Some health benefits of acupuncture
Whether it’s used for a specific health condition like pain, digestive symptoms, hormonal issues, anxiety, depression or to support general wellness with feeling more balanced and lowering your stress, acupuncture is effective. (34) The reasoning behind acupuncture’s effectiveness is not well understood, but patients report that they experience a reduction of symptoms and a feeling of deep relaxation after receiving acupuncture. Outlined below are some health conditions that acupuncture can help with clinical studies to prove it.Â
1. Blood pressure control
Acupuncture impacts the cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels) by supporting blood pressure control. Hypertension (high blood pressure) negatively impacts blood flow and affects almost half (47%) of adults in the United States. Having hypertension can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. (5) Changes to lifestyle and diet are significant parts of hypertension management, and receiving acupuncture treatments can help. (28) Animal research indicates that certain acupuncture points can effectively reduce blood pressure. (31)
2. Chronic headachesÂ
Whether it’s migraines or tension headaches, chronic headaches can be challenging to treat and can seriously impact quality of life. (27) Adding acupuncture to your headache treatment regimen can help reduce the intensity, frequency, and duration of chronic headaches and migraines. Acupuncture can also help enhance the quality of life compared to medication alone. (26)(27)
3. Chronic insomnia
Insomnia can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. Medical treatment for insomnia often involves sedative medications, which have negative side effects when they are used long-term and can be very difficult to stop taking. Acupuncture may be an option for individuals aiming to prevent or limit their use of sleep medications or avoid sleep meds all together. Research suggests that acupuncture promotes deep relaxation, similar to medications, with less frequent and severe side effects. (12)(33)
4. Chronic pain
Chronic pain is what Dr. Anne has been treating most over the past seventeen years. The American College of Physicians recommends acupuncture for low back pain, but patients suffering from other types of pain, such as neck and shoulder pain, benefit from acupuncture too. (21)(29) Compared to no acupuncture, individuals with neck pain who received acupuncture experienced more pain relief. (32) Other patients have reported that the pain-relieving effects of acupuncture last six months to a year after their last session. (23)
6. MenopauseÂ
Menopause is a normal part of aging, but it can come with undesirable side effects, such as hot flashes, depression, and poor sleep. Acupuncture may help enhance overall well-being throughout menopause by reducing menopausal hot flashes and improving sleep quality. (6) These benefits have been reported to continue for up to six months after the last acupuncture treatment. (3) Dr. Anne did her Doctoral Dissertation on herbs and acupuncture for menopause - she has a lot of experience treating it.
7. Menstrual pain
Dysmenorrhea, or painful periods, is associated with common ailments, such as lower abdominal cramps, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea or vomiting. Commonly, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, like ibuprofen) are used to manage menstrual pain. Still, about 20 to 25% of women report that NSAIDs alone don’t fully relieve their period-related pain. Acupuncture can be an effective treatment for period-related pain.
8. Mental health
Mental and emotional challenges such as anxiety and depression affect millions of North Americans yearly. (22) These conditions can be complex and can have a significant impact on daily life. Acupuncture can reduce the severity of depression and anxiety by impacting the nervous system and increasing certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and other mood boosting compounds in your brain.
Mental and emotional challenges such as anxiety and depression affect millions of North Americans yearly. (22) These conditions can be complex and can have a significant impact on daily life. Acupuncture can reduce the severity of depression and anxiety by impacting the nervous system and increasing certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and other mood boosting compounds in your brain.
Acupuncture can reduce pain associated with osteoarthritis. (10)
9. Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, often affecting the hands, knees, hips, and spine. (19) NSAIDs are often used to manage osteoarthritic symptoms, such as knee pain, but may also lead to undesirable side effects (e.g., stomach ulcers) with long-term use. (16) Acupuncture has been acknowledged by the American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation as an intervention to help relieve chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis. (10)
Studies show that acupuncture can significantly reduce osteoarthritic pain and improve joint mobility and health-related quality of life, particularly when adhering to ongoing acupuncture treatments. (20)
The bottom lineÂ
Dr. Anne’s patients are always astounded by how relaxing her treatments are - we know it sounds counter intuitive, but acupuncture is incredibly relaxing. The reasoning behind the health benefits of acupuncture isn’t well understood but is likely related to its impact on the immune and nervous systems. Symptoms of many health conditions, including insomnia, pain, mental health challenges, digestive issues, menopause, hormone imbalances, high stress and more may be reduced with regular acupuncture sessions. Make an appointment with Dr. Anne today to see the amazing benefits of acupuncture.