Depending on the type of pain you are experiencing, it might be time to look for a complementary treatment to your current plan for immediate symptom relief such as acupuncture.
What is acupuncture?
Perhaps an intimidating thought at first, acupuncture is the method of inserting painless hair-thin needles into strategic points throughout the body, which restores the health of the immune system, endocrine system, and nervous system.
What’s behind the science?
When inserted into a tight muscle, the needles alter the nerve signals sent from muscle spindles to the spinal cord which in turn inhibits the nerves that dictate how tight or relaxed the muscle will be. The results of this is the muscle spasm relaxes and the immune system jumps into action promoting circulation, recovery, and pain modulation. Since the immune system is our first line of bodily defense, its effective and optimal functioning is crucial.
Help me! What can it be used to treat?
1. Stress no more
Acupuncture has been proven to lower stress hormones and moderate mood to reduce anxiety and improve overall feelings of happiness.
2. Good-bye back and neck tension
Work stress coupled with bad ergonomics’, poor posture and too much time staring down at our cellphones cause pain that can keep us up at night. This is where acupuncture really takes center stage, it can dramatically reduce chronic swelling and inflammation as well as improve your range of motion and strength. The relief from sore tired tense muscles is instant.
3. Headache be gone
Nothing can be more debilitating than a blinding headache forcing most of us to a dark room with a bottle of painkillers. The good news is that regular acupuncture has been proven to reduce the frequency of migraines as well as provide relief from chronic tension-type headaches.
4. Take care of your second brain
The link between digestive health and overall health is inescapable. Acupuncture can effectively regulate the digestive system, which is good news for those plagued by gastrointestinal problems.
5. ZZZZ Improve your sleep quality
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Good news is that this ancient healing practice increases your body's natural ability to produce more melatonin. This is the hormone that regulates your sleep - wake cycles. Acupuncture will help restore your natural ability to fall and remain asleep.
6. Baby Boom
By supporting our reproductive organs and the optimal production of male and female hormones, acupuncture offers a viable alternative to couples who experience difficulties regarding infertility.
Additional ailments that could benefit from acupuncture are skin conditions such as acne and eczema, arthritic conditions as well as toothache or gum problems amongst others.
The risks of having acupuncture are low if you have a competent, certified acupuncture practitioner using sterile needles. However, those with bleeding disorders, who are pregnant or have a pacemaker should avoid acupuncture.
Whether the pain is muscular, anxiety, or arthritis, there’s no evidence that acupuncture is a miracle cure-all, however, it does seem to have strong evidence as a worth-while additional treatment for people who may have multiple conditions and illnesses. While it may not get rid of your condition, the likelihood of temporary to long term relief from chronic pain is is high.
Date Published: 02 March 2021
