“Stick A Pin In It” ~ reductive translations of acupuncture in modern medicine

The translation of medical knowledge is an immense undertaking. Contemporary physicians have been approaching acupuncture as a form of nerve stimulation, comparing the Chinese meridian system to the peripheral and central nervous system. However, this does not explain the efficacy of acupuncture for treating trigeminal neuralgia symptoms of a vascular nature. An ancient text of traditional Chinese medicine - the Huangdi Neijing - suggests that meridian systems may facilitate the resonate flow of both Qi and blood.