When people lay down on my table they almost always comment on how relaxed they feel during, and sometimes even days after, their acupuncture treatment. Type A patients sometimes fall asleep within a minute of the first needle being placed. Patients with a history of meditation seem to enter a deep meditative state for the duration of the entire treatment. This is due to acupuncture’s effect on brain activity. This “side effect” of acupuncture can be exploited to help people who meditate do so more effectively.
Regardless of which acupuncture system, points used or condition being treated, it has been shown in several studies that after roughly 15 minutes of acupuncture stimulation, an interesting effect occurs to the autonomic nervous system and the brain itself. From a western standpoint, part of acupuncture’s function on the body appears to come from switching the autonomic nervous system from it’s sympathetic state (fight or flight response) to it’s parasympathetic state (rest and digest stage). During the rest and digest stage, breathing becomes deeper and more regular. Capillaries dilate and carry blood to tissues that get less fresh blood when we are under stress. The diaphragm relaxes, allowing us to take deeper breaths and bringing more oxygen into the system. The heart can pump blood with more oxygen under less pressure, allowing more efficient blood flow. During this stage, the brain not only receives more oxygen and nutrients, but also mood enhancing chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. These are feel good chemicals that can be released during meditation.
Acupuncture also has an amazing effect on brain waves. During acupuncture treatment, brain waves have been shown to switch from alpha and beta waves (focused thought and mental chatter respectively) to delta and theta waves (deep sleep and meditation). This may occur without the patient falling asleep and still induce a state of deep relaxation similar to what one may experience during meditation.
Interestingly, the actual brain, according to Oriental Medicine, is not believed to house the mind. In fact, intellect and emotional intelligence is said to be part of the body yet, at the same time, non-local to any organ. This idea penetrates Chinese culture so much that the character for thought is actually composed of the character for brain and the character for heart. This gives equal value to both the heart and brain without definitively stating where thoughts arise.
It is said that the spirit – which is composed of our ethereal soul, intellect and emotions – will return to the heart at night to rest. Then, when we wake, it comes out and innervates our entire being (including our etheric body). When the mind is cluttered or stressed, the spirit may have difficulty returning to the heart at night or may be too scattered to do so. Patients will complain of insomnia, lack of restful sleep or the inability to concentrate.
Over the years I’ve had several avid practitioners of meditation come in complaining of loss of focus or “hitting a wall” with meditation. Acupuncture treats these situations by using points which are indicated for calming the spirit and helping the heart become a good “house” for the mind. During these types of treatments, we are not only hoping for the parasympathetic nervous system to take over. We are also targeting the mind.
The relaxation benefits have a carry over effect which may last for up to a week depending on a persons overall stress levels. During this time, patients who meditate feel that they can reach a more meditative state in a shorter amount of time. Some also report longer meditation sessions.
I often suggest that people who have trouble quieting the mind give acupuncture a try once a week for three weeks and see how they feel. More often than not they are left with a great sense of well being and a clearer mind. So if you feel you have run into a mental road block or are just unable to sit still, give acupuncture a try and it just may jump start your meditation sessions.
