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8 research-backed benefits of acupuncture from pain relief to stress reduction

Adam Barnes,Shelley Dawson   

8 research-backed benefits of acupuncture from pain relief to stress reduction
  • Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine now widely used as a complementary treatment.
  • Acupuncture can help ease pain, pregnancy-related discomfort, digestive concerns, and stress.
  • Acupuncture shouldn’t replace medical treatment, so ask a doctor about adding it to your care plan.

​​$4 is a $4 medicine that uses needles inserted at specific sites on the body to help relieve pain and treat other health concerns. These needles aren't the same as the ones you're used to seeing at a doctor's office — they are solid, very thin, and flexible.

"The needles don't really hurt. Most people feel peaceful and calm during a treatment. They usually end up taking a nap," says $4, a licensed acupuncturist at The People's Acupuncture of Asheville.

It's believed acupuncture originated in China approximately $4. More recently, it continues to $4 as research expands and Americans increasingly seek out $4.

And indeed, research does suggest that acupuncture can have benefits for $4, but many people find it effective for issues beyond those supported by $4.

"Pain relief is the most common reason people come to my clinic, but I also see all sorts of health and wellness concerns, from autoimmune disease to insomnia to gynecological issues. People are just trying to find a way to feel better," Soemardi says.

Here are eight conditions acupuncture may benefit.

1. Reduces anxiety

$4 affect about $4. Common treatments include talk therapy, medication, and — according to some preliminary research — acupuncture.

In a $4 36 people with chronic anxiety, participants reported a decrease in anxiety symptoms after receiving acupuncture for 10 weeks. This improvement lasted through follow-up 10 weeks later.

2. Helps with painful menstrual periods

Acupuncture may also have benefits for easing $4, or $4:

  • In a $4, participants who received acupuncture reported as much relief from painful periods as participants who took $4, like ibuprofen or aspirin
  • In a $4 of 649 women, 15 acupuncture treatments over three months appeared more effective for reducing menstrual pain and improving quality of life than usual care alone.

3. Alleviates digestive issues

Numerous studies show that acupuncture may help relieve different digestive concerns:

  • A $4 found that adding acupuncture treatments twice a week for four weeks to a $4 regimen helped reduce $4 more effectively than a doubled dose of medication.
  • A $4 of 16 randomized controlled trials found that acupuncture appears to provide more relief from indigestion than medication, though the authors note that more high-quality research is needed to fully support their conclusion.
  • In a $4, 344 people with $4 who received 18 acupuncture treatments over 6 weeks reported more improvement in their symptoms than the 175 participants who received $4 only.

4. Offers pain relief during pregnancy

Acupuncture is $4, and $4 it can help relieve the $4 pregnant people commonly experience.

It could help with other common pregnancy concerns, too.

"Moms-to-be come to see me for nausea, heartburn, difficulty sleeping, and aches and pains," says $4, a licensed acupuncturist who operates the private practice $4.

5. Provides stress relief

Everyone experiences $4 sometimes, but finding $4 can offer plenty of $4.

Acupuncture works to relieve stress by $4 the $4, which helps get the body out of the $4.

"This could be as simple as feeling your heart rate slow and breath lengthen, or it could be that you fall asleep. I tell patients that this feeling may stay with you and slowly fade for the rest of the day," says Pitts.

6. Offers symptom relief during cancer treatment

Acupuncture is increasingly used as an integrative approach to cancer care.

According to the $4, acupuncture can help with both cancer-related symptoms and side effects of treatment, including:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Hot flashes
  • Dry mouth caused by chemotherapy or radiation

7. Provides low back pain relief

Up to $4 at some point in life, and $4 have explored the benefits of acupuncture for low back pain:

  • In a $4, 387 people who received acupuncture twice a week for ten sessions reported more relief from pain than those who received conventional treatments, including medication, physical therapy, and exercise.
  • In a $4, people who received $4 for low back pain reported more improvement than those who received their usual care. Even people who received simulated acupuncture, which involves the same pressure point approach but doesn't penetrate the skin, saw an improvement.

8. Reduces painful headaches

Evidence also suggests acupuncture can ease persistent head pain:

  • A $4 of 12 studies on $4 concluded that acupuncture appears effective for treating $4.
  • A similar $4 on $4 suggests that acupuncture not only helps lower headache frequency, it may be almost as effective as medication for $4 relief.

How to find the right acupuncturist for you

When choosing an acupuncturist, you'll want to make sure they attended a three or four-year $4 and hold a current $4.

What's the cost? Acupuncture treatments usually cost between $75-$150 for a 45 to 60-minute session. You can also look for low-cost $4 clinics that focus on accessibility by offering low-cost acupuncture in a group treatment setting.

Before getting started, take the opportunity to ask any questions you have about the process. They'll tell you what to expect, and they should also clearly communicate a treatment plan.

Your acupuncturist should also use pre-wrapped, single-use, sterilized needles and dispose of these needles safely immediately after your session. This $4 and blood-borne diseases.

Feel free to ask what experience they have treating the issue you're seeking help for — some practitioners might have more experience treating specific conditions or symptoms.

"Make sure your acupuncturist is someone you can connect with. It's very important to be comfortable with who you choose to work with," Pitts says.

Insider's takeaway

Evidence supports acupuncture's effectiveness in treating some common ailments, and research on this treatment continues to expand.

That said, it's generally recognized as a safe form of complementary medicine with $4, so if you're considering alternative treatments for pain, anxiety, or digestive concerns, it could be worthwhile to give acupuncture a try.

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