Therapy acupunctureis a treatment technique that is done by inserting a small and fine needle at the point of contact-pointcertain in the body. Besides being able to relieve pain, acupuncture therapy is known to have various other health benefits.
Acupuncture is based on the Chinese belief that disease can occur if the flow of energy (Qi) is blocked. Through stabbing at certain points, acupuncture is believed to be one way to smooth the flow of Qi as well as treat various diseases.
Connection Between Acupuncture Pointsand Health
Basically, acupuncture is done to balance energy. The body has energy pathways known as meridians. When the therapist inserts needles at certain points along the meridians, the flow of energy in the body will be rebalanced.
Acupuncture techniques are also recognized by western medical science to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissue. This stimulation is believed to trigger the production of natural painkillers in the body.
The Role of Acupuncture Therapy in Certain Diseases
When deciding to undergo acupuncture therapy, make sure that the needles have been properly sterilized or are for single use only. This is important to avoid the risk of infection, such as hepatitis, due to the use of unsterilized needles.
Here are some of the benefits of acupuncture therapy for health:
1. Overcoming migraines and headaches
Acupuncture therapy that is done properly at certain points is known to stimulate nerves to release endorphins. This hormone is responsible for reducing pain, thereby helping with migraines and headaches.
2. Reduce lower back pain
Acupuncture therapy showed positive results in improving the ability of back pain sufferers to carry out daily activities. This is because the endorphins released during acupuncture can reduce lower back pain, making the sufferer more flexible to carry out activities.
3. Relieves inflammation sendi
Inflammatory disease of the joints or arthritis, especially those that occur in the knee, have been shown to be relieved by acupuncture. If arthritis in the knee is still mild or moderate, acupuncture can make this condition better. Meanwhile, if the arthritis is more severe, a combination of acupuncture with painkillers and physiotherapy is needed.
4. Slow down pagingskin
Acupuncture therapy is said to slow down aging by improving facial elasticity. This therapy is known as cosmetic acupuncture which is done by inserting needles at certain points on the head, face, and neck. Even so, the effectiveness of acupuncture in the field of beauty still needs to be studied further.
5. Helps overcome obesity
Studies show that acupuncture therapy can increase metabolism, reduce stress, and suppress appetite so that it can support weight loss. However, to treat obesity with acupuncture, a healthy diet and regular exercise are still needed.
6. Accelerate the recovery of stroke patients
Acupuncture can be used as an adjunct treatment for stroke patients. Studies have shown that stroke patients who received acupuncture therapy experienced an increase in the ability to move their wrists and shoulders, compared to patients who did not receive this therapy.
Not only that, acupuncture is considered to be able to help relieve the pain and discomfort caused by a stroke. In another study, it was shown that acupuncture therapy coupled with physiotherapy could give better results as a post-stroke supportive treatment.
Acupuncture therapy does have a variety of health benefits. There are also quite a number of studies that support the effectiveness of this therapy in treating disease or maintaining health. Acupuncture therapy is even considered safe for pregnant women. So, there's no harm in trying this therapy.
Even so, if you want to try acupuncture therapy, either as a treatment step or to improve health, make sure this therapy is carried out by a doctor or certified acupuncturist.