Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese method for improving health conditions and symptoms. The ancient Chinese were the first ones to discover that there are energy channels in our body called meridians and that these meridians are associated with certain organs in our body.

 They stimulated these meridians by thin needles at specific points ( trigger points or acupoints ) to bring the body back into balance by releasing natural chemicals to prevent or fight illness or pain.

 Acupuncture therapy can be for many of us one of the best ways to help to restore balance in our bodies. It can treat many health issues such as acute and chronic pain, arthritis, neck / shoulder / back pain, or headaches / migraines. If you have not tried it yet, we strongly recommend considering this treatment. Here are the top 10 reasons why you should book a session with an acupuncturist at our North Vancouver clinic: 

 

1. Get effective treatment for pain

If Acupuncture has been best recognized for anything, it was treating acute and chronic pain-related conditions. These can include injury recovery, pre and post-surgery, pain caused by bad posture, prolonged sitting behind the desk as well as after motor vehicle accidents.

2. Alleviate stress, anxiety and depression

There are many ways to manage stress, anxiety and depression and Acupuncture treatment is one of them. According to Matthew Kulas, MA, RAc from Henry Ford Health, Acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural feel-good hormones and reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol. By inserting a needle around the nerve, the nervous system starts to produce painkilling chemicals and stimulates the part of the brain that controls emotions including anxiety and stress.

3. Reduce headaches and migraines

Migraine & Headache relief is one of the most common reasons people visit acupuncturists. By improving blood circulation, releasing pain-relieving chemicals such as endorphins and releasing tension around the neck, suboccipital muscles and cranial muscles, acupuncture can decrease muscle tension and pressure that can be felt behind the eyes, forehead and temporal bones.

4. Boost your immune system

As we already know, acupuncture helps us to reduce stress, which can be according to the&nbsp National Center for Biotechnology Information, more research has revealed that acupuncture can help regulate the immune system We already know that acupuncture treatments reduce stress. Stress is a major factor in the immune system’s ability to fight against infection. It stimulates and balances the immune system so that any pathogens you may come across would be fought with a strong defence. Treatments increase the amount of your body’s immune cells like the red blood cells and white blood cells. It also enhances the immunity of those with immune-related illnesses by encouraging these cells to reproduce and boost the body’s defences.

5. Improve your fertility

Acupuncture as a treatment for infertility shows great results both in men and women. Acupuncture can be considered a successful treatment in restoring fertility in patients by improving sperm quality and ovaries function and balancing the endocrine system and hormones, according to research published in September 2018 in the Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences. According to acupuncturists, focusing on pressure points on the head can improve relaxation, while points around the stomach can promote the supply of fresh blood to the ovaries. Also, there are other points that can promote blood flow to the reproductive organs such as the lower legs or feet.

6. Great for preventative care

By balancing the bodily systems with acupuncture it is possible to feel better every day, regardless of the symptoms you may be experiencing or not. Regular acupuncture treatments can help you to feel happier, improve digestion, strengthen your immune system and more. This means that even if you have never been sick or experienced pain, it could be acupuncture that is keeping you feeling your absolute best.

7. Increase your energy

If you feel your energy level has been low for some time, acupuncture helps you to get deep rest due to the ability to balance hormones and regulate nervous system activity. Low energy can be related to stress, emotions, certain diets, and lack of or too much exercise.

8. Improve your sleep patterns and reduce insomnia

Insomnia is a common complaint, affecting approximately 33% to 50 % of the adult population. 10% to 15% suffer from Chronic Insomnia, which is associated with distress or impairment. Sleeplessness has a variety of causes but most insomnia occurs as a result of emotional issues like anxiety, depression or PTSD. Other reasons can be alcohol and caffeine consumption. A 2013 clinical trial with people suffering from Acupuncture treating primary insomnia compared the efficacy of those that had acupuncture with a sleeping pill placebo, with those who took a sleeping pill and had needles inserted into non-acupuncture points, and those that had fake acupuncture and a placebo pill. Overall the acupuncture group without medication had the BEST results of reported increased quality of sleep, increased energy, increased normal functioning during the day, and less fatigue

9. Treat disorders related to menstration and menopause

Mostly women are prone to suffer from hormonal imbalances that manifest as conditions such as absent menses, painful menses, infertility, fibroids and menopausal disorders. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are incredibly beneficial in treating the root cause of these conditions as well as providing symptomatic relief.

10. Improve your digestion

There is an increasingly high percentage of the population that struggles with symptoms of poor digestion. Some of the many digestive conditions treated with Chinese medicine are gas and bloating, constipation, diarrhea, IBS, inflammatory bowel disease and abdominal pain. In Chinese Medicine, a healthy digestive system is a basis for good health. If the digestive system is not functioning optimally it trickles down to all other aspects of health and lays the groundwork for disease. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help to regulate digestion and restore optimal digestive function.  

References:

https://www.henryford.com/blog/tags/mathew-kulas

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4540978/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6182526/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3789397/

Learn more about acupuncture and TCM at Active Therapy Clinic in North Vancouver