PATIENT RESOURCE
Dysautonomia, Acupuncture & the Autonomic Nervous System
Written by Ayla Wolf, DAOMDoctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine with advanced training in applied clinical neuroscience.
Read Dr. Wolf’s full bio →Ancient East Asian medicine described dysautonomia 2,000 years ago — and offered treatment strategies that modern neuroscience is now validating.
Traditional East Asian medicine has had a reference frame for understanding dysautonomia for thousands of years. What insights does this ancient medicine provide — and can acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine offer solutions for dysautonomia? As a practitioner specializing in concussions and neurological conditions, the answer from clinical experience is "Yes!"
The Ying-Wei Disharmony: A 2,000-Year-Old Framework
A famous book on Chinese medicine theory, the Huang Di Nei Jing, was written approximately 100 B.C.E. In this ancient text, the authors describe a syndrome called a "Ying-Wei Disharmony."
- Ying Qi ("Nutritive" Qi) — most active at night during sleep, allowing repair and regeneration of internal organs and digestive tract
- Wei Qi ("Defensive" Qi) — relates to immune system functions, most active during daytime
A Ying-Wei Disharmony occurs when the Wei Qi gets stuck in an active state all the time, preventing the Ying Qi from circulating at night — blocking the body's repair and regeneration processes. This reflects an imbalance in circadian rhythms, dysfunction of the immune system, and loss of integrity of the digestive system.
The ancient text describes symptoms including: heart palpitations, insomnia, numbness and tingling, stomach discomfort, intestinal dysfunction, chronic pain, pressure in the head, poor memory, eye movement disorders, breathing dysfunction, alternating chills and fevers, anxiety and emotional disorders.
The Modern Understanding of Dysautonomia
Today, we understand the autonomic nervous system regulates:
It becomes fascinating that 2,000 years ago, there was a description of a syndrome that matches so closely with a modern presentation of dysautonomia — and not only a theoretical framework but also treatment strategies involving acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.
How Acupuncture Addresses Dysautonomia
Brain injuries create dysfunction within the autonomic nervous system. The ANS includes cortical areas such as the insula and prefrontal cortex, as well as the thalamus, hypothalamus, and numerous brainstem regions. Many acupuncture points have a modulatory effect on these structures, as observed through neuroscience research and brain imaging.
The effects of treatment are evident in post-treatment nervous system assessments that show better regulation of heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygenation. Chinese herbal formulas that "Harmonize the Ying and Wei" can successfully alleviate symptoms including insomnia, anxiety, chronic nausea, fluctuating temperatures, and dizziness.
"The autonomic nervous system controls the majority of organ functions in the human body... some of acupuncture's strongest effects (e.g., on nausea and vomiting, migraine, hypertension, and inflammation) are most likely mediated by the ANS."
— Florian Beissner, Effects of Acupuncture on the Autonomic Nervous System: Evidence from Brain Imaging
Key Takeaways
- Chinese medicine described dysautonomia 2,000 years ago as 'Ying-Wei Disharmony'
- The autonomic nervous system controls heart rate, breathing, digestion, temperature, and pain
- Brain injuries commonly cause autonomic dysfunction
- Acupuncture modulates brainstem and cortical ANS centers
- Herbal formulas can alleviate insomnia, nausea, anxiety, and dizziness
- Neuroscience research validates acupuncture's effects on the ANS