The Surprising Benefits of Acupuncture Needles

How is it possible that sticking needles into a person, more often than not, results in the person recovering from stress and feeling better? Most of the mechanisms for why Acupuncture works are not well understood. But! The benefits of Acupuncture are observable, experienced and have been reported by patients for thousands of years.

Studies have shown that acupuncture can activate the body's natural relaxation response, which can help to lower levels of stress hormones and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

For example, a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that acupuncture treatment reduced cortisol levels and perceived stress in a group of healthy adults. Another study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology found that acupuncture led to significant reductions in symptoms of anxiety and depression in a group of patients with stress-related disorders.

Cortisol is a hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress. It is often referred to as the "stress hormone" because it plays a key role in the body's stress response.

When the body is under stress, the hypothalamus in the brain sends a signal to the adrenal glands to release cortisol. Cortisol helps to increase blood sugar levels, suppress the immune system, and boost energy, all of which are important for dealing with stress.

Cortisol also helps to increase heart rate and blood pressure, which allows more oxygen and nutrients to be delivered to the muscles, preparing the body for "fight or flight" response.

However, when cortisol levels remain high for prolonged periods of time, it can have negative effects on the body. Chronic stress can lead to chronic high levels of cortisol which can lead to problems such as anxiety, depression, weight gain, high blood pressure, and other health issues.

Acupuncture has been shown to reduce cortisol levels to decrease the negative effects of stress.

The recommended course of treatment for people suffering from Acute stress symptoms is 2-3x weekly treatments until the symptoms abate and then weekly treatments for 3-8 weeks or until a sense of wellbeing is sustained.

You may not feel comfortable in an Acupuncture treatment. If this is the case then I recommend other options. But what most people find is that Acupuncture is actually pain free and relaxing. I hope you will try it and discover the amazing benefits of Acupuncture.