Although acupuncture has existed for over 3,000 years, modern medicine is only now beginning to recognize some of its unexpected advantages. More than ten million people nationwide receive acupuncture treatment annually, demonstrating this holistic therapy's tremendous growth in popularity.

Many studies and research have recognized acupuncture as a safe and effective treatment, even at highly esteemed medical institutions. Often seen as a rival to modern medicine, acupuncture can improve your health and well-being without requiring expensive medication or surgeries.

Thankfully, under the guidance of a licensed acupuncturist, this treatment can treat various types of health conditions, including migraines, chronic pain, and more. If you are curious about acupuncture and what this treatment can do, this article is for you.

Understanding What Acupuncture is and How it Works

The goal of acupuncture, a holistic form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with a contemporary twist, is to bring your body's energy back into harmony. This ancient treatment is based on the notion that your body's energy, also known as “Qi,” flows through specific pathways. Whenever there is a disruption of this flow, your physical and emotional well-being is affected.

That is where acupuncture becomes vital to unblock this flow and allow your body to heal naturally by stimulating specific points (acupoints) using thin, hair-like stainless needles. Generally speaking, your body has over 350 acupoints, each connected to a specific organ system.

The specific acupoints your acupuncturist will stimulate using the needles will depend on your unique health issue. While it is not entirely clear how acupuncture works, researchers believe that the insertion of needles on specific acupoints on your skin causes changes in your central nervous system. Then, these changes increase blood flow to the affected areas of your body and affect how your brain processes pain.

Other theories suggest that stimulation of acupoints using needles influences inflammatory markers in your body, triggering hormonal changes. For now, the mechanism of how acupuncture works is unclear, but various studies suggest acupuncture is an effective and safe treatment for various health issues. For example, some research suggests that acupuncture helps stimulate your body to release endorphins, which are your body's natural painkillers.

Unveiling the Top Ten Advantages of Acupuncture

As an alternative and complementary medicine, acupuncture has surprising impacts on your health and quality of life. Explained below are the top ten health benefits of this ancient TCM:

  1. Helps in Pain Management

More than one in four people nationwide have chronic pain issues. If you are among them, you are aware of how incapacitating and inconvenient it can be to endure pain, especially for a prolonged period. Fortunately, the ability of acupuncture therapy to alleviate chronic pain is one of its most well-known advantages.

According to studies, acupuncture is an effective remedy for shoulder, neck, and back pain and knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. Even more impressive, another study revealed that these pain-relieving advantages persisted for twelve months, and another study echoes this.

The American College of Physicians also recommends acupuncture as the first option of non-drug treatment for someone with chronic lower back pain. By stimulating your acupoints using needles, acupuncture helps your body release endorphins (natural pain relievers). Several patients with chronic pain have reported significant relief after undergoing this holistic treatment.

While the idea of the acupuncturist inserting several needles in your skin can seem scary, acupuncture is a safer and more cost-effective treatment than prescription painkiller medications.

  1. Helps Reduce Migraines and Headaches

Headaches are a common condition that most people experience several times in their lifetime. One of the primary symptoms of a headache is pain on your face or head. On the other hand, migraines are much more than a terrible headache because they can cause throbbing, debilitating, and one-sided head pain that could make you stay bedridden for several days.

Fortunately, headaches and migraines are treatable health conditions, and acupuncture is one remedy you would want to try. According to research, acupuncture can help lessen the frequency of tension headaches. Thankfully, these benefits also apply to migraine problems. Clinical trials have shown that acupuncture therapy is an effective remedy for lessening the severity and frequency of migraines.

Most patients prefer acupuncture therapy due to its natural approach in treating headaches and migraines without any side effects.

  1. Helps Improve Digestive Health

Bettering digestive health issues is another area where acupuncture therapy shines. Acupuncture can help manage various digestive health problems, such as:

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)—Using acupuncture, an acupuncturist can help regulate bowel movements and lessen symptoms associated with IBS. Research shows that acupuncture therapy can help alleviate the symptoms of IBS.

  • Nausea and vomiting—Acupuncture is an effective remedy that can lessen nausea, particularly in cases related to morning sickness and chemotherapy

  • Bloating and indigestion—if you have frequent bloating and indigestion issues, acupuncture could be an effective remedy for these issues

By promoting improved gut health and stabilizing digestive functions, acupuncture can help lessen discomfort and boost your digestion, restoring balance in your gastrointestinal system.

  1. Helps improve Your Mental Health and Reduce Stress

Acupuncture has significant benefits for mental health and stress relief. In integrative medicine, acupuncture can help lessen the effects of mental health issues like anxiety and stress. By encouraging more blood flow to your brain and lowering mental fatigue, this treatment helps improve your cognitive abilities.

If you are stressed out, acupuncture therapy could help you unwind. According to research, acupuncture can help boost your heart rate variability (HRV), a metric that indicates how balanced your nervous system is. Individuals who have a high HRV are typically more stress-tolerant.

If you have anxiety issues, acupuncture could be an effective remedy, especially if other treatment options are ineffective. Acupuncture therapy has been shown in one study to reduce anxiety in people who have not responded to other forms of treatment, like medication and therapy.

  1. Helps Improve Your Sleep

If you are struggling with sleep every day, you would want to consider acupuncture therapy as an alternative treatment option. By balancing your body's energy flow, acupuncture can help boost your sleep quality and fix other issues like insomnia. According to studies, acupuncture therapy patients experienced improved sleep and awoke feeling more energetic and refreshed.

Often, for many people with sleep-related issues, these improvements are better than taking medications that can cause nasty side effects. Consider incorporating acupuncture into your treatment or sleep hygiene plan if you have sleep issues. An acupuncturist can help reset your body's natural sleep cycle using acupuncture by focusing on specific acupoints related to your sleep pattern.

  1. Helps Lower Your Blood Pressure (BP)

Also known as hypertension, high BP affects more than one billion individuals worldwide, which is scary news because this issue can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. With more people being overweight and dealing with stressful jobs, this condition is even more common nowadays than usual.

Changing your lifestyle and diet is vital to reducing your blood pressure. But if you require additional assistance and would prefer not to take medicine, acupuncture therapy is an alternative holistic treatment you would want to try.

Research shows that acupuncture therapy is an effective and reliable remedy for high blood pressure issues. That is true regardless of whether you received acupuncture alone or combined it with other treatment options.

  1. Helps Enhance Fertility

If you plan to be a parent and raise your children, acupuncture can help improve your fertility. Some studies suggest that acupuncture can help enhance fertility in women and men, but others show inconclusive results. Nonetheless, a 2020 meta-analysis concluded that more studies are needed, but there was evidence linking acupuncture to improved fertility.

By optimizing your reproductive hormones, increasing blood flow to reproductive organs, and fostering a healthy pregnancy, acupuncture therapy helps support the journey of creating new life.

  1. Helps Reduce Allergy Symptoms

By regulating your immune system, acupuncture therapy can help reduce allergy symptoms. If you have asthma or “hay fever,” acupuncture could be helpful. According to 2015 research, acupuncture can reduce nasal congestion and lessen IgE, the body's antibody linked to allergies. Additionally, patients who received acupuncture therapy used less allergy medicine than those who did not.

If you have allergic asthma issues caused by dust, mold, or pollen, acupuncture therapy is an alternative treatment option worth considering. Research shows that patients who received acupuncture therapy over three (3) months experienced reduced asthma symptoms and improved quality of life compared to those who relied on contemporary routine care.

  1. Helps Boost Your Immunity

People who undergo acupuncture therapy regularly are less likely to become sick because this holistic treatment helps boost their body's immunity. That means you are more likely to heal faster when you become sick than someone who has never had acupuncture or receives the treatment once in a while, because your body has a natural mechanism for fighting diseases and infections.

By promoting the production of immune cells, acupuncture therapy helps strengthen your body's defenses against disease and infections, keeping you healthy. According to research, acupuncture can help reduce your chances of developing cancer by activating natural killer cells.

Therefore, scheduling regular acupuncture treatment appointments with your acupuncturist can go a long way in strengthening your immune system for a healthy life.

  1. Helps Improve Your Emotional Well-being

Lastly, but not the least important benefit, acupuncture can help improve your emotional well-being. By improving your mood and balancing your “Qi,” acupuncture therapy can help address various conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

Acupuncture therapy is a dependable supplement to your mental health regimen, as many people report feeling more balanced and emotionally healthy after consulting with an acupuncturist. The holistic nature of acupuncture, which considers your physical, emotional, and mental wellness, makes it a reliable and comprehensive approach for enhancing your well-being.

It is worth mentioning that these are not the only benefits that acupuncture can offer. Generally speaking, acupuncture is a holistic treatment that can help address various health conditions that many people battle worldwide, reducing overreliance on medications.

If you want to know whether you are an excellent candidate for this ancient TCM, consult a licensed and experienced acupuncturist.

What to Anticipate During Your Acupuncture Treatment Appointment

Like any other health practitioner, during your acupuncture treatment appointment, your acupuncturist will ask you questions that will help him tailor the treatment to your unique needs. For example, your acupuncturist will want to know your symptoms, lifestyle, and health history.

After answering these questions, the acupuncturist will perform a physical examination using his/her hands and request you to lie down. To begin the treatment, the acupuncturist will insert his/her thin stainless steel needles into the targeted acupoints on your body. Most acupuncture therapy sessions require the acupuncturist to use five to twenty needles, depending on your unique health issue.

During the treatment, the acupuncturist will frequently monitor your progress and could move, spin, and heat your needles to activate more “Qi.” Many patients report feeling more relaxed and energized after this treatment. The rule of thumb if you want to try acupuncture is to consult with a reliable and licensed acupuncturist with experience treating patients with various health conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Acupuncture

It is common for people who want to explore the health benefits of acupuncture to ask questions before incorporating this holistic treatment into their healthcare regimen. Below are FAQs and answers to some of the most common questions about acupuncture therapy:

  1. How Many Acupuncture Sessions Will I Require?

The number of acupuncture appointments or sessions you will need will depend on the specific condition you want to treat, its seriousness, and how your body will respond to this treatment. Some people report feeling significant relief after the first session, but others could require multiple sessions over several days, weeks, or months to see lasting results.

Nonetheless, for acute health conditions like muscle strains, 1-3 appointments could be enough to achieve lasting results.

  1. Does Acupuncture Hurt?

Acupuncture therapy helps improve your health, not to hurt you. Since the needles your acupuncturist will use during this treatment are hair-thin, you will not feel any pain when he/she inserts them into your skin. However, some people experience a pinching sensation and mild aching when the needle penetrates a certain depth.

Generally speaking, the discomfort you will likely experience during this treatment is mild and disappears quickly. If you experience pain during acupuncture treatment, chances are the acupuncturist has not placed the needle properly. That is why consulting with a qualified and experienced acupuncturist is paramount.

  1. Are There Any Risks or Side Effects Associated With Acupuncture?

Acupuncture treatment is generally a safe, holistic health remedy as long as you consult with a qualified and licensed acupuncturist for your treatment. While it does not occur to everyone, the most prevalent side effects you could experience after acupuncture therapy include:

  • Minor soreness

  • Slight bruising

  • Slight lightheaded sensation

  • Fatigue after a lengthy session

To ensure maximum safety during your acupuncture treatment, you should consult with a licensed acupuncturist who uses well-sterilized single-use needles to prevent infection. If you are taking blood thinners, like heparin, or have a bleeding disorder, you should inform your acupuncturist before the procedure to prevent the risk of excessive bleeding.

Also, if you are pregnant, you should inform your acupuncturist about it before the treatment because avoiding certain acupoints is important when a patient is pregnant.

  1. What Type of Clothes Should I Wear During My Acupuncture Treatment Session?

For your maximum comfort and to make it easy for the acupuncturist to access your acupoints, wearing loose clothes is advisable. Since most acupoints are positioned on the legs, back, arms, and abdomen, wearing shorts and a short-sleeved shirt would be wise. If needed, your acupuncturist could give you a blanket or gown to help ensure privacy and utmost comfort during the treatment.

Additionally, it would be an excellent idea to avoid wearing colognes or lotions during your appointment because some acupuncturists incorporate massage techniques or aromatherapy as part of your treatment session.

  1. How Long Will the Acupuncture Session Take?

The duration of your acupuncture session will depend on the specific type of condition you want to treat and its severity. However, on average, each appointment could last between twenty (20) and sixty (60) minutes, with your first session taking longer.

Your first-time acupuncture session could take longer because of the consultation that helps your acupuncturist prepare a treatment plan for your unique health issue.

Find a Seasoned Acupuncturist Near Me

While acupuncture is helpful on its own, combining this with other holistic treatments could help enhance the overall benefits of the treatment. Whether you have chronic pain, infertility issues, migraines, or are tired of enduring symptoms of any other health condition, consulting with an acupuncturist would be an excellent place to start.

At the Art of Chinese Healing, we have certified acupuncturists with several years of experience offering acupuncture services to patients with different health conditions, and we can help you too. Call us at 310-405-1610 to discuss your health issue with one of our credible acupuncturists and learn whether this treatment is ideal for you, wherever you are in Los Angeles.