Nervous system
The nervous system is activated during any acupuncture treatment. Both the skin and the underlying musculature contain very fine nerve endings. As the acupuncture needle is inserted into the skin, potentially reaching the underlying muscle, it encounters nerve fibers, which begin to send weak electrical
Autonomic nervous system
The part of the nervous system known as the "autonomous nervous system" is particularly significant for the effects of acupuncture. The nervous system can be divided into:
The part that is under the control of the will and is used for conscious thought processes and to activate the muscles when we, for example, walk, cycle, swim, and chew food.
The autonomous or independent nervous system, which is not under the control of the will, regulates functions of the internal organs (e.g., liver, heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys, digestive system) as well as, to a large extent, the blood circulation.
Moreover, the autonomous nervous system also affects the emotional sides of oneself that one does not have full control over or has too little knowledge of, such as "nervousness." It has been mentioned that electrical impulses during acupuncture treatment return from the brain and spinal cord to the various parts of the body. These impulses pass through the autonomous system.
The hormonal system
The hormonal system consists of various so-called endocrine glands. This includes the pituitary gland, which is located right in the middle of the head just below the brain. The pituitary gland controls most of the internal glands, which also includes the thyroid gland in the neck near the larynx, as well as the pancreas and the adrenal glands located near the reproductive glands. Acupuncture affects the hormonal system via the autonomous nervous system.
