I always thought acupuncture seemed like something out of a horror movie because of how positively terrifying it looked. Even though it may seem rather scary, it really isn’t bad at all! In fact, there are actually many benefits to acupuncture that people should know about.

First off, what exactly is acupuncture?

This practice comes from the Chinese idea that energy (chi) flows through your body along certain pathways. The Chinese believe that whenever you get sick, it is because there is some sort of blockage along one of these “paths.” The point of acupuncture is to unblock the pathways so that the energy can flow through it. Professionals do this by placing small needles at certain points on their patient’s body to help the energy flow through.

Even though the idea of acupuncture can make some people feel a little queasy (especially if you hate needles), there really are some pretty amazing health benefits that it has to offer. Here are some of acupuncture’s major advantages.

 

1. It Helps With Allergies

Acupuncture does indeed help with allergies (can I get an amen!). People found that having acupuncture done in their nose and sinuses immensely helped with their seasonal allergies, and it also decreased the amount of antihistamines that they needed to use.

 

2. It Fights Migraines

If you are more prone to headaches/migraines, you should definitely consider acupuncture. In a study done on the health benefits of acupuncture, researchers found that people that got frequent acupuncture sessions on their head and face, got fewer headaches and migraines and missed fewer days of work.

 

3. It Improves Sleep

People that struggle with insomnia claim that acupuncture helps them sleep much better than medication does (plus, they didn’t have to deal with any negative side effects).

 

4. It Decreases Chronic Pain

Acupuncture is most commonly used to help with chronic back pain or knee pain. There is a lot of positive research that states how beneficial acupuncture can be in reducing chronic pain. In a recent study, researchers found that acupuncture helped with chronic pain by 50 percent.

 

5. It Helps Manage Stress

And what person doesn’t need help with stress management? In a scientific study on the benefits of acupuncture, researchers found that people who get acupuncture regularly, have lower stress hormones in their body. Stress can be very harmful on a person’s overall health, so it is vitally important to find ways to manage stress.

 

These five benefits of acupuncture are just a few of the amazing health benefits that you can get from it. Even if needles make you a little uneasy, it is worth giving this holistic approach a shot!

 

COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK.

By Collyn Morgan on March 30, 2016
Collyn is a freelance writer that enjoys researching and writing on modern feminism, health, motherhood, and other related topics. She has a passionate love for macaroons, vegetarian cuisine, newsletters, and anything regarding The Walking Dead. You can find her musings and intrigues on Twitter.