Acupuncture’s origins date back thousands of years as an ancient health technique. It involves stimulating specific points on the body by inserting needles directly into the skin and was used in Traditional Chinese culture for almost every ailment. Fast forward thousands of years later and many people still use acupuncture to heal and aid many health issues. Here are 7 health benefits of acupuncture that keep people coming back century after century.
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It Can Help Eliminate Insomnia
Studies have shown that acupuncture can aid in sleep habits. Many people who cannot find relief with medications turn to acupuncture. The technique naturally relaxes the body and mind, which makes it extra easy to fall asleep at night. Not only does falling asleep become easier, but so does staying asleep since the acupuncture helps relieve pressure points in the body. Unlike other sleep aids however, acupuncture doesn’t have any adverse side effects.
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Acupuncture Aids Pregnant/Postpartum Moms
Unfortunately for many pregnant women, there aren’t a lot of medications that are safe to take for different issues like pain, stress, hormone imbalance, and anxiety. Acupuncture is a natural way for pregnant women to get relief for these issues. The same is true for breastfeeding moms and postpartum moms. Acupuncture can naturally relieve mental stress, help balance hormones, and ease back pain. Many women have reported a more relaxing labor experience after having regular treatments.
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It Helps Minimize Migraines and Headaches
More scientific research has shown that acupuncture can help people with several types of headaches. According to UC San Diego, acupuncture has shown promise in treating conditions “ranging from musculoskeletal problems to nausea, migraine headaches, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and infertility.” The needles help stimulate the nerves in the brain and the nervous system, which helps relieve headaches and relax the body.
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It Prevents Vomiting and Nausea
By using certain pressure points on the body, acupuncture can reduce the sensation of nausea. This treatment has become vital for people with stomach issues, pregnant women, and those who can’t find nausea relief from medications. Studies have shown that acupuncture can have the same effects on nausea as some of the best anti-nausea medications available. Unlike these medications (that typically change your body chemistry), acupuncture has no adverse effects and will not interact with other medications.
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Acupuncture Can Decrease the Decline of Cognitive Function
Without any adverse effects, acupuncture is being considered as a treatment for improving cognitive function. Studies have shown that the stimulation provided during the treatment can help patients (like those with Parkinson’s) improve cognitive functions, like walking, writing, shaking, and slowness. By stimulating the nervous system, many people find everyday functions to be easier. It also helps relieve these symptoms for age-related issues, like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
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It Can Improve Pain in the Back, Neck, and Knees
For thousands of years, acupuncture has been used to relieve all sorts of pain. According to Huffington Post, it’s an option for “types of pain including osteoarthritis, low back pain, neck pack, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, postoperative pain, tennis elbow, carpel tunnel syndrome, dental pain, menstrual cramps, and more.” Many pains in the body are caused by different stresses. Acupuncture can work by relieving pressure points, which created relief throughout the parts of the body that are the most stressed.
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It Can Improve Cancer Recovery
There have been quite a few studies that show that acupuncture helps boost immunity, which is an essential element in the healing of cancer/chemotherapy patients. It has also been shown to help speed up the recovery process, which can be long and hard. These studies have shown that acupuncture can boost platelet count and prevent decreases in healthy cells. These patients also tended to experience less pain during their treatments and less negative side effects, like nausea.
When a treatment has been used for thousands of years, there must be a good reason. Acupuncture helped treat a myriad of issues back then and it’s just as popular now. From treating pain, to boosting immunity and balancing stress, acupuncture is the ideal practice for improving your health.
