Acupuncture and Your Health: Can It Really Help?

acupunctureIn recent years, people seem to be taking a more active and open-minded role in how they think about their personal well-being and health. From self-care to eating healthier and getting more exercise, we are starting to wake up to the value of preventive care, and we are beginning to commit more attention and time to taking care of our bodies and minds. With attentive care, illness and disease can be stopped before it has a chance to take root. One of the best ways to practice preventive care is with alternative health practices, such as essential oils, therapeutic massage, and acupuncture.

These practices are becoming more and more mainstream every year, but there are still many who are skeptical about their effectiveness. Sometimes, it’s hard to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Just like any other alternative therapy, acupuncture is often meant with skepticism, and many people have heard misleading information about it. So, can acupuncture really improve your health?

Common Myths About Acupuncture

1- Acupuncture only helps with pain.

Acupuncture is widely recognized in the scientific community as an effective therapy for chronic and acute pain. Even the FDA recommends that patients receive acupuncture therapy before they are prescribed addictive pharmaceuticals. However, there are so many more ways that acupuncture can help to improve your health!  Acupuncture can help with a wide range of mental and physical health concerns, including digestive issues, insomnia, stress, anxiety, and fertility.

But, that’s not all! Acupuncture is also an effective preventive care tool. Throughout Chinese history, people saw and paid their acupuncturist for preventive sessions. Then, if they did get sick, they didn’t pay any more until they were health once again! Today’s hectic, stress, and anxiety filled lifestyle provides us with a great way to measure the success of acupuncture treatments. If you begin to notice that you feel less stressed, have more energy, or you’re sleeping better at night, those are sure signs that the acupuncture treatments are working. You might even notice an improvement in allergy related issues, a boosted sex drive, or improved PMS symptoms!

2- Acupuncture treatments hurt.

Many people associate needles with pain, but acupuncture needles are nothing like the type of needles used to draw blood or give a shot. These needles are as thin as a human hair! According to the best acupuncturists in New York City, many patients become so relaxed during the treatments that they actually fall asleep. Sometimes, new clients don’t even realize the needles are being inserted. The vast majority of people experience no pain during treatment, only an occasional dull ache as the needles are inserted in certain areas.

3- Acupuncturists don’t get much training.

Many people have the misconception that acupuncturists aren’t required to complete much training, but that’s not the case at all. An acupuncture physician is required to complete at three or four years of training, earn a master’s degree, and pass a state licensing exam before they can practice. They are thoroughly trained in physiology and anatomy. Acupuncture is a rapidly growing field.

4- If you don’t notice results right away, it’s probably not working.

Although many patients do notice improvement after just one session, some conditions may require several treatments before you notice results. If you’ve had a certain health issue for a long time, it’s likely that it will take longer to restore your body’s balance and function. The good news is, you can look forward to feelings of rejuvenation and relaxation after your first session, even if it takes several treatments to get to the root cause of your symptoms.

How Acupuncture Can Improve Your Overall Health

Most people feel stress and anxiety to a certain degree every single day. In fact, more than 40 million Americans are affected by some type of anxiety disorder, but fewer than half of those affected seek out treatment. Acupuncture has been proven to effectively treat a variety of issues caused by stress and a hectic lifestyle. Here are five health concerns that can be addressed with acupuncture.

1- Mental Health and Overall Wellbeing

Receiving an acupuncture treatment is kind of like hitting the reset button. Most people walk out of a session feeling refreshed and relaxed. Since stress is one of the leading causes of illness and disease, receiving regular acupuncture treatments is a great way to counteract the adverse effects that stress can have on our bodies.

2- Women’s Health Issues

Acupuncture can help with a variety of women’s health issues, from PMS to infertility. Many women have gotten relief from painful PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), endometriosis, and more through acupuncture. You don’t have to suffer through these painful problems or turn to invasive treatments or painkillers.

3- Head and Neck Pain

Head and neck pain are common side effects of spending too much time looking at computers and cell phones. Acupuncture can be an effective way to reduce pain and relax overworked, tight muscles. It works by releasing certain hormones that are your body’s natural painkillers.

4- Sleep Issues

Chronic insomnia is tough to treat unless your willing to resort to addictive pharmaceuticals. Acupuncture could provide the solution you’re looking for because it helps to relax the body and the mind so that you can fall asleep easier at night. Many patients notice an improvement in their sleep patterns after just one acupuncture session.

5- Healthier Skin

Many people don’t realize that acupuncture can provide an excellent way to counteract the signs of aging. The treatments can help to increase collagen levels in the skin, firm sagging facial muscles, and even relax fine lines and wrinkles! Not only that, but many of the acupuncture points used in facial rejuvenation sessions can also benefit overall health and wellness.

So, can acupuncture really help to improve your overall health? Absolutely! Even if you don’t have an immediate health concern, acupuncture treatments are a great way to maintain good health now and in the years to come.

Shift Frequency © 2019 – Acupuncture and Your Health

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