WHY DOES ACUPUNCTURE NOT WORK SOMETIMES?

Keep in mind that acupuncture is simply one method used by the Chinese Medical system. It is absolutely not indicated at all times. The appropriate therapeutic combination must be used according to the patient’s presentation.

There is a phenomenon known in western acupuncture literature as “strong / weak reactors”. I know it sounds like some sort of nuclear process, but it only refers to people, don’t worry. Strong reactors are people who respond well and quickly to acupuncture, while Weak reactors are those who respond to acupuncture weakly or not at all. If we look at it from a more realistic perspective – people who are fairly strong respond well and quickly to acupuncture, whereas people who are fairly weak or tired do not respond very well or quickly – it’s just common sense. It also has to do with how long a condition has persisted. A chronic condition obviously involves some sort of exhaustion on the part of the body, whereas an acute condition has not had time to deplete the body. Therefore chronic conditions may only respond weakly to acupuncture, whereas acute conditions respond strongly. To mix things up, an acute condition occurring to a weak person will probably respond weakly, because the person is, on the whole, weak.

So, why does a person’s strength or weakness affect acupuncture results?
Firstly: Acupuncture works on a person’s energy level. This means that all effects start by affecting energy (bioelectricity is a part of qi (energy)). However, if a person does not have much energy, then the effect cannot be very strong. Conversely, if a person has a lot of energy, then effects can be strong.
Secondly: Acupuncture produces all its effects on the energetic system. When these energetic effects are prolonged (by many acupuncture treatments, for example), we will begin to notice physical changes. If the effects are not sustained, we will lose the energetic effect and not produce a physical effect. Energy comes and goes easily, like money.

Does this mean I have to do acupuncture for a long time?!?
No, it just means that we have to keep up treatment until we reach a plateau, at which point we are stable. The plateau is a result of accumulating energy, keeping it high (storing it), and rebuilding the body according to the new energy. When the body rebuilds, we have reached a plateau. We can repeat this process as much as we want, each time getting a little stronger.

Conclusions.
In my clinical experience, as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine teachings, acupuncture always works (everybody has a bioelectrical system). Sometimes however, acupuncture works very slowly and with weak effect. In this case, acupuncture is not indicated as the sole or best treatment method.

Keep in mind that disease is somewhat like debt – the bigger the debt, the more we need to pay to make amends. Treatments needed must be proportional to the amount of damage and weakness.

Hugh Ramiro

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