Acupuncture is an increasingly popular holistic health practice. One survey from 2012 showed that 6.4% of Americans tried acupuncture at some point in their lives. There don’t appear to be any recent surveys, but the growing popularity of holistic health practices suggests the figure has probably increased even further in recent years.
But is acupuncture worthwhile? Is it something that you should consider?
Should You Practice Acupuncture?
If inserting needles into your skin isn’t your idea of a good time, then its numerous health benefits may make you want to reconsider. You may be surprised to hear that it can be very beneficial.
Acupuncture is a type of traditional Chinese medicine that was invented over 3,000 years ago. It focuses on stimulating specific points in your body to balance the flow of energy. As a result, it can help alleviate various pains and symptoms that may be difficult to treat with medicine alone.
But the power of inserting these thin needles into your skin isn’t exclusive to those suffering from ailments since you can also book a treatment if you’re only looking to boost your energy. If you want to know more about what acupuncture can do for you, below is a quick list of advantages that you’d want to keep in mind.
How often should you do acupuncture?
If you haven’t tried an acupuncture session before but would want to start integrating it into your regular routine, professionals would recommend you begin with 1-2 sessions a week.
But it would also depend on whether you have ailments or symptoms you’d like to treat since your acupuncturist would need to customize your treatment. Some patients will feel the effects of acupuncture after a couple of sessions, while others may take longer. That’s why it’s important to do a consultation with your acupuncturist first so they can assess how to treat you best.
Benefits of regular acupuncture treatments
If you’re still not convinced that consistent treatments of acupuncture can do wonders for your body, then maybe these reasons may convince you to start doing one or two sessions:
1. Reduces stress
If the hustle and bustle of your day-to-day life are taking a toll on your mental and physical health, regular acupuncture sessions can help lower your stress levels . This is one of the main reasons why plenty of patients seek out acupuncture since it can trigger your nervous system response once needles are placed at certain points on the body.
As a result, it rebalances your hormones causing your body to release endorphins, that’s why you’ll feel lighter and happier after each session. Certain studies show that consistent acupuncture treatments can also reduce anxiety, nervousness, and depression.
2. Minimizes chronic symptoms
Aside from healing stress levels and mental health concerns, acupuncture can also treat a number of physical ailments including:
- Headaches
- Menstrual cramps
- Tennis elbow
- Fibromyalgia
- Osteoarthritis
- Low back pain
- Knee pain
- Nausea
- Fatigue
Pain management is the most common reason people use acupuncture. However, as you can see, there are a number of other advantages as well.
But before booking your treatment, make sure to talk to your doctor to determine if acupuncture can improve your condition. Keep in mind that acupuncture shouldn’t replace your prescribed treatments since it should only be used to alleviate your symptoms. But if you have a pacemaker, blood infection, or taking blood thinning medication, acupuncture may not be the right treatment for you.
3. Relieves allergies
If puffy eyes, runny nose, and constant sneezing are part of your daily battle, you might want to book a couple of acupuncture sessions to alleviate your symptoms. Since acupuncture can help strengthen your immune system, you’ll notice that you’ll be less susceptible to your common allergens after regular treatments.
If you like, you can even time your sessions before allergy season begins so you can have an extra buffer against your allergies alongside your medication.
4. Improves sleep
A prolonged lack of sleep can be a major cause of several ailments. So if you’re tired of insomnia keeping you up at night, you might want to consider booking a few acupuncture sessions.
It helps stimulate the production of melatonin in your body, which makes you fall asleep faster and reduces sleep disruption at night. But if anxiety, depression, or chronic pain is the underlying cause of your sleeplessness nights, acupuncture can also reduce their discomfort so you can finally get a good night’s rest.
5. Regulates blood pressure
If you’re dealing with high blood pressure, your doctor may advise you to adjust your lifestyle and prescribe you medication. But if you want to alleviate your condition further, you might want to consider adding acupuncture to your treatment.
Regular sessions can aid proper heart function and improve blood flow so your cardiovascular system can return to its optimal condition. Since acupuncture can also lower your stress levels by releasing dopamine, it helps regulate your blood pressure back to a balanced state. Research also shows that acupuncture relaxes the walls of your arteries and veins, which can also help lower your blood pressure.
Ready to try acupuncture?
If the benefits of acupuncture beat your fear of needles, you might want to book your first session with Lycoming Orthopedic & Sports Acupuncture. They have a team of professional therapists that are equipped for treating various pain and tension so you can walk out of the clinic feeling brand new. If you want to know more about their services, feel free to contact them now to book your first appointment.