Acupuncture is a traditional practice in Chinese medicine and is rapidly gaining popularity in North America for its healing properties. For many people, acupuncture is still a foreign concept, with little understanding of how advantageous this practice can be in an individual’s daily life.
For individuals suffering from chronic pain, basic body movements can trigger debilitating pain. Acupuncture works to relieve chronic pain in areas such as the back, neck and knees, as well as joint pain.
Not only does this treatment provide respite for those suffering from pain but it also frees these individuals up to engage in physical activities, such as, going for a walk, playing with your kids or even just sitting for long periods of time without experiencing discomfort (this is for those whose work is mainly seated).
Health concerns like insomnia and other sleep-related problems are also serious health issues and reduce your quality of life. A 2004 preliminary report found that for patients with anxiety, acupuncture increases nighttime melatonin production and total sleep time. Those patients also fell asleep faster and were less stressed.
Furthermore, better sleeping patterns translate to more energy throughout the day, a clearer mind for decision making and just an overall better functioning body–an example of this is your immune system, which is strengthened with regular sleep and helps your body fight off colds.
With the ability to reduce stress, balance hormones and reduce anxiety and pain, acupuncture goes a long way to creating a more positive birthing process and faster recovery. This treatment also helps prepare mothers for labour and any mental (e.g. depression) or physical symptoms they may experience after the birth.
To ensure no discomfort or injury, trained acupuncturists will avoid certain acupuncture points throughout pregnancy.
In closing, acupuncture is a safe treatment that comes with minimal side-effects, can be effectively combined with other treatments, effectively controls pain and can be used in all the above real-world scenarios to improve both your physical and mental health. The health of your body and mind plays an integral role in your quality of life, so utilize acupuncture optimize your health!