Inserting needles into your skin may not be the most inviting treatment to get you back into perfect health. But what most don’t know is that acupuncture can provide you with several health advantages if you get consistent treatments. That’s why it’s still a prevalent wellness therapy despite it having existed for centuries.

Although it’s mainly used for treating pain, acupuncture can help manage the symptoms of various musculoskeletal disorders, including neck pain, tennis elbow, and fibromyalgia. But even if you‘re not suffering from chronic illnesses, you can still take advantage of its calming effects.

So if you’re still unsure about trying it, perhaps knowing more about its benefits will make you want to reconsider.

5 Benefits of Receiving Acupuncture from a Professional

1. Reduces pain

One of the major reasons why patients like to seek acupuncture treatments is its ability to reduce pain. Inserting thin needles at specific points in the body stimulates your central nervous system and releases endorphins – your body’s natural pain-killing hormones. It also triggers the release of serotonin in your brain, making you feel good after your session.

So if you have injuries or chronic illnesses, consistent acupuncture treatments will help minimize or mitigate your pain, making it easier to go through your daily routine.

2. Speeds up recovery

If you’re suffering from an injury and don’t want to spend weeks in bed recovering, a few acupuncture treatments will help you get back on your feet in no time. But before you book a session, make sure to talk to your doctor first to determine whether the treatments will be beneficial for your condition.

Acupuncture speeds recovery by restoring healthy blood flow throughout your body and activating its natural healing abilities. This can also be beneficial for athletes or anyone who participates in an active lifestyle since it lessens your body’s downtime requirements for recovery after a big game or intense workout.

3. Enhances mobility and flexibility

Another reason why you should get acupuncture treatment from a professional is it improves your mobility and flexibility. It does this by relaxing your muscles and releasing knots, so you can more freely.

This can be beneficial for professional athletes, dancers, or anyone who lives an active lifestyle since it also prevents injuries considering you no longer have to force your muscles to overstretch. It can also be helpful if you’re recovering from an injury that limits your mobility since acupuncture can release tension from your ligaments, joints, and tendons – which mitigates the pain.

4. Strengthens the immune system

If you’re constantly battling with respiratory illnesses like asthma, allergic rhinitis, or bronchitis, frequent acupuncture treatments can help minimize them and their symptoms. It minimizes inflammation by enhancing the production of T-cells, red and white blood cells in your body.   In turn, this enhances the anticancer and anti-stress immune function in your body.

It’s also been used as a preventive measure or for intervening in the early stages of immune diseases since ancient times and is still present in current clinical practice. However, a study recommends you use it before the onset of any illness since it’s easier to mitigate it compared to curing the disease.

5. Improves sleep

If insomnia prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep, you should consider getting an acupuncture treatment to reduce it. Aside from its calming effects, acupuncture also increases the γ-amino butyric acid – a common inhibitory neurotransmitter in the body that improves your sleep quality. This way, you’ll be able to wake up refreshed and with enhanced mental clarity.

Although insomnia and sleep disorders have medications that can treat them, excessive consumption can provide adverse effects like memory damage, addiction, and dependence. It’s a holistic alternative with minimal risks involved.

How many acupuncture sessions do you need

The number of acupuncture sessions you need will depend on your medical history and health goals. The severity of the condition you’re trying to treat will also play a role in your treatment plan since everyone’s body reacts differently to acupuncture.

That’s why it’s important to talk to your acupuncturist about your treatment plan, so you’ll know what to expect. But it’s recommended that you get weekly or biweekly sessions for 6 to 12 weeks to experience the full benefits of acupuncture.

If you don’t see changes to your condition within that period, discuss it with your practitioner so they can determine whether it’s the proper treatment for your symptoms.

Ready to try acupuncture?

If you want to try acupuncture, book your treatment at a reputed acupuncture facility. Centers such as Lycoming Orthopedic & Sports Acupuncture have a team of licensed acupuncturists that aims to provide you with customized treatment to help you obtain your health goals. They also offer cupping, dry needling, electrostimulation, and corrective exercises to help you get back into good health.