Whether you are defending yourself from an attacker or racing to meet a deadline, your body responds to high-stress situations by increasing adrenal gland activity. During this phenomenon, commonly known as the “fight or flight” response, the adrenal glands increase their output of hormones. Acupuncture has been shown to affect the adrenal glands and may be an effective treatment for adrenal disorders or adrenal exhaustion. Consult your doctor before beginning acupuncture, as with any new treatment.
Functions of the Adrenal Glands
The adrenal glands are two small, triangular glands located on the top of the kidneys. They are responsible for the production of a variety of hormones, and in addition to regulating the fight or flight response, also regulate sexual maturation and pregnancy, regulate the balance of salt and water in the body, and maintain metabolic processes. When the adrenal glands aren’t functioning properly, disorders such as Cushing’s syndrome and congenital adrenal hyperplasia may occur. When the body undergoes long periods of stress, overworking the adrenal glands, this can cause a condition known as adrenal exhaustion. This means that the adrenal glands can no longer produce sufficient quantities of hormones like cortisol and epinephrine.
Acupuncture and Adrenal Glands
Acupuncture is based on the belief in traditional Chinese medicine that vital energy flows through the body by way of a network of channels called meridians. The insertion of needles into the skin redirects and balances that energy flow, allowing the body to heal from illnesses. In an article on the website Acupuncture.com, Dr. Li Zheng, a licensed acupuncturist, reports that acupuncture can balance and optimize hormone levels, and provide anti-inflammatory effects. According to Dr. Zheng, either electroacupuncture or traditional manual acupuncture can be effective for treating different adrenal gland issues, with manual acupuncture providing a more calming effect, and electroacupuncture stimulating sluggish adrenal glands to produce more cortisol.
Scientific Research
Practitioners' claims about acupuncture's effects on adrenal activity are supported by several scientific studies. For example, the authors of a 2000 study published in “Neuroscience Letters” reported an increase in adrenal nerve activity and a rise in blood pressure in rats treated with electroacupuncture. Two years later, the authors of another study published in “Neuroscience Letters” found that electroacupuncture affected the release of hormones in rats. In the study, electroacupuncture was performed at the Zhongwan acupuncture point, using a 2-Hz current for 30 minutes at a time. This triggered the release of beta-endorphin from the rats’ adrenal glands, and in turn lowered the rats’ blood glucose levels.
Considerations
When practiced by a licensed professional, the risks involved in acupuncture are minimal. Typical adverse effects from treatment include soreness or pain when the needles are inserted. When acupuncture is administered improperly, however, serious complications may occur, including infection from improper sanitary procedures, or organ or nerve damage from incorrectly placed needles. For these reasons, it’s important to check your acupuncturist’s credentials before you receive treatment, to ensure that they’ve met your regions standard levels of training.
References
- Acupuncture.com; 3 Phases of Adrenal Gland Exhaustion and Natural Remedies for Stress; Katherine MacKenzie; June 2011
- Acupuncture.com; Acupuncture and Adrenal Gland Functions; Li Zheng; April 2010
- National Institutes of Health: Adrenal Gland Disorders
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Acupuncture - An Introduction
- "Neuroscience Letters"; Release of Beta-endorphin From Adrenal Gland to Lower Plasma Glucose by the Electroacupuncture at Zhongwan Acupoint in Rats; J.G. Lin, et al.; June 2002
- "Neuroscience Letters"; Effect of Electroacupuncture on Blood Pressure and Adrenal Nerve Activity in Anesthetized Rats; T.B. Lin, et al.; May 2000
