as a threat. So what do they initially do with all threats? Attack it and claim it's "psuedo-science" at best, fraud at worse (see the totally biased websites that others commonly quote from). Once this tactic is exhausted and it doesn't work, the next step is to control it and take it over so they get the revenue. Mark my words, once Western Medicine does determine the exact mechanisms of action, all of the sudden, acupuncture will indeed be "valid" and you can bet your rear-end that the MD's will take it over and all the sudden what was once ridiculed and frowned upon as "unscientific" and equal to "snake oil salesmen" will all of the sudden be "so technical and complex that I as your MD am the only one qualified to perform this amazing and complex medical procedure (I'm inducing analgesia via endogenous opioids, you know). Do you have insurance? No? Then I can't help you unless you pay cash up front"!!!!!!
Jack