Nearly two-thirds of Americans (63%) say that wellness is an important part of their lives, but less than half (47%) practice wellness rituals daily, according to a recent survey. That disconnect may seem surprising, but it makes sense. With work and other personal commitments, it can be hard to find time to focus on your health.
Regular exercise, quality sleep, and good nutrition are important if you want to feel your best. However, complementary therapies, like acupuncture, can amplify those benefits even further.
Interventional pain doctor Nora Taha, MD, at LiveWell Pain Management, has seen acupuncture help many of her patients. That’s why she’s written this guide, highlighting five reasons to add acupuncture to your own wellness routine. Keep reading to learn more.
Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice that's been around for thousands of years. It involves inserting small, thin needles into specific locations on your body, called acupuncture points, to stimulate your nervous system.
In its original form, acupuncture was used to support the body’s flow of vital energy called Qi. Western medicine uses the same technique, but instead of focusing on Qi, acupuncture is used to stimulate muscles and nerves, support circulation, and release endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers).
Now that you know what acupuncture is, let’s take a closer look at five ways it may benefit your overall health:
Forty-nine percent of American adults say they experience significant stress nearly every single day. Occasional stress typically isn’t something to worry about, but when it becomes an ongoing, daily issue, it can increase the risk of health problems, such as heart disease.
Acupuncture offers a safe, effective way to lower stress by encouraging relaxation and reducing muscle tension. Although research is ongoing, preliminary studies have found that acupuncture may help reduce anxiety and calm the nervous system.
Restful, rejuvenating sleep is essential for feeling your best, yet it can seem nearly impossible to get, especially if you have insomnia or another sleep disorder.
Acupuncture offers a drug-free approach that can make it easier to sleep through the night. First, it helps calm your central nervous system, so it’s easier to relax and feel sleepy.
At the same time, acupuncture can ease musculoskeletal pain that makes it hard to get comfortable, and encourage the production of melatonin, a hormone responsible for controlling the sleep-wake cycle.
People with chronic pain often assume they’ll have to take prescription medications, like opioids, or undergo surgery to achieve lasting relief. While that’s true in some cases, acupuncture has been shown to help relieve various types of chronic musculoskeletal pain, including:
It isn’t necessarily a permanent solution, but adding acupuncture to your treatment regimen, alongside physical therapy and activity changes, can make it easier to move comfortably and participate in your favorite activities.
Acupuncture is unique in that it doesn’t necessarily have to treat a specific illness or injury. In fact, because it affects the central nervous system, many people use it to support their overall wellness.
Scheduling an acupuncture session once a month or every other week can help in a variety of ways. It can:
Together, these benefits can help you feel healthier and make it easier to work, exercise, and complete your daily routine.
Because acupuncture supports whole-body wellness, it can benefit your entire well-being, including your musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and circulatory systems. Just like eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly can lower the risk of chronic illness, acupuncture can help you feel more centered and in tune with your body overall.
Acupuncture is also highly customizable. Dr. Taha knows that everyone has different health and wellness goals and needs. She develops personalized acupuncture treatment plans designed to support those efforts.
Whether you’re dealing with chronic pain from an ongoing sports injury, struggling with insomnia, or simply want to take more control of your health, acupuncture is worth considering.
To see if you can benefit, request an appointment online or call the nearest LiveWell Pain Management office in Elmwood Park, Englewood, or Paramus, New Jersey.
