Acupuncture is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is a whole health care system including herbal remedies, cupping, and nutrition, which have all been used for thousands of years. The basis of TCM is the idea of qi, the body’s vital energy.
TCM treatments at our Edina clinic promote the movement of qi throughout your body in order to help bring balance back to your body. The goal of acupuncture is to correct this imbalance which can cause a variety of ailments and conditions that you may currently have.
Acupuncture uses very thin needles (which have been compared to being as small as cat whiskers) that stimulate pressure points and other areas of your body. It stimulates qi by placing needles in specific spots, often along meridians. Meridians are the channels that qi travels in the body.
Acupuncture can help with many health conditions, including:
- Arthritis
- Chronic pain, including joint pain
- Depression
- Headaches and migraines
- Trouble sleeping and insomnia
- Nausea and digestive trouble
- Back pain and sciatica
- Stress and anxiety
- Weight loss
Below are the top five ways that acupuncture can help:
1. Relieves Pain
Acupuncture can help alleviate many types of pain that may range from headaches and migraines to neck and back pain. These studies have shown its effectiveness in treating lower back pain, migraines, tension headaches, and knee pain. Acupuncture works differently for everybody. For some, a single treatment can alleviate symptoms immediately while others need a more routine treatment schedule.
2. Improved Sleep
Another thing that Acupuncture can help improve is sleep and insomnia. Scientists believe that acupuncture increases the production of brain chemicals that promote relaxation, thus allowing for better sleep.
3. Uplift Mood
Acupuncture can help with improving mood, including helping with depression, stress, and anxiety. The needles from our acupuncture treatments release endorphins in your body. Endorphins are hormones that provide a boost in your mood, encouraging happiness and relaxation.
4. Help the Heart
Acupuncture is also good for your heart due to the relaxation and stress reduction that one achieves from the treatments, which are also known to reduce blood pressure. Stress and high blood pressure are commonly related to heart attacks and heart disease.
5. Support the Immune System
Research has shown that acupuncture can boost immune system function. The placement of acupuncture needles can release immune-boosting cytokines. Cytokines are messenger cells that regulate your body’s immune response. By triggering the immune system, acupuncture can help fight infections or illnesses like colds and the flu.
If you deal with any of the above symptoms then acupuncture may be right for you- schedule an appointment at our Edina clinic. We’d be happy to support you in achieving your health care goals! Call 952-831-8080 or go to our contact page now.
