7 Awesome Health Benefits of Acupuncture That Will Surprise You
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine used to heal both physical and mental health. In this practice, the practitioner inserts thin metallic needles in specific areas of your body. This promotes healthy energy flow within your body. Acupuncture practitioners believe that the blocks of energy are the root cause of most physical diseases and health issues. Besides, acupuncture helps boost blood flow and regenerative processes in your body.
If you are wondering how acupuncture can help you, take a look at the following list of acupuncture health benefits.
1. Relieve pain
During an acupuncture session, the practitioner inserts thin needles in specific areas of your body called “acupoints”. This triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain relievers. This can help reduce pain related to various health conditions. Besides, acupuncture increases the blood flow to the targeted area and boosts regeneration. This reduces inflammation and helps recover faster.
If you think acupuncture can be beneficial for you, you can ask the staff in your pain management clinic for referrals. Probably they have a local acupuncture practitioner who provides a high-quality service.
2. Reduce stress
Acupuncture can effectively reduce stress and even reverse its negative effect on your body. Acupuncture stimulates the production of the hormone oxytocin that regulates the function of the parasympathetic nervous system. This system is responsible for the relaxation and elimination of stress effects on your body. Practicing acupuncture can help you address stress effects like high heart rate, high blood pressure, and muscle tension.
3. Improve digestive health
Acupuncture improves your digestive health by treating related organs, reducing inflammation of the stomach, and improving digestive functions. During an acupuncture session, the practitioner identifies a specific point on your body. This helps improve gastrointestinal muscle contraction/relaxation, reduces gastric acid secretion, regulates intestine function, and restores stomach acidity.
4. Improve the night’s sleep
Melatonin is a hormone that regulates your body’s sleep-wake cycle. Because of certain factors like stress, the aging process, or chronic health disorders, the levels of melatonin may decrease. This can result in difficulty falling or staying asleep. Acupuncture helps enhance the production of melatonin and restore your natural ability to fall asleep easily. Besides, acupuncture reduces muscle tension and makes the night’s sleep more restorative.
5. Support immune system
The immune system is your body’s instrument to fight various bacterial and viral infections. When a particular pathogen enters your body, the immune system starts producing red blood cells, white blood cells, and T-cells to protect the organism. When the immune system is weakened, it cannot produce enough cells to fight the virus. Acupuncture increases the amount of your body's immune cells and helps protect your organism from bacterial and viral infections.
6. Enhance mood
Acupuncture is beneficial for people who experience health issues like depression and anxiety. Acupuncture helps calm your sympathetic nervous system and stimulates the production of endorphins. This helps you feel more relaxed and reduces physical tension. The regular use of acupuncture can help relieve the symptoms of depression and anxiety significantly.
But you need to understand that acupuncture is a complementary depression treatment. If you have clinical depression or anxiety, consult your doctor before you stop using prescribed medications.
7. Relieve headaches
During an acupuncture session, the practitioner inserts needles in specific points to stimulate the nerves and boost the production of endorphins. Endorphins have pain-relieving properties and help reduce the intensity of headaches and migraines. While acupuncture provides short-term relief, it can help you reduce the intake of medications during migraine attacks. This helps prevent the possible side effects of pain medication.
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