The Benefits of Acupuncture
With increasing popularity and access via insurance coverage, those of you who have never tried acupuncture might be curious to know how it can improve your health. Acupuncture is just one of the many modalities under the umbrella of East Asian medicine and has been used for millennia to treat not only active disease, but prevent new illnesses from arising. Whether you’re looking for more preventative care, maintenance care, or corrective care, acupuncture is an incredibly safe therapy with a wide variety of benefits.
What does Acupuncture Treat?
Improves circulation
Acupuncture has been shown to increase the amount of nitric oxide in the blood, which dilates our vessels, improving circulation (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17242084). This can be great for treating things like high blood pressure, varicose veins, pain, neuropathy, and Reynaud’s disease. However, optimal circulation is important not just for circulatory disorders, but impacts every system of our body. If blood flow is good, all tissues will get the nutrients and oxygen they need to do their jobs in the best possible way.
Relieves pain
When certain acupuncture points are stimulated, the body releases analgesic (pain-relieving) substances into our bloodstream. Acupuncture needles also create “micro-traumas” to injured areas which increases the body’s natural signaling systems to improve healing. Acupuncture also promotes muscle relaxation and can actually release knots and adhesions in the muscles when done on injured tissues. Over time, this will lead to a lengthening of the muscle fibers which will make you more resilient to injury and less prone to soreness.
Reduces inflammation
It seems like the big “I-word” is hard to escape in the world of healthcare these days. Where we get turned around is if we have too much of it. Inflammation is actually crucial in our body’s immune response in helping recover from injury and fighting disease. It is only a problem when this inflammatory response goes into overdrive. At this stage it can affect many body systems and contribute to long term health problems. In East Asian medicine we can think of excess inflammation as “stagnation” and “heat” in the body. Acupuncture’s primary focus is to remove stagnation from the body and clear heat, allowing our body’s natural healing mechanisms to shine.
Regulates the nervous system
Acupuncture has been shown to regulate our sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system activity so that the two function in a more balanced way. Due to the stressors of modern life, many of us tend to exist in a “sympathetic-dominant” state, perhaps without even realizing it. While this system is incredibly helpful in instances of survival, it can inhibit our digestive, cardiopulmonary, and immune function over time. Regular treatments can keep both sides balanced out helping not only with the physical functions listed above but also with mental functions (see in more detail below).
Improves mental function
As mentioned above, when working on balancing our body’s nervous system response, we may notice many positive benefits from a mental/emotional standpoint as well. Those who receive acupuncture regularly often report improved sleep, reduced feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression, fewer mood swings, and improved mental clarity. One of the beautiful things about this medicine is that the mind and body are not considered separate, so even if you’re not working specifically on something mental or emotional, you may notice positive effects nonetheless.
Regulates immune function
Acupuncture has an overall regulatory effect on the immune system, meaning it can strengthen it if you’re someone who feels like they catch everything going around the office, or it can reduce activity if the immune system is hyperactive, as is the case with many autoimmune conditions. In addition to balancing the immune system out. Acupuncture can also help relieve coughing, drain mucus in cases of stuffy nose or clogged ears and sinuses, and calms itchy, watery eyes, as is common with seasonal allergies.
Balances the endocrine system
Acupuncture can help balance hormone levels which can be helpful for gynecological issues such as irregular or painful periods, infertility, and menopausal symptoms. This endocrine effect also extends to helping with blood sugar regulation which can be very helpful for folks with diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
Improves digestive function
Acupuncture strengthens the digestive system which can help with things like nausea, acid reflux, gas, bloating, indigestion constipation and diarrhea. This is done not only by working directly with the digestive organs, but again, by regulating the nervous system. In many cases of poor digestion, there is a component of nervous system dysregulation which causes negative effects on our intestines via the brain-gut-axis. In a more poetic sense, acupuncture can help us not only digest food better, but also “digest” stressful situations, difficult emotions, and life events that can throw our system off balance.
Helps with skin disorders
As mentioned above acupuncture can help with inflammation-which can show up on the skin as acne, rashes, and redness. Not only can we work directly on the skin surface itself, but acupuncture can also balance out and treat any internal issues that might be causing issues on the skin. More recently, facial rejuvenation acupuncture has been touted for its effects at reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Preventative Care
Personally, I think one of the untold strengths acupuncture can provide us is the aspect of prevention. In many cases, the most effective healthcare comes from treating disease before it arises. By incorporating regular acupuncture treatments into your routine, you can ensure you’re giving attention to all the body systems discussed above, and nipping problems in the bud before they become chronic issues. This is especially important for those of us who have jobs where we have to hold our bodies in uncomfortable positions (hello computer workers), athletes who are continually pushing the boundaries of their strength and endurance, and those of us with ongoing stress in our lives (aka probably everyone).
What is Acupuncture?
Many of you may be curious about acupuncture, maybe a friend told you about it, or maybe your doctor mentioned it to you. You have gotten over the hump of just wondering and are starting to do some research about it, you may be thinking “acupuncture looks cool, or interesting, or strange.” Let’s start with the basics-what is acupuncture?