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What is Acupuncture Used For?

Although acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine practice has been used for close to 2500 years, most of its medical effects have not been substantiated. However, those who have or have had this type of stimulation have experienced improved health life, while some have had several conditions cured. Acupuncturists say that all the healing comes from the stimulation of the nerves in the areas of focus, hence increasing blood flow. This article focuses on some of the many conditions acupuncture is believed to solve.

  • Digestive Issues

The first thing that happens when acupuncture needles are inserted into the skin is to arouse the nerves on that particular area of focus. A stimulated nervous system leads to better metabolism, which means that the digestion of food and other metabolic processes take place in a better way. Improved metabolism means that issues like indigestion and bloating come to an end. You may even find yourself experiencing weight loss since, with improved metabolism; food is absorbed instead of being converted into fats.

  • Musculoskeletal

Acupuncture works by stimulating nerves in the area of focus and the whole body as well, hence improving the circulation of blood and lymphatic fluid. This helps in muscle problems in that it prevents muscle inflammation while toxic wastes are removed from the body together with the lymphatic fluid. With reduced muscle inflammation comes muscle healing since the lactic acid trapped in the muscle is released, hence the muscle heals faster. Furthermore, acupuncture leads to relaxation and trend to experience quality sleep, a time when muscle healing processes take place.

  • Emotional Balance

Some people who have had acupuncture therapy say that they felt more relaxed than before the therapy. The relaxed feeling may be a result of the stimulation of the nervous system that improves the circulation of blood. Enhanced circulation, in turn, causes better breathing and increased production of the feel-good hormone, endorphin, while at the same time reducing the stress-causing hormone, cortisol. The result is that you experience emotional balance, unlike before you had the therapy. When your emotions are in check, you will feel happier and enthusiastic and your life will take a different turn since you will have better relationships at work and home.

  • Neurological Benefits

Acupuncture is also known to help people with neurological issues since the primary action is the stimulation of the nerves around the area of focus. Since nervous conditions like arthritis and stroke are as a result of poor or no circulation at all, acupuncture helps in improving this circulation which leads to more blood being directed to those areas and the nerves come to life again. You, therefore, experience improved mobility and this improves your quality of life because you can do so much by yourself.

  • Respiratory Advantages

People suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, usually die from blockage of the airflow obstruction and airway inflammation. Research shows that COPD is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. When these people undergo acupuncture therapy, nerve stimulation causes increased circulation of blood and lymphatic fluid. Coupled with the right medication for this disease, increased blood, and lymphatic fluid flow leads to enhanced breathing patterns in the patient. With better breathing, the airways are unblocked, hence relief. Lymphatic fluid flow carries toxic wastes that are responsible for affecting the airways, which is the main symptom of COPD.

  • Gynecological Uses

Most women experience pain during their menstrual cycle, which is commonly known as cramps. These could come in the form of back, neck and upper shoulder pain. It could also come in the form of chronic headaches known as migraines. Pregnant women too, have chronic lower back pain. Since acupuncture works by stimulating the nervous system, this causes improved circulation of blood and lymphatic fluids that remove lactic acid and toxic wastes that are responsible for pain. As a result, the back and neck pain, as well as the migraines, disappear.

As seen in this article, acupuncture therapy can greatly help improve the quality of your life in many ways. It may not have substantiated effects by the medical societies but people who have had acupuncture therapies usually experience positive changes in their bodies. Even as you seek this much-needed therapy, ensure that you identify not just a good acupuncturist, but also one who is licensed to do so by the National Certification for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, NCCAOM. This is because a quack can cause you serious bodily injuries instead of providing you with solutions to your health problems.