Acupuncture works on the electromagnetic energy system of the body. You know you have this system because you can get a ECG to measure the energy of the heart. If a person is in a coma, doctors perform an electroencephalogram to measure the electrical energy of the brain. If there is none present, the person is considered “brain dead.” This life-force energy the Chinese call “chi,” also spelled “Qi.” Qi is valid in a Scrabble game for 12 points.

When a needle is inserted into this system, many chemicals from the body’s pharmacy are released. For example, endorphins are opiates released to relieve pain. These chemicals also stimulate local nerves that send messages to the spinal cord and then the brain that further decrease pain. Antihistamines, serotonin, and bradykinins are a few of the other chemicals known to be stimulated with acupuncture. In addition, blood circulation improves with acupuncture, which increases healing and further decreases pain.

Acupoints can be stimulated with needles (acupuncture), with finger pressure (acupressure), by injection (acupuncture), by bleeding (hemoacupuncture), and also by using therapeutic lasers.