Acupuncture for Pain Relief & Easing Anxiety

0
388

Despite the fact that acupuncture is one of the oldest and most popular alternative medicine therapies in the world, it’s also one of the most misunderstood. In general, people don’t know what to expect when they’re getting acupuncture. In this blog post, I’m going to discuss what is acupuncture, cover a few of the biggest myths about it, and share some benefits of this ancient medicine, including how to use it for pain relief and easing anxiety.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that involves inserting thin, solid needles into your skin at specific points on your body to stimulate the flow of energy or chi.

The ancient Chinese believed that the body was made up of energy pathways called meridians. The meridians connect to different organs in the body and are responsible for transporting energy through the body. When there is an imbalance in your chi, you may experience health problems such as pain, swelling, or even illness. Acupuncture is thought to help restore balance to your body by stimulating certain areas along these meridians with needles. This can stimulate healing on all levels — physical, mental, and emotional.

During a treatment, an acupuncturist will use thin needles that go into specific points on your body called acupoints. You may feel some discomfort when the needles are inserted into your skin, but this doesn’t last long because they’re so thin that they don’t cause any damage or bleeding when they’re inserted into a muscle or soft tissue.

Myths About Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine that involves inserting thin needles into the body. It’s often used to treat pain and anxiety, but there are many myths about how it works and what it can do for you.

Here are some of the most common myths about acupuncture and the facts that debunk them:

Myth: Acupuncture doesn’t work.

While this myth may have been true in the past, it isn’t anymore. Modern studies have shown that acupuncture is effective at relieving pain, especially chronic pain such as back or neck pain from herniated discs or degenerative disc disease (DDD). It can also help with acute injuries like sprained ankles or torn muscles and ligaments.

Myth: Acupuncture is just a placebo effect.

Studies have shown that acupuncture can be as effective as other forms of treatment for certain conditions, such as lower back pain, headache, and knee osteoarthritis. The World Health Organization has recommended acupuncture as an effective therapy, along with exercise and physiotherapy, for lower back pain.

Myth: Acupuncture causes holes in the skin or leaves scars.

Acupuncture needles are solid, not hollow like hypodermic needles used by doctors or nurses during medical procedures. They’re made from stainless steel or other metals and are disposable after each use (like syringes). They don’t leave holes in your skin or cause any bleeding — unless you’re undergoing surgery under local anesthesia, in which case your physician may choose to use a hollow needle to deliver medication directly into the body tissue at the site of surgery (called spinal anesthesia).

What are the benefits of Acupuncture?

Easing stress and anxiety

Acupuncture can help ease stress and anxiety. It works by stimulating the vagus nerve, which is linked to our “rest and digest” parasympathetic nervous system. By activating this system, acupuncture helps turn down the body’s reaction to stress and thus reduces anxiety. This can be especially helpful for people who suffer from chronic pain or have trouble sleeping due to stress.

Pain relief

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine practice that has been used for thousands of years to treat pain, stress, and other medical conditions. It’s based on the idea that energy flows through your body along pathways called meridians, which can become blocked or imbalanced as a result of illness or injury. When you receive acupuncture, the needles are inserted into specific points along these meridians to help unblock and balance the flow of energy through your body.

Reducing headaches and migraines

Acupuncture has long been used to relieve headaches and migraines, especially those that are caused by stress and tension. In fact, acupuncture is one of the most effective ways to treat these types of headaches. Acupuncture helps relieve pain by stimulating specific nerves in your body that cause a release of endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers). It can also help relieve muscle tension in your head or neck area.

Reducing nausea from chemotherapy

Acupuncture is used to reduce nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy treatments. It has been reported that acupuncture may be effective in reducing nausea, but more studies are needed before a firm conclusion can be made.

Menstrual cramps and back pain during pregnancy

Menstrual cramps and back pain during pregnancy are two of the most common reasons women seek acupuncture treatment. Many women experience menstrual cramps during the early stages of pregnancy, and the pain can be debilitating. Acupuncture is effective in managing these symptoms. During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes many changes including hormone fluctuations that can cause backaches as well as lower back pain during labor.

Improving osteoarthritis

An osteoarthritis is a common form of arthritis that affects the joints, causing pain and stiffness. The symptoms usually develop gradually over time, but they may also come on suddenly following an injury or trauma.

Acupuncture can be used to relieve the pain caused by osteoarthritis. It can also help reduce inflammation in the body and increase blood flow to affected areas.

Lowering blood pressure

Acupuncture is one of the best options for lowering blood pressure. Acupuncture is more effective than medication when it comes to treating high blood pressure, and many people are able to get off their blood pressure medications after just a few sessions. This is especially important for those who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure because lifestyle changes are often not enough to bring down their levels, especially in the long term.

Conclusion

As you can see, acupuncture has been used for a variety of issues. Despite the ongoing research and revelations about this ancient treatment method, it seems to be a solid option for pain relief and easing anxiety. The benefits seem to outweigh the costs, so acupu