Acupuncture and Physiotherapy Using the Natural Mechanisms of the Body / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

 Acupuncture can be applied directly only on the body surface and thus can directly treat disorders of skeletal muscles near the surface of the body. However, acupuncture cannot be applied directly on internal parts and must be mediated by some kinds of body mechanism to treat internal diseases. Therefore, theories are needed to use the mechanisms of the body to treat internal diseases and disorders related to the autonomic nervous system. The author and his colleagues have organized the theories based on experimental and clinical studies performed over the years.<BR>1. Basic vital reactions to physical stimuli and clinical vital reactions by body mechanisms<BR> Effective physical stimuli arouse vital reactions. The reactions are modified by the mechanisms of the body and arouse clinical reactions.<BR>2. Mechanism of the body I Postures and sympathetic nerves<BR> A change in posture from lying to standing causes changes of the autonomic nervous system, especially of the sympathetic nerve system. Nerve tension increases quickly upon standing, and the nerves relax when the body lies down. Sympathetic nerves can be stimulated by posture. Standing enhances their functions, and lying relaxes the nerves. Stimulating the autonomic nervous system by a physical stimulus weaker than the threshold value facilitates changing autonomic functions, and the reaction of the autonomic nervous system is determined by posture.<BR>3. Mechanism of the body II Rhythm of breathing and parasympathetic nerves and the healing power of living bodies<BR> The activity of parasympathetic nerves increases during expiration and decreases during inhalation, showing rhythmic changes. The functions of the autonomic nervous system can be enhanced by synchronizing the biological functions with the parasympathetic nerves, improving various distortions of the body.<BR>4. Mechanism of the body III Reaction mechanisms of sympathetic nerves to stimuli<BR>1) Reaction of α receptor of sympathetic nerve<BR> Tissue of receiving stimulus Skin<BR> Reaction Exacerbation of the α receptor<BR>2) Reaction of β receptor of sympathetic nerve (Mechanism 3M3)<BR> Tissue of receiving stimulus Skeletal muscle<BR> Method of applying stimulus Application of acupuncture to a skeletal muscle to give low-frequency stimuli<BR> Reaction Somatic and internal organ reflections via centrifugal routes of sympathetic nerves<BR>3) Relaxing reactions of skeletal muscles and blood vessels (Mechanism 2 M2)<BR> Application of acupuncture to a skeletal muscle<BR> Reaction Reactions of mostly axon refiexes