
Whether you have chronic pain or are sore as the result of a serious accident or injury, you are finding it debilitating and difficult to resume responsibilities such as school, work, home maintenance, or looking after your children. You have probably tried medications to try to alleviate the pain however they have been ineffective or you are worried about addiction and side effects.
If this sounds familiar, you should consider acupuncture. This procedure consists of inserting fine needles at certain pressure points of the body to ease pain that you are experiencing. While this sounds painful, below are 4 benefits that you would enjoy by enduring the acupuncture process.
1. Address cancer symptoms
Cancer is a deadly illness that has claimed the lives of million of people around the world. Advances in medicine have lead to tremendous progress regarding the way cancer victims are treated, however these treatments come with debilitating side effects if they even work at all.
Acupuncture is definitely not a treatment for cancer and should not be seen as such. However, it has proven instrumental in helping ease the anxiety and depression often experienced as the result of a cancer diagnosis. It can also help with side effects of treatments such as chemotherapy that is known to cause vomiting and fatigue. When needles are placed into the skin, serotonin, a chemical responsible for feelings of happiness, is released.
Acupuncture can also stimulate nerve endings, releasing endorphins that can ease pain and nausea.
2. Help with weight loss
Carrying around extra body weight can be burdensome and unhealthy. Many people try to exercise more and abide by a stricter diet. While these steps are crucial in losing weight, sometimes they do not give the results that are expected.
Acupuncture can assist those attempting to lose weight. It will not facilitate weight loss on its own however in conjunction with exercise and a healthy diet people have experienced noticeable results. On average, acupuncture has helped adults lose up to 10 lbs in as little as two weeks. It is contended that acupuncture treatments control a patient’s hunger and can cause more sensitivity to the foods eaten.
The process can increase the release of ghrelin, the hormone that controls cravings, and decrease leptin, the hormone responsible for the storage of fat.
3. Alleviates chronic pain
Chronic pain can be devastating, prevent you from doing the activities that you enjoy and making responsibilities such as work and child-rearing next to impossible. Luckily, acupuncture treatments have proven to help those with chronic pain, allowing for a better quality of life.
Acupuncture is able to activate receptors in the body notorious for suppressing pain, causing pain to cease shortly after it begins. As a result, treatments have proven to be effective in treating conditions such as osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, migraines, and lower back pain. It is believed that the human body is made up of 14 meridians, channels that transport body energy from the brain to body parts. When chronic pain is experienced, this energy is not able to flow. By placing needles onto these meridians, endorphins are released and encourage the flow to start once again.
4. Helps sleep quality
You need a good night’s sleep to keep up with your responsibilities the next day. Failing to get the sleep you need will result in fatigue and drowsiness that can prevent you from having a productive day and in some instances can be dangerous.
In a review of over 40 trials, acupuncture was proven to be just as successful in treating insomnia as sleep medications. Treatments are able to address insomnia in patients by activating neurotransmitters that encourage relaxation and sleep. This is even beneficial for those who are able to fall asleep because it can allow them to achieve a deeper type of sleep, leading to even more energy and alertness.