You may already be familiar with the basics of acupressure from previous blog posts. This Eastern traditional therapy aims to stimulate pressure points in your body. It achieves this through the application of deep pressure on points along your body’s qi map.
You qi (pronounced “chee”) is the harmony of your body’s systems. When your qi is unbalanced in one area, the entire body feels out of tune. Stimulating the pressure points helps restore that balance.
One school of acupressure is acupuncture. You may have seen acupuncture in pictures or in a movie and wondered, what is it? Is it safe? Does it work? Do those needles hurt?
Acupuncture is a beneficial practice. We are here to help you understand why you should consider acupuncture to feel more healthy.
Is acupuncture safe?
Yes! A professional acupuncturist always uses sterile needles. You should only ever receive acupuncture from a professional. When interviewing a potential therapist, check their credentials. They should be certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
This certification demonstrates that the acupuncturist uses safe equipment and techniques. If your acupuncturist is certified, you know they can help restore your qi.
What are the benefits of acupuncture?
Restoring the balance of your body’s qi sounds nice, but if you’re not sure what that means or how it helps, then acupuncture may sound too far-fetched to you.
It is pretty easy to break down the benefits of acupuncture. This Eastern therapy may treat the following:
- Chronic pain and muscle spasms. A 2012 National Institutes of Health study finds that the stimulation of pressure points is more effective than other treatments at reducing chronic pain.Chronic pain refers to prolonged pain in areas of your body. This is often caused by poor sleeping habits, stress, overuse, and injury. As this is a serious issue, your insurance may cover the procedure!In a similar vein, acupuncture can instigate the release of endorphins. This is helpful if you are experiencing muscle spasms. Endorphins act as your body’s natural solution to pain and spasms.
Once your acupuncturist locates the source of the spasms, acupuncture is applied to specific points to release endorphins in the troubled area.
- Migraines. Regular acupuncture sessions help with the reduction of migraines. People who suffer from frequent migraines find that the amount of migraine attacks per month decreases when receiving regular acupuncture treatments.
- Nausea. One of the wondrous facets of qi is how one part of the body is connected to another distant and separate part. Nausea is the feeling of uneasiness in your stomach that often leads to vomiting.
- Acupuncture applies stimulation to a key pressure point in your wrist. You heard right. The wrist. And it works! Studies show that stimulating this pressure point in the wrist alleviates nausea symptoms and can help prevent nausea from returning.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). If you suffer from frequent and severe bloating, gassiness, and stomach pain, you may have IBS. If your doctor diagnoses you with IBS, you may benefit from acupuncture.
- Acupuncture is not a cure for the disorder, but it is proven to reduce the side-effects and symptoms. IBS patients who receive acupuncture treatment feel more relaxed and comfortable.
- Anxiety. Anxiety takes a severe toll on your mind and body. This mental inability to relax leads to physical stress. This can lead to other problems including more anxiety.
- Anxiety is typically the result of a chemical imbalance. Acupuncture is an effective treatment for stimulating points in your body that help restore your balance.
- Many anxiety patients are pleased to use acupuncture as it does not rely on medicine with heavy side-effects.
- Depression. This disorder is typically treated with antidepressants accompanied by a heavy dose of unwanted side-effects. Fortunately, acupuncture is a successful alternative.
A study by the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine finds that acupuncture achieves the same results as medication. The difference? Acupuncture doesn’t come with a list of harsh side-effects.
Is acupuncture right for me?
By now, you’re wondering if acupuncture is right for you? The answer is, of course! If you bleed or bruise easily, you should consult your doctor for a recommendation, but acupuncturists are experienced in dealing with this phenomena.
So, if you’re ready to get started feeling better and restore your qi, schedule an appointment with an acupuncturist today!