The Traditional Chinese Medicine practice of acupuncture is a healing art that corrects a variety of ailments, from headaches to autoimmune disorders
Key takeaways:
What acupuncture is
How it works
Its benefits for various ailments
Holistic healing from Eastern Acupuncture and Wellness
Acupuncture has been a common treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years. Ask anyone who receives it, and they’ll likely tell you it’s greatly improved their quality of life. That’s because it treats a variety of issues, easing both physical and psychological pain.
Western medicine has just recently begun to accept acupuncture, finally acknowledging its long-studied healing properties. Now, more and more mainstream medical experts are realizing its value. Here is why acupuncture is quickly becoming one of the most widely-used health treatments in South Florida.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a holistic healing art that originated in ancient China. It uses a Traditional Chinese Medicine-based approach to treat several conditions by using needles to activate specific pressure points on the skin. More people have been treated with TCM than any other medical treatment in history.
Acupuncture centers on the Chinese philosophical and medical concept of “qi.” The life-giving force of qi flows through the body’s acupuncture points (more than 2,000), which are connected by pathways, also known as “meridians.” These meridians create the energy flow known as qi that is responsible for overall health. Meridians match specific organs or groups of organs, and blockages cause imbalances in the body.
Acupuncturists place needles as thin as strands of hair into specific points on the skin to unblock and redirect the flow of qi. These points are known as “acupoints.”
Even though acupuncture involves needles, it is not painful. Most people report feeling minimal pain as needles are shallowly inserted. Some people say it feels energizing, others, relaxing.
Benefits of acupuncture
People in South Florida are interested in acupuncture for many reasons. Some want to cure persistent headaches and sinus pressures. Others might be looking for a natural, non-prescription medication to heal chronic pain. Still, others might be seeking out the relaxing properties of acupuncture to relieve the stress of daily work and life.
Here are 10 of the many ailments that acupuncture treats.
1. Stress
Stress reduction is one of the top reasons people seek acupuncture. So many people experience stress from work, relationships, and the demands we put on ourselves. Acupuncture lowers stress hormones and reduces anxiety, which leads to overall mood improvement.
2. Anxiety and depression
Another reason people turn to acupuncture is to ease anxiety and depression. Many find the therapy relaxing, and acupuncture has been proven to work for anxiety and depression, especially among pregnant women.
3. Back, neck, and joint pain
A lot of people experience back, neck, and joint pain. Leaning over keyboards, carrying a heavy purse or backpack, and poor posture are just some of the culprits that create the pain carried through the workday and into bedtime. Acupuncture provides drug-free relief from these ailments while reducing swelling and inflammation.
4. Sciatica
Sciatica is a true pain to deal with, and those who have it would like nothing more than to get rid of the shooting, burning, tingling pains it causes. The acupuncture needles trigger a response from the body’s nervous system, leading the brain to release a wave of natural painkillers (endorphins and enkephalins) and increase blood flow to the painful area, and relax the surrounding muscles.
5. Headaches
Acupuncture has been used as a tool to treat headaches for thousands of years. Recent studies have proven the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating headaches and migraines. Acupuncture treats the pain of headaches and brings a sense of relaxation and euphoria.
6. Digestive conditions
The link between digestive health, stress, and overall wellness is very much intertwined. Studies have shown that acupuncture helps treat a wide array of GI disorders, including nausea, IBS, peptic ulcer disease, Crohn's Disease, and more.
7. Menstrual cramps and PMS
Repeated acupuncture treatments have been shown to stop PMS symptoms in women. Its effects can be attributed to the serotoninergic and opioidergic neurotransmission that moderates psychosomatic functions.
8. Allergies
Acupuncture can help minimize and prevent allergy symptoms. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers seasonal allergies, as well as asthma and sinusitis, as respiratory diseases that can be helped by holistic treatment. This is because it helps the nervous and immune systems positively act on the inflammatory, histamine, and immune response.
9. Cigarette cravings
Acupuncture can help those trying to quit smoking. It helps curb cravings, ease jitters, and decrease irritability. Acupuncturists target pressure points in the ears to suppress cravings. They can also give patients ear seeds to use at home, which helps temper the urge to smoke.
10. Repetitive strain injuries
Repetitive stress injuries are some of the most common job-related injuries. They can be caused by:
using a computer mouse
swiping items at a supermarket checkout
working on an assembly line
training for sports
Acupuncture helps ease the pain of these injuries without drugs.
Is acupuncture right for you?
Acupuncture can ease the pain of countless conditions. In addition to those listed above, it’s been proven to help with osteoarthritis, insomnia, morning sickness, sprains, strokes, and more. This TCM treatment has been used for thousands of years, and with the ever-expanding intersection between Western and Eastern medicine, it is highly effective for pain management.
Ease your pain with acupuncture in South Florida
Eastern Acupuncture and Wellness is a health, well-being, and longevity practice that takes a holistic, functional approach to our patient’s physical and physiological state. We use a deliberate combination of eastern and western medicinal practices. We carefully analyze, test, and evaluate our patients to give them tailor-made treatments to promote their optimal state of health. We offer acupuncture in South Florida to identify, address, and alleviate the underlying causes of symptoms and ailments.
We accept all major insurance carriers. Reach out for a complimentary consultation today with one of our experienced acupuncture physicians.
