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Can Acupuncture Help Me Heal?

Posted Tuesday, November 19th, 2019 by

Can Acupuncture Help Me Heal?

Acupuncture is a widely used natural medicine that’s considered a valuable alternative to traditional and potentially addictive pain medications. At its core, acupuncture is an efficient way to relieve pain and alleviate illness. According to the University of California, Berkeley, acupuncture is scientifically proven to address symptoms like nausea and pain.

What is Acupuncture?

By placing sterile needles at specific nerve points in the body (acupuncture points), licensed acupuncturists can stimulate the body’s healing capabilities to relieve pain, nausea, and a variety of other health symptoms. Many doctors believe that acupuncture affects the body’s hormonal and neurological systems and stimulates the release of beta-endorphins, which cause happiness and even euphoria.

Acupuncture has its roots in China, but the modern-day practice and results certainly fall into the realm of Western medical science. The ancient Chinese believed that the flow of qi (pronounced chi) in the body could be influenced at specific points, giving rise to the acupressure points we know today. These points have been identified as nerves, or nerve clusters, that can be stimulated to affect the body on a biological level.

Does Acupuncture Work?

Acupuncture is scientifically/clinically proven to work to relieve pain, nausea, and even depression. The National Institutes of Health, run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, refers to acupuncture as a treatment for specific pain conditions and acknowledges that ongoing research seeks to reveal what other symptoms acupuncture is effective at treating. One of the largest studies done on acupuncture conclusively proved that there is a difference between real and placebo acupuncture, meaning that genuine acupuncture has scientific merit.

Acupuncture is typically recommended for people suffering from chronic pain, which would usually require the person to take traditional pain medication that may become addictive. The process can ease chronic pain naturally and reduce or eliminate the amount of pain medication the chronically ill person is taking. Acupuncture is not addictive and can be a valuable option enabling those with chronic pain conditions to manage that pain.

Acupuncture is also recognized as a remedy for nausea, especially nausea caused by chemotherapy. Many chemotherapy patients have successfully managed chemo-related nausea either entirely or in part through the use of acupuncture. While the effectiveness of acupuncture for nausea is less scientifically supported than it is for pain, many sources still recognize that it can have soothing effects.

It’s also been shown that the combination of care given by an acupuncture specialist and the pain-relieving and mood-lifting properties of the acupuncture process can relieve the symptoms of depression. Its pain relief and mood-improving properties are especially helpful for those with chronic pain, who are often able to ease their depressive and pain symptoms during the acupuncture sessions.

Will Acupuncture Heal Me?

Acupuncture is thought to stimulate the body’s nerves to release hormones called endorphins (the “happy hormones”), which is why it’s so effective in treating pain and depression. This same stimulation and hormonal manipulation can help promote nerve growth and healing in the body. The Johns Hopkins Hospital recognizes that acupuncture stimulates these healing processes to promote both physical and emotional well-being.

Some doctors even believe that acupuncture can repair nervous system damage through nerve stimulation. It’s possible that acupuncture can help damaged nerves heal and regrow. Nerve healing may happen due to the unique stimulation of acupuncture points by needles or other methods.

Another benefit of acupuncture is the care and time taken by acupuncture specialists. An acupuncture session is a time to reward and heal yourself and get relief, and the acupuncturists work hard to ensure you get the best experience possible. This positive feeling of being cared for can bolster the relieving effects of acupuncture and further reduce your pain and worry.

Many scientific studies suggest that positive thinking can prevent disease or halt it in the early stages. Acupuncture works in much the same way. By relieving your pain and worry, acupuncture allows you to heal more quickly, unhindered by negative emotions and the presence of stress hormones in your system.

Conclusion

Acupuncture is an essential option for those dealing with pain and other uncomfortable symptoms from a variety of sources. It can even promote healing and growth in your nervous system and release positive hormones like endorphins to make you feel emotionally better. If you’re looking for a non-addictive, traditional alternative to other treatments or medications, acupuncture is an excellent option for you.

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