Chinese Medicine (CM) and acupuncture have been used for thousands of years, treating a wide range of health issues. Loads of us know about the effects of acupuncture as a treatment for pain relief or stress reduction, but there’s a whole load of other benefits to seeing an acupuncturist and making them part of your care team.
Improved Digestion
IYKYK… we see lots of clients in the clinic for digestive issues, who find great relief by including acupuncture into their treatment plans. And it’s backed up in the literature too - where certain points can regulate the system, reducing inflammation and promoting healthy digestion. This is really powerful for conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), acid reflux, and bloating. A review of multiple studies published in Acupuncture in Medicine Journal found that acupuncture can improve symptoms of IBS, with some patients experiencing a significant reduction in pain, bloating, and other symptoms (1).
Better Sleep
Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment for sleep disorders - so if you’re suffering with insomnia, why not give it a go! Acupuncture can help regular the body's natural sleep-wake cycle, which can lead to improved sleep quality and duration. A study published in the Journal of Sleep Research found that acupuncture can significantly improve sleep quality and reduce the time it takes to fall asleep (2).
Improved Fertility
For both men and women, there are promising studies about the effectiveness of acupuncture on fertility. One way it achieves this is by increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs, thus improving overall reproductive function. A well-known study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility also found that acupuncture may also improve the success rates of in vitro fertilization (IVF) (3). Well worth a try!
Allergy Relief
I remember treating a patient with chronic allergies and sinusitis, and instantly falling in love with acupuncture all over again after seeing brilliant results. Literature reflects this too (4) - stating that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for allergies, particularly seasonal allergies such as hay fever. It does this by regulating the immune system, reducing inflammation and improving overall immune function. Super potent for these seasonal change times!
Mental Health Support
One that’s close to my heart, is acupuncture’s powerful effect on a range of mental health issues, such anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Not only can it activate the body's natural relaxation response can be activated, but it helps reducing stress and promoting feelings of calm and well-being. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for depression, particularly when used in combination with other forms of therapy (5).
For acute conditions right through to chronic cases, CM should really be part of your toolkit. Is it time for you to book in again?
Sources:
1. MacPherson H, Tilbrook H, Bland MJ, Bloor K, Brabyn S, Cox H, et al. Acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome: primary care based pragmatic randomised controlled trial. BMC Gastroenterology. 2012;12(1):150. doi: 10.1186/1471-230x-12-150.
2. Spence DW, Kayumov L, Chen A, Lowe A, Jain U, Katzman MA, et al. Acupuncture increases nocturnal melatonin secretion and reduces insomnia and anxiety: a preliminary report. J Sleep Res. 2004;13(4):385-397. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2869.2004.00418.x.
3. Paulus WE, Zhang M, Strehler E, El-Danasouri I, Sterzik K. Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Fertil Steril. 2002;77(4):721-724. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(01)03273-3.
4. Brinkhaus B, Ortiz M, Witt CM, Roll S, Linde K, Pfab F, et al. Acupuncture in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2013;158(4):225-234. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-158-4-201302190-00002.
5. Smith CA, Hay PPJ, MacPherson H. Acupuncture for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;(1):CD004046. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004046.pub3.