Health Benefits of Acupuncture!

The uses of acupuncture , traditionally centered on the performance of different bodily functions that may be paralyzed or work improperly, warms the body, defends against pathogens, contains bodily fluids, and transforms these fluids into other ways to use materials and energy. . Some of these traditional intentions have been maintained, while others have changed.

There are dozens of other potential health benefits that are being researched as well, including asthma, drug addiction, epilepsy, irritable bowel syndrome, schizophrenia, tennis elbow, and many more. Research into these effects of acupuncture in all its forms has been somewhat limited, but continues at this point.

The popularization of alternative medical techniques has led to a plague of “sham” acupuncture , which is not necessarily based on principles or techniques originally associated with the methods of the ancient Chinese. In addition, many modern acupuncturists do not place as much importance on point specificity (i.e., the accuracy of placement of each needle) because there are competing theories regarding the importance of location accuracy in relation to the process of relaxation and penetration into the skin. .

The debate continues, as does the research, but people in dozens of countries find relief from a wide range of health problems every day using this powerful alternative tool!

Despite the fact that there is still some concern about the functional use of acupuncture to treat certain conditions, there is an ample amount of research that confirms certain health benefits, most of which can be found below.

Benefits of Acupuncture for Chronic Pain:  This is perhaps the most common and celebrated use of acupuncture on the human body and as such has undergone further research to test its validity. A recent study in the Archive of Internal Medicine showed that acupuncture can reduce pain by 15% when used for a variety of different types of pain, but primarily focused on chronic back pain that can result from stress , poor sleep habits, old injuries. that are not completely healed, tight muscles, pregnancy or other sources.

Knee pain is another common problem that drives people to try acupuncture , and while studies have occasionally contradicted one another, there are a fair amount of positive research results that make acupuncture a legitimate way to reduce knee pain . knee from surgery or the pain associated with osteoarthritis and aging.

A study published in the Oxford Journals showed that patients with chronic knee pain showed both short-term and long-term benefits over patients who either received acupuncture , so there must be something positive happening in this traditional style.

Benefits of Acupuncture for Arthritis:  Arthritis can be a debilitating disease that affects tens of millions of people worldwide. Unfortunately, the benefits of modern medicine often fall short of fixing it in the long run, which means you should always (at least once a day) take powerful medicine to relieve joint pain.

Acupuncture offers a different option for reducing the painful and debilitating effects of arthritis. In the traditional acupuncture belief system , there are 14 meridians, or energy channels, in the body that allow the body’s natural energy flow. These meridians often correspond to key nerve endings throughout the body that act as receptors for impulses from parts of the body such as the knees, back, joints, temples, facial muscles, etc.

By inserting needles into these meridians, our nerve endings communicate with our brains and tell you that our muscles are feeling pain. This will cause the release of endorphins, which are typically released during stress , to give you an energy boost and block pain receptors.

These endorphins, combined with the normal neurotransmitters that affect nerve impulses, may be able to stop the pain associated with arthritis that physically limits so many people. A very unusual form of acupuncture that is gaining ground is called BVA (Bee Venom Acupuncture ), where bee venom is applied topically to an acupuncture penetration point . Studies have shown positive results between this style of acupuncture and a reduction in pain associated with arthritis .

Acupuncture for Migraines, Headaches and Sore Throats:  Another of the most popular applications of acupuncture in recent years has been for the relief of migraines and headaches, both in terms of pain relief and reducing frequency.

While the exact mechanism for preventing these conditions through acupuncture around the face, neck and scalp is not fully understood, the positive research results have in some ways vindicated dozens of generations of this treatment method.

Studies have already shown that patients treated with acupuncture had a greater chance of showing a marked decrease in pain rather than modern medical treatment. There is also a much lower chance of intense acupuncture side effects than those often reported by strong migraine medication .

Benefits of Acupuncture for Nausea and Vomiting:  Acupuncture hasalso been shown to be a very effective tool against nausea and vomiting. There is a special acupuncture pressure point on the underside of the forearm near the wrist which when stimulated is thought to reduce the feeling of nausea that can trigger vomiting.

After surgery, when a patient is recovering from the effects of anesthesia, they often experience nausea and vomiting. A study released in 2009 argued that acupuncture was as effective as antiemetics that are commonly given to recovering patients. And again, the side effects of antiemetic drugs can change your body chemistry, something most people using acupuncture try to avoid.

Sore throat has actually been one of the best verified and proven conditions for which acupuncture is effective. In a 2011 review, there was almost unanimous support and proof of acupuncture being a reliable and side effect free way to relieve chronic neck pain. Often, this pain can lead to constantly tense muscles, pain, and headaches.

Chemotherapy is often used as a treatment option for cancer patients and can be a very effective way to save lives. However, the side effects of chemotherapy are quite serious and include hair loss, nausea, vomiting and others. Another study published in 2011 showed that acupuncture was effective in preventing nausea and vomiting on the day of chemotherapy treatment.

Benefits of Acupuncture for Anxiety:  There have been a number of studies conducted on the effects of acupuncture on anxiety, including generalized anxiety, anxiety neurosis, and preoperative anxiety. Like many of the other uses of acupuncture , the exact mechanism is not completely understood, but clinical trials show a positive correlation between anxiety reduction and acupuncture .

Furthermore, when acupuncture was added to a pharmaceutical regimen for treating stress and anxiety, and the medical dosage was reduced, the results were actually better than when not involved with acupuncture . In addition, the side effects of anti-anxiety medications can be very intense, including nausea, mood swings, and depression. Therefore, any dose reduction without a return of anxiety should be seen as a smart choice!

Benefits of Acupuncture for Insomnia:  Studies have shown that acupuncture can reduce the frequency of insomnia in many people. It shows that acupuncture increases the nighttime secretion of melatonin, which is a sleep-inducing chemical.

The study showed that in less than five weeks, regular acupuncture significantly decreased the presence and effects of insomnia in the study test group. So if you can’t sleep and don’t want to suffer from the potentially complicated side effects of pharmaceuticals, talk to an acupuncturist!

Benefits of Acupuncture for Heartburn and Indigestion:  Regular acupuncture has been proven to reduce the signs of heartburn , indigestion and sufferers needed to use less antacids, as a recent study shows. Brazilian researchers performed the test and found a significant difference between the symptoms of pregnant women who used acupuncture and those who simply watched their diet and took medication when necessary. Although the study was done on pregnant women, the effects are currently being extrapolated and tested on other test subject groups.

The final word:  As mentioned earlier, there are dozens of other potential treatments that acupuncture can positively affect, including helping to stop smoking, improve vision, weight loss, hormonal balance, fertility, and erectile dysfunction. Ongoing research in many of these areas will bring answers to light in the coming years, but at the moment, scientific evidence is limited.

Slight pain at the point of penetration into the skin there are no side effects as long as you go to a trained acupuncturist who knows the body and has sterile needles. Most importantly, keep your eyes and ears open for new scientific evidence about the added benefits of acupuncture . So far, it has proven to be a wonderful benefit to millions of people and its benefits will likely continue with more research being done.