You’ve seemingly tried it all: doctor’s appointments, prescription medications, and over-the-counter medications, among other things, but you still suffer from a health condition. At 1st Choice Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine in Bellevue, WA, we have a solution that you haven’t tried and it might just be the missing link in your treatment: acupuncture. There are many acupuncture benefits that can help you finally heal and find relief from your health conditions.
What Is Acupuncture Used For? 12 Top Acupuncture Benefits
Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine and is one of the oldest healing practices in the world. It has been used as an effective treatment for many different ailments since 2000 BCE. Acupuncture is effective, but it is also versatile. It can treat many different disorders and diseases within the medical spectrum. The following are 12 benefits from a seemingly endless list of acupuncture benefits that result from this powerful, holistic treatment.
1. It Increases Immunity
In this day and age, immunity is everything. However, immunity doesn’t just come from taking your adult multi-vitamin every day, although that does help. There are other ways to protect your body from sickness and disease, which can be the result of a blockage in your energy flow. Acupuncture benefits the body by increasing immunity and helping you maintain your health, both before, during, and after flu season. It can also help treat:
- Respiratory conditions
- Influenza
- The common cold
- Laryngitis
- Sore throats
- Hay fever
- Bronchitis
- Bronchial
- Asthma
- Sinusitis
- Acute tonsillitis
- Chronic cough
2. It Can Be Effectively Used For Anti-Aging Purposes
There’s another treatment that uses needles to provide anti-aging effects, and it’s not Botox, it’s acupuncture. Many people have turned to acupuncture as an alternative to cosmetic injectables for its ability to provide anti-aging benefits such as a decrease in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, an increase in the production of collagen and elastin, an increase in facial circulation, and an overall rejuvenation of the face. Additionally, facial acupuncture can:
- Help you look anywhere from five to ten years younger
- Erase fine lines and wrinkles
- Soften deeper lines
- Improve skin sagging and drooping
- Lift drooping eyelids
- Improve the appearance of dark under-eye circles
- De-puff the eyes
- Tighten a double chin
- Reduce or clear age spots
- Relax muscle tone
- Oxygenate the skin, providing your skin with a healthy glow
- Brighten the eyes
- Tighten pores
- Improve acne
- Improve your overall complexion
- Moisturize the skin
- Improve the appearance of dull, tired-looking skin
3. Improvement In Digestive Disorders
Digestive disorders are very common among adults, yet many people seek treatments that do little to nothing to improve these disorders. Digestive disorders can alter your daily life and make it difficult to function normally. Some symptoms result from digestive disorders that have nothing to do with your stomach and acupuncture can help resolve these symptoms. Acupuncture benefits the digestive system by helping to treat and resolve:
- Toothaches
- Post-extraction tooth pain
- Mouth ulcers
- Gingivitis
- Esophagus spasms
- Gastric hyperacidity
- Gastritis
- Flatulence
- Hiatus hernia syndrome
- Paralytic ileum
- Colitis
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Hemorrhoids
- Liver and gallbladder disorders
- Weight gain
4. It Helps Treat Skin Conditions
Skin conditions can make you feel self-conscious, especially if they are obvious and noticeable. If you’ve tried every medication and topical product in an attempt to heal your skin but haven’t been successful, we can help. Acupuncture benefits the skin by helping treat and relieve the symptoms associated with certain skin conditions including:
- Eczema
- Nerve rash
- Herpes zoster
- Acne
- Scar tissue
- Skin adhesions
- Hair loss
- Dandruff
- Dermatitis
- Psoriasis
5. It Can Resolve Gynecological Disorders
No one looks forward to their annual trip to the gynecologist, but it makes the experience that much worse when a gynecological disorder forces you to make frequent appointments in an attempt to resolve that disorder. If you have a gynecological disorder that you can’t seem to resolve, despite frequent trips to the gynecologist, we can help. Acupuncture can help treat and resolve:
- Premenstrual tension
- Painful, irregular, heavy, or absent periods
- Hormonal disturbances
- Menopause symptoms
- Prolapse of the uterus or bladder
- Infertility
- Morning sickness
- Abnormal uterine bleeding or discharge
6. Musculoskeletal Disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders can be debilitating, to say the least. If you’ve experienced pain due to such a disorder, acupuncture can help provide you relief that you’ve been unable to find. It can help treat:
- Osteoarthritis
- Sciatica
- Weak back or lower back pain
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Gout
- Tenosynovitis
- Frozen shoulder or tennis elbow
- Cervicobrachial syndrome
7. It Can Improve Eye Conditions
The eyes are the window of your soul, but when you have an eye condition, chances are that you probably don’t feel like making eye contact with anyone. All you want is relief and healing, and if you’ve tried everything with little no success, we can help. Acupuncture can help treat visual disorders including:
- Red, sore, itchy, or watery eyes
- Conjunctivitis
- Simple cataracts
- Myopia in children
- Central
- Retinitis
8. It Can Help You Get Control Over Psychological Conditions
Those who suffer from psychological conditions are fully aware of how all-encompassing their conditions can be. If you’ve tried everything to restore order and normalcy to your life but your condition has controlled you and kept you from ultimate healing, we can help. Acupuncture can help treat psychological conditions including:
- Depression
- Phobias
- Emotional disturbances
- Anxiety
- Nervousness
- Addictions, including smoking
9. It Can Help Heal Sporting Injuries
Whether you have experienced a sports injury that is keeping you from finishing the season, or you have pain from an old injury, acupuncture can help you heal. It can provide pain relief and healing from conditions like:
- Sporting injuries
- Sprained ankles and knees
- Cartilage problems
- Corking and tearing of muscles
- Torn ligaments
- Bruises
10. It Can Help Resolve Neurological Conditions
When you experience regular symptoms associated with neurological conditions, you’re well aware that taking a Tylenol doesn’t resolve your condition and may not even alleviate your pain. If you suffer from more advanced conditions, you may feel like nothing can help. However, acupuncture can provide you with pain relief and help treat the root issues of such conditions, including:
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Difficulty sleeping
- Nervous tension
- Stroke
- Forms of deafness
- Facial and intercotal neuralgia
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Some forms of paralysis
- Noises in the ears
- Dizziness
- Meniere’s disease
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Sequelae of poliomyelitis
11. It Can Treat Cardiovascular Disorders
Acupuncture can’t be substituted for cardiovascular activity, so don’t sell your treadmill just yet. However, it can help treat cardiovascular disorders including:
- High or low blood pressure
- Fluid retention
- Chest pain
- Angina pectoris
- Poor circulation
- Cold hands and feet
- Muscle cramps
12. It Can Resolve Urogenital Disorders
Urogenital disorders can affect your life in many ways, but you don’t have to live with the pain, discomfort, or embarrassment. Acupuncture can help treat different urogenital disorders including:
- Cystitis
- Prostatitis
- Low sexual vitality
- Urinary retention
- Kidney disorders
- Nocturnal enuresis
- Neurogenic bladder dysfunction
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that rests on the understanding that energy balance is crucial to your physical, mental, and emotional health. This energy is known as “Qi,” and it flows through energy meridians, which are also known as pathways. When these pathways are blocked, they can lead to health issues. Many different meridians in the body directly correspond to one or several organs that help govern bodily functions.
When the body energy is imbalanced, there is either too much energy, too little energy, or a blockage of energy, keeping it from flowing freely. This leads to disease. Acupuncture balances the Qi in your body so that you can reach an optimal state of health and wellness. The Chinese belief is that everything in nature has yin and yang. Proper Qi balances yin and yang in the body, and when you achieve the proper energy flow with Qi, you will have optimal health.
How Is Qi Restored?
Proper Qi balance is restored through acupuncture. Acupuncturists achieve this balance by inserting tiny needles along the corresponding meridians of the body. These points are not deep but can be reached by inserting the needles very close to the surface of the skin. The acupuncturist will insert the needles along the meridians that relate to your symptoms so that you can heal from your conditions, find freedom from your symptoms, and reach optimum health.
What Happens During Treatment?
Your treatment begins with an in-depth consultation. Your acupuncturist will review your health history to learn more about you, your tendencies, and your predispositions. They will also discuss your symptoms with you to develop the most effective method of treatment. Before inserting the acupuncture needles, your acupuncturist will take into account some important factors that help to develop your customized treatment plan, including:
- Your pulse rate at several different points on the wrist
- Your posture
- Your skin color and texture
- The shape, color, and coating of your tongue
- Other physical characteristics that provide insight into your condition
During your actual treatment, hair-thin needles will be inserted into pressure points at different locations throughout the body. These sites will vary based on your health condition and what you need to have treated. Many people shy away from acupuncture because it uses needles and they are afraid of pain, however, these needles are virtually painless, and once inserted they lead to deep relaxation. You will be able to lay back and relax during your treatment.
How Many Treatments Will I Need To See Results?
While you will benefit from your initial treatment, the best results occur when you follow a treatment plan based on your needs. Each patient has different needs and requires a different approach. During your initial appointment, we will discuss your goals and recommend the best treatment plan, including the recommended number of sessions that will help you heal and reach all of your health goals.
Who Is a Candidate?
Almost everyone can benefit from acupuncture. Whatever your condition may be, there is most likely a way that acupuncture can restore balance to your energy flow so that you can heal, feel rejuvenated, and experience optimal health. A consultation with one of our experienced acupuncturists will help determine your candidacy for acupuncture.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Don’t continue to treat your symptoms with medications or medical appointments if they’re not giving you results or helping you heals. Acupuncture can treat the root cause of your condition and provide your body with the energy balance that it needs. Contact us today at 1st Choice Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine in Bellevue, WA, and ask us how you can find out more about all of these acupuncture benefits and how you can heal from this treatment.
