Even though acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years, its advantages are still up for debate. Others think there are reasons the practice has persisted for so long, despite the fact that some think it is completely unrelated to contemporary medicine. We examine some of the advantages acupuncture can have for your health as more and more scientific study is conducted on its impacts.
1. Migraines And Headaches
Acupuncture has been shown to assist individuals with persistent headaches experience less pain more frequently and more subtly, according to a 2009 assessment of 11 research involving 2,137 patients. According to the study, acupuncture patients had less pain and fewer headaches than individuals in the control groups.
2. Continual Pain
All over our bodies, chronic pain can present itself in numerous ways. The neck/shoulder region, the knees, and the lower back are some of the most often impacted body parts. Another typical sign of arthritis is chronic pain, which acupuncture can also help with.
In a 2012 study, trials of over 17,000 patients were pooled, and it was discovered that there was a definite difference between those who had acupuncture treatment and those who did not. Acupuncture is “more than merely a placebo effect,” they said in their conclusion.
3. Insomnia
Acupuncture may not be effective in treating insomnia symptoms on its own, but it can be helpful when combined with other sleep-related treatments. Numerous studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can improve sleep quality for people who are dealing with pain, and one from 1999 also demonstrated that it can aid those who are experiencing insomnia. Other studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can also benefit those who are experiencing anxiety or even those who are HIV positive.
4. Aids In Recovery
Acupuncture has a number of indirect advantages. While more severe problems may not be directly addressed by the practice, it has been demonstrated to have positive impacts throughout recovery. Acupuncture, especially when administered after chemotherapy, has been shown to improve patients’ immunity, platelet counts, and healthy cell counts, according to the US National Cancer Institute. Although acupuncture cannot treat cancer, it can speed up healing and enhance quality of life.
5. Depression
Anyone who has used acupuncture will tell you that there are numerous non-physical advantages. While we advise anyone suffering from depression to undergo counseling, studies have shown that after three months, weekly acupuncture sessions are just as effective as counseling. According to the underlying principle, the neuro-transmitters in your brain are regulated by the electric current passing through the needles; in fact, one study found that the procedure may be just as effective as Prozac.
No matter the potential health advantages of acupuncture, many people avoid the procedure because they think the needles hurt. That makes sense given that medical injections given with a hypodermic needle frequently cause moderate to severe pain. Acupuncture, however, is distinct.
The needles used in acupuncture are different from hypodermic ones. Hypodermic needles are hollow, broad, and have a strong cutting edge since they are used to give medication or draw blood. Acupuncture needles, in contrast, are solid yet flexible, thin as a human hair, and have a tapering, rounded end. As a result, the skin can be gently penetrated by the needle rather than the tissues being sliced.