When Modern Medicine Falls Short, Try Traditional Acupuncture

A Chinese acupuncturist practices a traditional form of medicine, where very small needles are placed into the skin for 20 or 30 minutes at a time, usually for several sessions as a treatment for anxiety, pain, and more. Acupuncture works on the theory that the body is regulated by the flow of energy, called Qi, through it. When energy is disrupted, it causes disease. Acupuncture restores the correct flow of energy in the body.

Several studies have shown that acupuncture can provide measurable improvements in quality of life after just two months of treatment, compared to other treatments. About 12 percent of people experience mild side effects with acupuncture, such as bruising, or lightheadedness, though none of the potential side effects are life threatening.

In America, about 40 million adults experience anxiety disorders. That makes for about 18 percent of Americans. Acupuncture as a treatment for anxiety has been shown to be effective in rats. A study published by the Journal of Endocrinology found that stress hormones were reduced when electronic acupuncture was used in rats.

For women experiencing postpartum depression, 63 percent of those treated responded well to the treatment, compared to 44 percent receiving other forms of therapy, or acupuncture designed for different symptoms. Acupuncture has also been used as a treatment for neck pain, a treatment for fatigue, and a treatment for back pain.

Since 1998 the National Institutes of Health have accepted this alternative medicine for the relief of headaches. Despite a lack of results to make firm conclusions on the efficacy of acupuncture, more studies are being done and showing positive correlations between acupuncture and a relief of symptoms. If you pursue acupuncture as a treatment for anxiety, you can expect that points around your ear, kidney, spleen, and heart may be targeted. For each disease or symptom, different points will receive treatment.

Due to the low risk of side effects, and the mildness of those side effects, acupuncture can be a worthwhile treatment to pursue. Speak to your general practitioner, and seek out recommendations for a traditional practitioner of Chinese medicine. Helpful research also found here.