Understanding what acupuncture is and the studies that prove the health benefits of the practice
In 2012, the Journal of Pain estimated that 25.3 million Americans suffer from pain daily. It was estimated that 14.4 million of those people suffer from level 4 pain which is also known as the highest form of pain.
Acupuncture has been studied and practised for over 2 500 years. In 2012, it was estimated that 3.5 million Americans use acupuncture to help with their pain. Acupuncture is a natural way to help you with your pain management. People have used it to stop relying on pain pills as often.
Today, you will learn about acupuncture and the benefits that it can bring to you. It is a natural practice that can help you with your pain management.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine-based practise with an approach to treat a variety of conditions by triggering specific points on the skin with needles. Ancient Chinese medicine believes that acupuncture releases any blocked qi or life force that is stuck in your body and is causing you pain.
Paul Kempisty is a licensed acupuncturist and he has said: “Each acupuncture needle produces a tiny injury at the insertion site, and although it’s slight enough to cause little to no discomfort, it’s enough of a signal to let the body know it needs to respond. This response involves stimulation of the immune system, promoting circulation to the area, wound healing, and pain modulation.”
How does it work?
A trained professional will place needles in your skin on specific areas and trigger points. It is believed that the points stimulate the central nervous system. This system releases chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord as well as the brain. The biochemical changes may stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.
You might feel a bit of discomfort during the treatment but when the trigger points release, you feel the tension leave your body. You leave feeling rejuvenated and the pain can subside.
The main benefits of acupuncture
There have been reports of acupuncture helping many different types of conditions and illnesses. Some of the proven benefits of acupuncture are as following but are not limited to:
- Anxiety and depression
- Chronic pain in the neck, back, knees and head area
- Insomnia
- Migraines
- Menstrual cramps and PMS
There are a few studies that suggest that acupuncture has been able to help with cancer treatments, however, research for the condition is limited and requires more studies done to prove the effectiveness.
People have also said that going for acupuncture when undertaking fertility treatments have helped them with the fertility process as well. It has helped them with the stress that comes with the treatment and many doctors believe that acupuncture cannot do much harm so it is worth a try.
Conclusion
Robert Downey Jr. is the man who plays Tony Stark in Iron Man. He advocates for traditional medicine. For a couple of years now, acupuncture has been his method of ensuring he is healthy and he says it helps him maintain his overall wellness. He has confessed that acupuncture has helped him a lot in being a more tolerable person.
Acupuncture is an alternative treatment that has science behind the practice to prove that the treatments do help your physical and mental well-being. To find out more about Alternative treatments and how you can help maintain a healthy mind and body through natural therapies, sign up for our emailing service today.