Qi and Meridian systems are traditional explanations of over 3000 years of observation, as western medicine becomes more accepting of acupuncture it is important to translate these observations into accepted western terminology.
Translation in processes:
As case studies lead to more clinical studies our understanding of acupuncture's relationship with influencing our nervous system becomes more evident.
C-Fibers, Pain modulation, and Acupuncture.
Studies are showing that with the insertion of an acupuncture needle into the skin at known acupuncture points there is a disruption of the branching point of nerves called C fibres. C fibers transmit low-grade sensory information over very long distances by using Merkel cells as intermediaries. It has been demonstrated that the acupuncture points show lower electrical resistance than other nearby areas of the skin and further studies are showing acupuncture points are locations where C fibers branch. Though the role of C fibers as part of our nervous system isn't fully understood, it is clear that stimulation of these fibers disrupts the sensation of pain and has a sedating effect.
https://www.actcm.edu/blog/acupuncture/new-scientific-breakthrough-proves-why-acupuncture-works/
John Hopkins's take on Acupuncture
"Acupuncture points are believed to stimulate the central nervous system. This, in turn, releases chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These biochemical changes may stimulate the body's natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being." https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/complementary_and_alternative_medicine/acupuncture_85,P00171
Neuropeptides, Endorphins, and Neurotransmitters
Numerous studies are finding that acupuncture influences the release of neurotransmitters which has an effect on the autonomic responses of the body which leads to a reduced stress response and cortisol levels. These neurotransmitters can influence the our circadian rhythm, endocrine system, and overall sense of well being by enhancing the effects of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor treatments.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26591679
The World Health Organization's take on AcupunctureDiseases, symptoms or conditions for which acupuncture has been proved— through controlled trials—to be an effective treatment:
Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy
Allergic rhinitis (including hay fever)
Biliary colic
Depression (including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke)
Dysentery
Dysmenorrhoea
Primary Epigastralgia
Acute (in peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, and gastrospasm)
Facial pain (including craniomandibular disorders)
Headache
Hypertension
Essential Hypotension
Primary Induction of labour
Knee pain
Leukopenia
Low back pain
Malposition of fetus
Morning sickness
Nausea and vomiting
Neck pain
Pain in dentistry (including dental pain and temporomandibular dysfunction)
Periarthritis of shoulder
Postoperative pain
Renal colic
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sciatica
Sprain
Stroke
Tennis elbow
Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which the therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been shown but for which further proof is needed:
Abdominal pain (in acute gastroenteritis or due to gastrointestinal spasm)
Acne vulgaris
Alcohol dependence and detoxification
Bell’s palsy
Bronchial asthma
Cancer pain
Cardiac neurosis
Cholecystitis, chronic, with acute exacerbation
Cholelithiasis
Competition stress syndrome
Craniocerebral injury, closed
Diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-dependent
Earache
Epidemic haemorrhagic fever
Epistaxis, simple (without generalized or local disease)
Eye pain due to subconjunctival injection
Female infertility
Facial spasm
Female urethral syndrome
Fibromyalgia and fasciitis
Gastrokinetic disturbance
Gouty arthritis
Hepatitis B virus carrier status
Herpes zoster (human (alpha) herpesvirus 3)
Hyperlipaemia
Hypo-ovarianism
Insomnia
Labour pain
Lactation, deficiency
Male sexual dysfunction,
non-organic Ménière disease
Neuralgia, post-herpetic
Neurodermatitis
Obesity
Opium, cocaine and heroin dependence
Osteoarthritis Pain due to endoscopic examination
Pain in thromboangiitis obliterans
Polycystic ovary syndrome (Stein–Leventhal syndrome)
Postextubation in children
Postoperative convalescence
Premenstrual syndrome Prostatitis,
chronic Pruritus Radicular and pseudoradicular pain syndrome
Raynaud syndrome, primary
Recurrent lower urinary-tract infection
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Retention of urine
traumatic Schizophrenia
Sialism, drug-induced
Sjögren syndrome
Sore throat (including tonsillitis)
Spine pain,
acute Stiff neck
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
Tietze syndrome
Tobacco dependence
Tourette syndrome
Ulcerative colitis,
chronic Urolithiasis
Vascular dementia
Whooping cough (pertussis)
https://www.acupuncture.org.uk/public-content/public-traditional-acupuncture/4026-who-list-of-conditions.html