Reviewed by Physician Kong Teck Chuan, Physician Brandon Yew, Physician Anita Pee and Dr Jessica Gunawan
Acupuncture Benefits You Need To Know About
Published | 7 min read
Is acupuncture covered under your insurance plan? If so, you may want to take advantage of that. Here are some acupuncture benefits you should know about.
Did you know that many Western medical offices in America are starting to offer acupuncture as part of their treatment plan? It’s even covered by insurance for many Americans, especially if you are on Medicare.
As a staple in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture can help restore the body to its natural state of healing. You can use it to relieve conditions such as infertility, chronic pain, weight loss, period cramps, and much more.
Read on to learn about some amazing acupuncture benefits that can improve your quality of life – and which acupoints to use.
Top Acupuncture Benefits To Support Health
Acupuncture is one of the best-known TCM therapies.
Treatments last between 20 and 30 minutes. During the procedure, needles as fine as human hair are inserted into specific points on the body. Most people feel nothing more than a slight tingling sensation when they are inserted.
Acupuncture benefits may include the following:
Better brain function
Acupuncture can promote a better flow of
“Bai hui clears the mind and improves brain function. It is one of the main acupoints used in treating stroke patients. He Gu and Tai Chong harmonize the
TCM Physician Kong Teck Chuan
Enhanced weight loss
There are many acupoints used in acupuncture to rebalance the body, which helps you lose the extra unnecessary weight.
Many studies have shown that acupuncture and other positive lifestyle changes can significantly reduce excess weight.
While the mechanisms are still being studied, many researchers believe one of the ways in which acupuncture works is by optimizing the satiety center in the brain.
It effectively prevents you from overeating, which our present lifestyle sometimes leads us to.
In addition, acupuncture is believed to regulate hormonal levels and improve the body’s metabolism, thus increasing the rate of calorie burning.
“In terms of the TCM framework, the zu san li (ST36)
Senior TCM Physician Brandon Yew
Other
- He gu (LI4)
- Yin ling quan (SP9)
- Feng long (ST40)
- Tai chong (LR3)
Relief from period cramps
Taking painkillers and covering the abdomen with a heating pad are the most common methods to reduce discomfort during menstruation. However, for a more natural approach, acupuncture can be ideal.
In acupuncture, stimulating certain points in the body with fine needles helps restore the flow of qi (life force or energy) and bring balance back to the body.
Here are some acupoints that help with period pain:
- Tai chong (LR3): Helps with period cramps, lower abdominal pain, and breast tenderness
- San Yin Jiao (SP6):
Helps with the relief of dysmenorrhea - Yin ling quan (SP9): Relieves dysmenorrhea, pain in the genitals, incontinence, diarrhea, gas, bloating, and sluggishness
- Di ji (SP8): Helps with symptoms of irregular periods, cramps, and stomach problems like abdominal pain and diarrhea
- Yin bao (LR9): Beneficial for period cramps, excessive bleeding, back pain, and disorders of the urinary system
- He gu (LI4):
Helps with pain throughout the body, such as headaches, which women also experience during their period
Supports fertility
Acupuncture treatment can help improve a woman’s fertility by increasing blood flow to the uterus.
It also normalizes the hormones that regulate ovulation, regulating the ovulation cycle in women with PCOS and reducing stress.
In addition, acupuncture could also help to enhance the efficacy of in-vitro fertilization.
Acupuncture is effective in tackling the root pathology that interferes with reproductive functions, causing infertility.
The following acupoints may help with
- Zu san li (ST36)
- Yin ling quan (SP9)
- Feng long (ST40)
- San yin jiao (SP6)
- Tai xi (KI3)
Other Acupuncture Benefits: Improving Symptoms of Jet Lag
“Jet lag in TCM is understood as the body’s activities not being in sync with the rising and falling of the sun, in other words, the natural yin and yang rhythm of the day”.
TCM Physician Anita Pee
Physician Pee shares some acupoints that can help to relieve jet lag symptoms:
- Fatigue and poor concentration: Bai hui (GV20) and yin tang (EX-HN3)
- Insomnia: Nei guan (P6) and shen men (HT7)
- Headaches, neck pain, and insomnia: Feng chi (GB20) and an mian (EX-HN16)
- Gastrointestinal discomfort: Zu san li (ST36）
Discover More Acupuncture Benefits By Trying It
Acupuncture works by balancing the body and encouraging healing, which has limitless potential for your general health and well-being.
The best way to tap into all of the potential benefits of acupuncture is by trying it yourself. Most people experience a feeling of calm and relaxation, better mood, reduced pain, and more energy due to heightened qi and blood flow.
Have you tried acupuncture? Let us know in the comments below.
References
- John Hopkins Medicine. Acupuncture.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH). Acupuncture: What You Need To Know.
- Harvard University School of Medicine. 2022. Exploring the Science of Acupuncture.
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