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The best of the few known conventional theories on acupuncture belongs to a team of theoretical biologists working under Dr. Dmitri Chernavski, an academician of Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physics, in Moscow.  The group approached the problem from the point of view of concept of neurocomputing.

Since mid-century, using a model based on human neural structures, a whole new class of computers, possessing so called ” artificial intelligence”, has been developed  – the ones that can learn, recognize objects, and correct their own mistakes.  In somewhat of a paradox, the reverse logic has been used now, in order to explain the mechanisms of a live brain using the known electronic models.  Thus the theory of self-diagnostic function of an organism was developed.  Most of these self-diagnostic (recognizing the “image of a disease”) processes take place in the spinal cord.  In the gray matter of the spinal cord, the neurons are organized into what are called “Rexed laminae” and their functions are well-known.

The signals from the inner organs, as well as from the skin and muscles first go through the first lamina, separate from each other.  Then the signals move through the second lamina, third one, and so on, while increasingly interacting with each other and, after ten laminae, finally reach the brain in the form of one integrated set of information about the body’s state of being.  The computers that recognize objects have basically the same laminar structure and function of signal integration.  In both cases, an omitted signal from an internal organ, or one that is not strong enough, will be compensated for by the other one (e.g. from the skin), thus correcting the mistake.

According to Dr. Chernavski, skin stimulation at the point of acupuncture accomplishes the same goal.  The process of integration in the Rexed laminae increases the flow of “signals of illness” from an organ, or points out a body’s mistake in recognizing the disorder.  It is as if you wanted to send a letter to someone down the stream with little or no water using a miniature ship to carry it.  Add some water, and the ship will get there. Neither the way of adding the water nor the water itself has any effect on the content of letter sent.

Once the body has the stronger, clearer information about the injury or disease, the natural healing powers of the body take over.  What happens when the disease is recognized, the above theory does not explain, stating that the body has enough resources to battle the disease on its own.  Conventional medicine neglects that statement, while holistic medicine is based on it.

Nevertheless, conventional medicine may be missing an opportunity in dismissing this explanation too quickly.  Within the limits of the West’s strict paradigm, there has been collected a large number of facts on natural ways of fighting diseases.  We offer to discuss one of the most universal mechanisms to restore body’s balance.

It is known that a number of physical actions in excess of average intensity, including pain, stress, bleeding, acupuncture, sex, laughing, drugs and even highly palatable foods can trigger the release of endorphins (Fig. 5).  Pain reduction , in it’s turn, is the most common result associated with the release of endorphins.  It has been concluded recently, that any intense skin stimulation will cause a significant release of endorphins.

Another effect is the curious state the body falls into after the endorphin concentration has gone up: a number of other physiological regulators are released into the bloodstream such as growth hormone and insulin.  Each one of those regulators changes a number of different  body functions.  As a result, it is not surprising that many serious diseases are linked to the abnormalities in the endorphin system including may kinds of addiction, schizophrenia, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease as well as PMS and weight problems. We believe that there may be some linkage between abnormalities in the endorphin system and various conditions such as schizophrenia, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and may kinds of addiction.

Thus, skin stimulation, even not necessarily as accurate as in acupuncture, but intensive enough, does two things:

1. Provides additional information on the nature of the disorder to the body’s self-diagnostic system

2. Helps to create a new physiological state which is more adequate and favorable to the healing process

From the book Reflexo-therapy From Kuznetsov’s Applicator to Shakti Mat

“Something is wanted — either a constitution or a piece of sturgeon under horseradish sauce.” M.E. Saltykov-Schedrin (19th Century)

In the late 50s, the classic experiments by Dr. Olds shook the world. He implanted electrodes into certain regions of rat brains and taught the rats how to press lever to stimulate these regions with weak electric currents. Rats stopped doing anything but pressing the lever till their death from complete starvation. The Positive Reward theory was born. It turned out that anything pleasurable in life did related to these “Centers of Pleasure” — sex, alcohol, drugs of abuse — all that mankind has invented in its hedonic journey, were but attempts to stimulate these brain regions.

We know that eating will produce a pleasant sensation so often we eat even though all we need is comfort. The truth is, exercise, sauna, cold shower, massage, pleasant odors, and mental efforts (workoholism is real!) — all increase Endorphin level while only eating, especially when your body does not need it, will cause extra pounds of fat to collect in your body’s store.

“A mechanism for opiate [e.g. endorphin] mediation of food intake was postulated. It starts with a feeding initiating signal, which produces activation of the receptors, thereby inducing eating. Eating produces a circular reaction starting with hedonic input from the eating [process]. This, in turn, produces reward, which causes further eating, completing the circle” [Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 18:369; 1992].
Fasting can be as rewarding

The tricky thing with endorphins is that there are pairs of releasers resembling a thesaurus’ antonyms: exercise does the same os its antonym sleep, pleasure goes together with pain, local blood flow increase does the same to endorphin release as the local lack of oxygen. The eating-fasting pair also exists. Many people reported elation when they skipped breakfasts. Religeous fasters experience euforia.

“Severe food restriction produces opiate activity, which is reinforcing. Feeding interrupts the opiate activity and, thus, produces withdrawal. Not eating, therefore, is rewarding.” [Appetite 19:1-13; 1992].

Tips About Rewards

Next time you crave anything, ask yourself “What is it I really need? A glass of water? A walk? A hug?”
Before eating whatever you think you crave, try other rewards. Buying fresh flowers can be a better answer than a bowl of Rocky Road. Exercise, go to sauna, take a cold shower, invest in a massage device, buy a vail of perfume, enjoy a book…

Try periodic fasts. After resuming eating, your taste buds will be satisfied with lesser taste intensity thus reducing the taste influence on the body weight set point.

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A theory of acupuncture, spinal cord, and endorphins