15 Ways Acupuncture Can Help You In 2015

The new year is well underway, so it’s time to get serious about any commitments you have made to improve yourself this year.  How are you going to be healthier?  In what ways will you be different this year?

Here are 15 specific ways acupuncture can help change your life in 2015:

1.       Less stress.  Acupuncture helps shift your brain from “fight-or-flight” to “rest-and-digest.”  By mellowing the nervous system, acupuncture helps you feel better equipped to manage stressful times.  

2.       Less pain.  Acupuncture’s ability to reduce pain goes far beyond the physical benefits, such as increased circulation and reducing inflammation.  There is a strong emotional component to pain, especially chronic pain.  Acupuncture effectively ameliorates pain by addressing both its root and the effects.

3.       Stronger immune system.  The acupuncture needles’ insertion builds up white blood cells to better prepare your body to fight off pathogens.  Acupuncture strengthens the immune system to help you avoid illness, rather than dealing with it after it happens.

4.       A more youthful appearance.  Acupuncture strengthens five of your essential organ systems: kidneys, liver, heart, stomach and intestines, and lungs.  When these systems are nourished and in balance, your body will look and feel younger.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

5.       Radiant skin.  If your battle mainly has to do with dull, sagging, or acne prone skin, you might consider cosmetic acupuncture.  Cosmetic acupuncture is a safe and effective way to reduce the signs of aging, improve skin tone and texture, and reduce the appearance of acne or scarring.

6.       Better digestion.  Acupuncture is excellent to help you digest foods and thoughts.  Signs you are not digesting well include: bloating, constipation, heartburn, cravings, overeating, or overthinking.    

7.       Quality sleep.  Insomnia is a common complaint seen by acupuncturists, and acupuncture is highly effective at resolving it.  But even those who do not suffer with sleep problems report having more restful nights since beginning acupuncture. 

8.       Sustained energy.  Though it’s common to feel blissfully relaxed during and after an acupuncture treatment, the after effect is usually increased energy.  Many patients report having more energy for hours, or days, after a treatment.

9.       Improved mental clarity.  In addition to an increase in energy after a treatment, many people notice they are able to make decisions faster and with greater confidence.  They feel more motivated to cross off lingering items on a to-do list.

10.   Open mindedness.  Acupuncture requires us to think about health in new ways because it challenges the traditional method of treating disease.  It reminds us that there are multiple ways of seeing the world.

11.   Increased self-awareness.  Acupuncturists looks for patterns of disease, rather than a single cause and effect.  This means that when one part is out of balance, it can affect your health in multiple ways.  Acupuncture broadens your awareness of things that are potentially damaging to your physical or emotional health.

12.   Remember the seasons.  In acupuncture theory, humans are viewed as microcosms of their environment.  In this fast paced society, it is easy to transition from season to season without much thought.  Seasons factor significantly into our physical health, energy levels, sleep, and moods.  Acupuncture can help you live harmoniously within the seasons.

13.   More patience.  Our on-the-go society and the technology we rely on perpetuates our need for instant gratification.  This creates impatience.  Since acupuncture rarely works overnight, it requires an investment of time and willingness to let go of an “I-want-it-now” mentality.

14.   Embracing change.  Conventional medicine thinks in absolutes and labels, i.e., sick or healthy, numbers too high or too low, happy or depressed.  Acupuncture works in the gray area between these extremes and teaches us to reflect on the subtle changes happening within us.

15.   Believe in yourself.  An interesting concept to acupuncture is that your body already has what it needs to heal itself.  Acupuncture neither subtracts nor adds but rearranges.  It prompts the body to do what it knows, and it reminds us that we can be well.

Happy 2015!