5 Surprising Acupuncture Benefits

Woody Short

7 years ago

The truth behind the myth: The reality of acupuncture benefits and why you may be missing out if you haven’t tried this ancient technique.

Acupuncture is an ancient healing technique of Traditional Chinese Medicine. With a history that spans over the course of 3,000+ years, and being widely recognized as something that actually works, more and more people are recurring to the acupuncture benefits to improve their health.

There are many ways through which acupuncture works, and a wide number of reasons for what it is effectively used. For example, how does acupuncture work to relieve pain? This technique stimulates specific anatomic sites (acupuncture points or acupoints) in the body, through the insertion of super fine, sterile needs into the skin.

One of the main positive effects of acupuncture is that through this stimulation, the body’s functions are enhanced and its natural self-healing process is promoted.

In fact, it has such a powerful impact, that many experts have added heat therapy and electrical stimulation to their acupuncture therapy, in order to further enhance the effects and benefits.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has even recognized the large number of acupuncture benefits, reporting that through hundreds of clinical studies they’ve been able to prove how this technique successfully treats conditions that go from musculoskeletal (back, neck pain, etc.) to more complex issues like migraines, anxiety, nausea, depression, insomnia and even infertility.

So, why and how does acupuncture work to relieve pain and is it safe for you to try? While there is not a magical spell for this practice, truth is that its core and why it works it’s because it “activates” the body’s own natural self-healing mechanism.

And, considering that it’s a practice that started centuries ago, for many practitioners and experts it actually proves that we don’t really need external drugs to heal, but that our own bodies have the capacity under the right stimuli.

The NIH also stated that other positive effects of acupuncture include relieving patients from taking drugs that could have unwanted side effects on their health, while treating their chronic pain without having to use opioids like Morphine, Codeine, OxyContin or Vicodin.

As always, and with any other new practice that concerns your health, there are always a number a recommendations to follow if you are willing to give acupuncture a try:

Find an accredited and properly trained Acupuncturist:

Within the U.S., most States actually require a license and proper accreditation to be able to practice.

Go see a Doctor:

While enjoying the many acupuncture benefits is great, your licensed Doctor will be able to issue a proper diagnosis for you.

Ask your health practitioner:

If you’ve already been diagnosed with some sort of disease, ask your Doctor if he or she believes that your case can improve with acupuncture practice.

Get informed:

Read and learn more about this practice. Don’t be afraid to question and voice your concerns to your Acupuncturist, whether it is regarding the length of treatment you may want or need, or if you will use enhanced therapy as part of it.

Finally, if you are still having doubts about engaging in this practice, here is a concise list of acupuncture benefits that you may see once you give it a go:

It will enhance your mood:

Because it regulates “happy feelings” neurotransmitters in your brain.

Help your heart:

By decreasing markers of stress and lowering blood pressure.

Help you sleep better:

Because it revs up the production of neurotransmitters associated with relaxation and sleep.

Boost your immune system:

By boosting the activity of immune cells that seek out and destroy infections.

It will help with those chronic headaches:

By targeting precise pressure points and releasing the stress contained.

And while no study has been able to actually prove why, practitioners say that after trying it for the first team, people not only see a dramatic change in the way they feel about their pain, but they are also more happy and content. Sounds like a winner, no?