Acupuncture and Your Quality of Life
The word ‘ouch’ might come to your mind when you hear the word, ‘acupuncture’. Come to Bodhsara and you will be pleasantly surprised. Yes, there are needles involved but these are very, very thin needles and you hardly feel them being put in position.
How does it work?
There are 369 acupuncture points on the body, each lying on an invisible energy channel, or “meridian.” Each meridian is associated with an organ system. Trained naturopathy doctors know which zone to target to derive the aimed benefit. Based on this knowledge, they place anywhere from six to more than twenty tiny needles per treatment (the number of needles doesn't indicate the intensity of the treatment). They are left in place for 20 to 30 minutes.
Acupuncture has been a strong pillar of the health care system in China for over at least 2,500 years. It addresses the patterns of energy that flow (Qi) through the body and works like soldiers guarding your health. When their flow or the organized march of these little wellness soldiers is interrupted, the floodgates to diseases open. Acupuncture works on keeping all gates open for this flow and correcting blockages by stimulating the right nerve endings. Typically, acupuncture works by stimulating the release of endorphins which are the body's natural pain-relieving chemicals.
It also influences the autonomic nervous system that commands most of our bodily functions. That orders the release of chemicals that regulate blood flow and pressure, reduce inflammation, improve neuromuscular coordination and calm the brain by improving impulse transmission.
What are the benefits of acupuncture?
So, now that I have allayed your fear about the needles, let me tell you about the benefits of acupuncture. It’s an ancient therapeutic tool that has been used to get respite from chronic pain. That is just one aspect. It has several other benefits. People have reported alleviation of stress, worries, anxieties after acupuncture sessions. When the acupuncture needles and applied and long after they have been removed, your central nervous system experiences stimulation and releases endorphins and other mood-enhancing substances. It gives your mind and body and support structure to fend off the damaging effects of anxiety
Acupuncture has also been reported to give relief from headaches. Our naturopathy physician knows the specific nerves that need to be stimulated with the placement of needles to bring about a beautiful experience of reduced pain. It has worked very well for migraines and headaches caused by insomnia. A 2016 review (involving 12 trials and 2349 participants) suggested that acupuncture involving at least six sessions may help people with frequent tension headaches.
That brings me to the regulation of sleep. Acupuncture increases your body's production of melatonin. This hormone regulates your sleep-wake cycles. Insomnia is becoming a common lifestyle issue of current times, given the workplace stressors, the competitive landscape and the daily humdrum of city life. If left unsorted, you’d be left feeling constantly fatigued, exhausted, and open yourself to a host of health problems. If this is ongoing for a prolonged time, it is a breeding ground for other future health problems.
Acupuncture is the buddy that comes to cheer up the immune system when it feels low. It gives it a shot of rejuvenation and restarts ongoing healing that the immune system takes care of diseases.
How many of you have felt that your stamina and overall energy is dissipating? Try acupuncture. What it does is that it balances the body's energetic field and resets it to a point where all the organs can function optimally. That gives you huge helpings of energy. You will feel that your lethargy is disappearing.
If you have a blood pressure problem, a few sessions doing acupuncture will give you cardiac fitness. Some studies have shown that many people have benefited more from acupuncture than medical drugs to soothe their cardiovascular system.
Does change of season, or pollen or dust give you a runny nose, puffy eyes, or scratchy throat? Try acupuncture. It regulates your immunity and helps your body to heal itself. It trains your body to attack the allergens back!
Many people come to us with gastrointestinal problems. They could be related to just poor eating habits or something more chronic. We use acupuncture for rebalancing their faulty energy fields and they have reported much relief.
Both men and women trying to conceive can benefit from acupuncture. It rejuvenates blood flow and releases endorphins that make us happier.
What are some studies done to prove that acupuncture works?
There are several studies done, the most notable being in the area of back pain. In a report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2017, researchers looked at several non-pharmacologic therapies for low back pain, including acupuncture. They studied several patients and concluded that it did provide decreased pain intensity.
Another study published in JAMA Surgery reported that it helped in pain management after knee arthroplasty.
As per a report, there exist around 4,000 scientific studies that have proven that acupuncture has worked for issues ranging from tennis elbow to post-traumatic stress disorder. It has alleviated symptoms like pain and nausea. Of course, treatment of a torn tendon or an inflamed area might need surgery: acupuncture cannot cure it. But it has been found valuable in giving relief from symptoms.
Our specialists at Bodhsara would love to talk to you and clear any doubts.
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Do you live in Bangalore, India, and need some advice? Feel free to contact to us at +91 7760581777 We will do our best to help you out.
