What Are The Four Benefits of Acupuncture?

What Are The Four Benefits of Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the art of inserting needles into the skin at strategic locations to reduce inflammation, promote wellness and healing, and even treat a number of different medical conditions. At The Emperor’s Medicine of Illinois, we know a thing or two about how transformative acupuncture can be. Here are four of the top benefits of receiving acupuncture treatment from us!

Woman sitting at her desk holding her back

Acupuncture Can Provide Pain Relief

Some 3,000 years ago acupuncture was first described in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine as a way to treat a variety of conditions and ailments. The text describes a form of piercing the skin to open up qi (vital energy or life force) pathways in the body, which can lead to a number of benefits, which include pain relief. These qi pathways channel energy to various points in the body, and it is believed that acupuncture pierces channels the energy in these points to restore the body’s natural flow of chakra.

And while the Classic of Internal Medicine is more of an early compilation of traditions and culture, there is a lot of truth to the idea that acupuncture can provide serious pain relief. A meta-analysis of studies and data gathered by the Journal Of Pain discovered that acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic pain. Acupuncture is a potential treatment candidate for

  • People who experience chronic pain

  • People who are recovering from an injury or illness

  • People recovering from surgery

  • People who don’t find relief from more common treatments for pain

And as opioid medication becomes more and more ubiquitous in the American healthcare system, there’s never a better time to see a professional for your pain than now. Get in touch with The Emperor’s Medicine today to learn more about acupuncture and chronic pain relief!

Happy man jogging while listening to headphones

Acupuncture Can Improve Circulation

There are many ways to improve circulation in your body. For over 3,000 acupuncture has been a go-to practice for people seeking to improve their body’s efficiency, and to heal from a variety of poor-circulation-related conditions. Some of these include hypertension, headaches, nose bleeds, and difficulty breathing.

Acupuncture stimulates the body’s release of nitric oxide, a key regulator in local blood circulation and blood pressure. When you receive acupuncture from a licensed, experienced professional like the ones at The Emperor's Medicine, you can expect greater circulation all throughout your body.

Maintaining good circulation in the body is important for many health reasons. For one, good circulation leads to more oxygen in the body and bloodstream, which means your body has more resources to work with when you’re pushing your body during exercise. Greater circulation in your body helps you heal faster because you can deliver wound-blocking platelets all throughout your body faster.

Relaxed woman sitting on a sofa

Acupuncture Can Reduce Stress and Anxiety

When we think of stress relief we don’t immediately think of acupuncture. On the surface, needles in the skin sound like the furthest thing from relaxing, but Emperor’s Medicine of Illinois knows that acupuncture can actually be relaxing — even fun! When our professional acupuncturists work on your body’s natural qi pathways, your body will release “feel good” hormones that will lift your mood.

Additionally, acupuncture has been shown to reduce the release of cortisol in the body which is the hormone that causes stress. The benefits of less stress in the body are numerous and well-researched. When you experience less stress in your body, you sleep better, eat better, and have less muscle tension.

Woman receiving acupuncture to her ear

Acupuncture Can Treat a Variety of Other Conditions

According to The Mayo Clinic, acupuncture has a variety of other uses that aren’t normally associated with the procedure. The procedure is done to manage a number of different conditions and can be used as part of an ongoing treatment plan to supplement different parts of the said treatment plan. Acupuncture has been used to treat Chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea and vomiting, which is vomiting caused by cancer treatments. Patients struggling to maintain healthy body weight due to nausea from their chemo treatments can find relief in acupuncture.

Another popular use for acupuncture is treating women’s health issues. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of women's health issues, including menstrual irregularities, menopausal symptoms, morning sickness, and fertility problems. In addition, acupuncture can also help to relieve pain associated with childbirth, endometriosis, and other gynecological conditions, making it a popular treatment for women who are struggling with pain, anxiety, nausea, and more.

Finally, acupuncture is sometimes used as a treatment for anxiety. And though the research is still ongoing, results are promising. "Acupuncture stimulates the body's natural feel-good hormones and reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol," says Mathew Kulas, MA, RAc, and acupuncturist at Henry Ford Health.

Acupuncture needles

Misconceptions About Acupuncture

Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about acupuncture that can cause people to avoid it entirely. Stories of pain, broken needles, and even lasting nerve damage abound with acupuncture — many stories which just aren’t true. Thankfully we can say that these incidents are rare, and do not reflect the actual practice of acupuncture. That said, there are some misconceptions to clear up:

  • Misconception: Acupuncture is painful. While there is typically some discomfort associated with acupuncture, it should never be incredibly painful. A trained, experienced, and licensed acupuncturist from The Emperor’s Medicine can perform the treatment with minimal pain and discomfort.

  • Misconception: Acupuncture is only for people with serious health concerns. This one is just not true, as acupuncture is an effective treatment for a number of ailments, including blocked qi passageways in the body.

  • Misconception: Acupuncture is dangerous. Fortunately for millions, acupuncture is a safe and effective therapeutic treatment for a variety of health conditions, or simply as a pleasant way to reduce stress. Licensed acupuncturists who bring years of experience to the table will ensure that there’s no danger to you during your acupuncture session.

  • Misconception: Acupuncture is not covered by insurance. More and more insurance companies now offer coverage for acupuncture treatments. Check with your insurance provider to see if your plan offers any coverage for acupuncture.

As acupuncture continues to gain notoriety as a safe and effective treatment for a number of conditions, more and more people are looking to acupuncture to seek relief.

Request an Appointment Today!

For literal centuries acupuncture has been mankind’s steady companion in treating a number of health conditions and issues, from stress to pain to nausea and beyond. If you’re looking for relief, or if you simply want to try out this life-changing treatment and see what all the fuss is about, look no further than The Emperor’s Medicine in Naperville, Illinois.

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