Increases heart rate

Decreases heart rate

art Increases atrial and ventricular
Decreases atrial contractility
contractility
Motility decreases Motility increases
Intestines Sphincters relax Sphincters contract
Secretion decreases Secretion increases
Kidneys Arterioles constrict Arterioles dilate
Lacrimal gland --- Secretes
Causes glycogenolysis,
Liver metabolism ---
gluconeogenesis
Contracts tracheobronchial muscles
Lungs Relaxes tracheobronchial muscles Increases mucous secretions from
bronchial glands
Reduces activity (e.g., of natural killer
Lymphoid tissue ---
cells)
Nasopharyngeal glands --- Secretes
Increases circulating glucose
Inhibits insulin secretion from the Increases insulin secretion
Pancreas21
islet beta cells Dilates pancreatic blood vessels
Constricts pancreatic blood vessels
Piloerector muscles Contracts ----
Pilomotor muscles of the skin Causes contraction ---
Pineal gland Increases synthesis of melatonin ---
Prostate, seminal vesicle Contracts ---
Weak serous secretion
Salivary glands (submandibular salivary gland) Profuse serous secretion
Sparse, thick secretion
Splenic capsule Contracts ---
Motility decreases Motility increases
Stomach Sphincters contract Sphincters relax
Secretion is inhibited Secretion increases
Sweat glands of the skin Induces profuse secretion ---
Thyroid gland Becomes stimulated
Ureter Decreases ureteric tone and motility Increases ureteric tone and motility
Relaxes detrusor muscle (small
Contracts detrusor muscle
amount)
Urinary bladder Relaxes internal sphincter tone and
Increases internal sphincter tone and
trigone
trigone
Contracts pregnant uterus
Uterus Relaxes or contracts the non-pregnant ---
uterus
Vas deferens Contracts ---
Veins Vasoconstricts ---
Instead of relying on abstract concepts of Yin and Yang, studying
the autonomic nerve supply to organs and glands yields insights
into ways in which illness manifests neurophysiologically. This
then opens the door to acupuncture neuromodulation by outlining
neuroanatomic expressways that revise neural traffic. Table 2-1
compares the complementary actions of the two limbs of the
autonomic nervous system (ANS), designated by tissue or organ.
Most viscera receive dual innervation from both sympathetic and
parasympathetic limbs of the ANS.17

How Acupuncture Points Affect

Internal Organs
While needling neuromodulates nerve activity in local structures
through direct effects on tissue, its broader, homeostatic value
results from reflexes in the spinal cord and brain.

The Spinal Cord Connects the Soma

with Viscera
One of the most salient depictions of how the ancient Chinese
linked anatomy (structure) with physiology (function) comes
from the Back Shu and Front Mu points. These twelve pairs of
points (one Back Shu and one Front Mu for each organ) act upon
certain sections of the spinal cord. Their associated spinal cord
levels house interneuronal connections connec