What Is Acupuncture and How Can It Help You?
Acupuncture can assist persons with chronic pain and suffering, lessen their reliance on medicine, and enhance their quality of life.
Acupuncture, a kind of traditional Chinese medicine, may be helpful for those who have chronic pain and discomfort. Over 3 million Americans are among the people who utilize acupuncture to assist manage or alleviating pain.
So, what exactly is acupuncture and when may it be advantageous? Here are some things you need to know about acupuncture’s possible health advantages.
What exactly is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a less intrusive method of treating many health problems, including pain. The fundamental tenet of it is that when the body’s energy is out of balance, acupuncture treatments may restore and rebalance it, enabling healing, relaxation, and pain alleviation. Today, acupuncture is used by more than 3 million Americans to treat and control their ailments.
What is the process of acupuncture?
By stimulating certain sites along different energy routes in the body, acupuncture treatments allow the body’s energy, or “chi,” to flow more freely. Between six to twenty small, delicate needles are placed into the body’s trigger points during acupuncture.
The punctures are powerful enough to communicate with the body while being tiny enough to merely produce modest, transient pain. The stimulation of the skin’s surface by the needles aids in the control of pain, wound healing, and circulation. Additionally, endorphins, which serve as the body’s natural painkillers, are thought to be released by acupuncture needles.
For around 10 to 20 minutes, the needles are left in the acupuncture sites. After inserting the needles into the skin, acupuncturists may use physical pressure or twist the needles to increase their effectiveness. Depending on the illness being treated, many patients have a series of six to eight acupuncture appointments for the greatest results.
The acupuncturist or practitioner will talk to you about your medical background, present symptoms, and ailments during your first consultation. In order to assess the general health of your organ systems, he or she will also check your complexion, tongue, and pulse.
Which conditions can Acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture is generally used to alleviate pain caused by a range of illnesses and disorders, including:
- Allergies
- Osteoarthritis and arthritis
- Backache
- Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, as well as postoperative nausea and vomiting
- Dental discomfort after a tooth extraction or dental surgery
- Sinus, tension, and migraine headaches are all examples of headaches.
- Cramps during menstruation
- Neck ache
Acupuncture is also used to treat and manage the following conditions:
- Stress and depression management
- Acupuncture may aid with reproductive concerns by increasing blood flow, balancing hormones, and relieving stress when used in combination with standard fertility therapies.
- Insomnia
- Weight loss in addition to a current weight loss program
Does acupuncture have any adverse effects?
Because acupuncture needles are so little and thin, most patients experience no or very little discomfort when they are placed. Some patients experience minor pain when the needles are placed, as well as brief discomfort after treatment. Acupuncture may cause discomfort and little bleeding in some people. After an acupuncture session, most patients report feeling stimulated or calm.
What health benefits does acupuncture have?
Acupuncture can help persons with chronic pain improve their quality of life by relieving or eliminating their symptoms.
Acupuncture can also give relief when used in conjunction with other forms of treatment, such as massage. Acupuncture treatments should only be performed by qualified, trained acupuncturists who use sterile, disposable needles.
If you’re having health problems that aren’t responding to usual treatments, or if you’re interested in trying acupuncture, speak to your doctor first to see if it’s suitable for you.
