Chronic pain can be a massive hindrance in our lives. Whether it’s from an old injury or the side effects of medical treatment, it can sap us of our vitality and leave us feeling weak and empty, like a shell that washed onto a beach. It’s something we’ve learned to deal with, but does it have to be something we live with?
Acupuncture is one of the more effective forms of healing available to help our bodies maintain homeostasis, or internal equilibrium. Acupuncture is a 3,000-year-old practice that has become widely used today, even being incorporated into many physicians’ clinical practices.
- What is Acupuncture? Acupuncture is a form of “Traditional Chinese Medicine,” or “TCM.” The principle theory behind it is that there are 20 pathways, or “meridians,” in the human body, connecting by over 2,000 points. In a standard acupuncture session, one to twenty acupuncture needles are inserted into the body. They may barely break the surface of the skin or they may be several inches long, and they’re kept in the body for about 15 to 30 minutes. Acupuncture is used primarily to treat pain, and has been shown to reduce pain by up to 50%. Doctors working for the World Health Organization, or “WHO,” endorse acupuncture for treatment of at least two dozen different conditions.
Acupuncture works well as a complementary treatment — it can help alleviate many of the side effects of several diseases and their treatments, such as cancer or stroke. It helps with the nausea and vomiting that’s most often associated with chemotherapy treatment. It can also help with many mental illnesses, such as stress, depression, and even Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.
Acupuncture is not a be-all and end-all fix to relieve pain and achieve homeostasis, though. As always, diet and exercise are hugely important for a healthy lifestyle. Eating better will help reduce mental stress and the physical stress on the inner mechanics of your body. Acupuncture, like most things, is best used in conjunction with a healthier diet and more active lifestyle.
Pain, stress, and general unhappiness have become commonplace in too many people’s lives. Our bodies have become out of sync with themselves, and the longer they stay like that the harder it is to once more reach homeostasis. Acupuncture, along with a healthy diet and a good amount of exercise, can help alleviate the discomfort we’ve all become too used to.