Does all acupuncture work the same way?
No, acupuncture does not work the same way even when exactly the same point is used. Acupuncture is not as simple as inserting needles in acupuncture points matching conditions listed in a textbook (unfortunately, that is how some acupuncturists are being educated in schools in general). Physiological response from acupuncture varies greatly based on various factors such as practitioner’s skills. In fact, an acupuncture needle inserted in the same acupoint produces a different reaction depending on a variety of other factors such as depth of the insertion, type, intensity, and amount of stimulation. Some studies further demonstrated that the exact same acupuncture stimulation applied to the same acupuncture point produced a significantly different response depending on the respiration phase and position of the patient during needling. Experienced acupuncturists carefully consider not only points to be used for each patient but many other vital factors mentioned above in order to provid
