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Are you in pain and desperate for relief? The ancient method of acupuncture can help heal physical and mental ailments. Read more below about how acupuncture can treat depression, anxiety and beyond. To try this approach to medicine, visit Nardini Naturopathic Toronto for naturopathic acupuncture treatments. What Is Acupuncture? Acupuncture is an ancient form of healing that originated around 3,000 years ago. It's a traditional Chinese treatment where very thin needles are placed along your body to help relieve pain. Acupuncture is one of the most popular and widely used methods of traditional Chinese medicine. Different health issues can be treated with acupuncture including but not limited to: • Chronic back pain • Muscle spasm • Migraines • Neck pain • Allergies • Digestive problems • Depression • Anxiety How Does Naturopathic Acupuncture Work? An acupuncture session will begin with discussing your health history with your naturopathic doctor who may do a brief examination of your body. Once you're ready to begin, you'll lie down on a treatment table and acupuncture needles will be placed on your body’s meridian channels, at locations called acupuncture points. These needles stimulate the flow of energy- called Qi (pronounced “chee”), which is meant to re-balance your energy and help to heal the ailments you're experiencing. The needles will stay there for some time, based on your individual needs. Then, they'll be removed and disposed of. You may feel instant relief from just one session of acupuncture, but some people need several sessions depending on the issue being treated. Does Acupuncture Hurt? Acupuncture is safe and can actually reduce pain. People who experience chronic pain sometimes use acupuncture as a treatment method. You may experience a small sensation or tingle when a needle is inserted, but most report nothing worse than a very mild, dull ache. That sensation may continue for a short time following your treatment, but almost always goes away within a day or two. However, most people report experiencing no pain at all, which may be surprising considering the way most people feel about needles. The reason for this is because unlike a hypodermic needle, which penetrates your skin in order to reach a vein or muscle, acupuncture needles penetrate only the top layer of skin, just far enough to stay in place. What Is Acupuncture Used For? Acupuncture can be used for many different kinds of pain, from mental to physical. Here are five common ailments acupuncture is used for: 1. Stress Relief Stress can affect everything from your mood to your ability to get proper rest. Your stress may even become anxiety, which can prevent you from living your life to the fullest. Acupuncture can be a great stress reliever and help you feel more relaxed and in control. A 2014 study by Reilly et al published in Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing examined the use of acupuncture in helping healthcare workers reduce their levels of stress and anxiety1. They found that those who participated in the study had a significantly lower rate of stress, anxiety, and burnout when compared with non-study participants, and an increased level of patience and courage. You may not be a healthcare worker, but there's no reason why these findings need to apply specifically to them – if you're facing a high-stress lifestyle, acupuncture may help. 2. Reduces Headaches Tension headaches or migraines can be reoccurring and intensely painful. Acupuncture can help reduce the number of headaches or even the intensity of each headache or migraine. A 2013 study by Plank et al published in Alternative Therapies In Health And Medicine studied the effects of acupuncture on 59 individuals who had been clinically diagnosed with migraines2. They administered acupuncture twice a week for four weeks, followed by once a week for four more. At the end of the study, the participants found their migraines decreased in intensity and duration, and that these effects remained in place after they re-evaluated their participants twelve weeks later. Scheduled visits can help those who suffer from frequent headaches or migraines. 3. Improves Sleep People who struggle to get a good night sleep may benefit from acupuncture. Chronic fatigue or lack of sleep can seriously slow you down in your day-to-day life. If you have chronic fatigue it could have many causes, but a common one is that your endocrine system is out of sync from the rest of your body. Acupuncture can help re-align your endocrine system and get you back to a better sleep. 4. Postpartum Recovery Doctors may recommend acupuncture to those who are pregnant or have just given birth. Acupuncture can help with the strain, pain and anxiety that occurs both pre- and post-partum. It can even be used before labour to help relax your body. Always check with your doctor to make sure acupuncture is right for you, however, as all pregnancies are different. 5. Reduces Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Inflammation in your muscles and joints can cause chronic, crippling pain, making it difficult to function in everyday life. However, acupuncture has been shown to help. A 2014 abstract by Vickers and Linde published in the Journal Of The American Medical Association found that, even when compared with sham-acupuncture (a form of purposely ineffective acupuncture sometimes used in studies as a control for the placebo effect), acupuncture showed significant improvements in pain outcomes3. So, if you're experiencing chronic pain, consider acupuncture – it may be able to help reduce inflammation and reduce your pain. 1.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24704740 2.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24254036 3.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24595780 Contact Nardini Naturopathic Are you experiencing any of the above symptoms or conditions? If so, acupuncture may be able to help. Contact Nardini Naturopathic today to book a session with me, Dr. Pat Nardini, to find out more. If you're new to acupuncture or naturopathic medicine in general, I offer first time visitors a FREE 15-minute health clarity session. During that session, you and I will sit down and talk about the health issues you've been facing recently. I'll answer any questions you may have, and from there we'll talk about your options, which may include acupuncture as well as a number of other modalities. If you're experiencing any of the above conditions, there are natural solutions available which may help. Contact Nardini Naturopathic today and begin your journey towards optimal health.