Acupuncture the Science (Evidence Guide for Sceptics Part One)
Updated: May 16
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that has been used for centuries to alleviate pain, improve overall health and well-being. With the rise of alternative and complementary therapies, acupuncture has become more widely accepted and recognized for its benefits. In this blog post we will explore some of the most important benefits of acupuncture and the science behind Acupuncture.
One of the primary benefits of acupuncture is pain relief. Acupuncture works by stimulating specific points proximal to specific nerves on the body with fine needles. This stimulation may trigger the muscle the to fire, and the release of endorphins. Endorphins are a natural pain-relieving chemicals produced by the body. Acupuncture has been proven to be effective in treating a variety of conditions that cause pain. Some of these include but are not limited to back pain, headaches, and arthritis.
Another important benefit of acupuncture is its ability to lower stress levels. Stress is a natural part of life. There is good stress and bad stress, for example when we wake up in the morning our circadian rhythm starts each morning with a burst of cortisol. This burst of energy wakes us up and gets us moving ready for the day. However when cortisol becomes chronic, it can lead to a number of health problems. Some of these problem include but not limited to high blood pressure, Post traumatic stress disorder, Post traumatic stress syndrome, anxiety, and depression. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce stress by regulating the body's nervous system and restoring balance back to the body.
Improved sleep is yet another benefit of acupuncture. Many people suffer from sleep disorders, and acupuncture can help regulate the body's sleep-wake cycle. By improving the quality of sleep, acupuncture can also improve daytime functioning and overall quality of life. When we sleep our body regulates and balances our hormones, immunity, muscle recovery, and most importantly cortisol. It takes your body the minimum of 7 hours of quality sleep to remove cortisol out of the body. Cortisol is also accumulative, if you had one night where you didn't get good sleep that's no big deal. If your not regularly getting quality sleep consistently then this can become a big problem.
Acupuncture can also improve respiratory function, particularly in individuals with asthma or allergies and or eczema. By stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture can help reduce inflammation internally and externally, improve lung function, and boosting immunity. This can lead to better breathing, less coughing, reduced incidence of respiratory infections, also stimulating several body systems including our nervous and immune systems, restoring balance and encouraging healing.
Finally, acupuncture has been shown to provide mental and emotional benefits. Research has shown that acupuncture can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and improve overall emotional well-being. By promoting a sense of peace and relaxation, acupuncture can also improve the body's overall sense of happiness and contentment.
In conclusion, acupuncture is an effective and natural therapy with numerous benefits. Whether you are suffering from chronic pain, stress, sleep disorders, respiratory issues, or emotional problems, acupuncture can provide an alternative or complementary treatment option that can help improve your overall health and well-being.Thank you for taking the time to read Part One of this blog post.