Mental health issues are becoming a significant part of the global health discussion. As more people begin to understand the many types of mental health problems and their symptoms, they’re able to find the right treatment for their needs.
Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues can be addressed using a variety of tools and methods. Acupuncture has shown to be a valuable addition to the many treatment modalities that individuals can use to overcome their mental health challenges.
By restoring the internal environment of a person’s body, acupuncture can go a long way in helping to reduce or eliminate many symptoms related to mental health issues.
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine traditions. Recently, the treatment method has seen more widespread acceptance, as many Western health professionals are learning the many benefits it can provide.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and others have recognized acupuncture for its ability to enhance wellness, improve performance, and help people achieve relief from chronic pain.
In 2008, acupuncture was used to help athletes prevent injuries and overcome issues related to pain during the Olympics in China. It’s an effective alternative to conventional pain medications, which can lead to numerous side effects that further compromise your health.
Acupuncture is applied through the use of needles that are strategically placed around the body. These needles stimulate the body’s nervous system according to its relationship with the many organs and functions of the body.
Acupuncture for Mental Health Issues
Mental health issues can be disruptive to your daily life. They affect an individual’s beliefs, emotions, relationships, and ability to deal with the daily stressors of life.
Common mental health issues include depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and bipolar disorder. These and other issues impact the lives of people from all over the world and at any age.
Focus Physiotherapy’s acupuncture treatments can help treat anxiety by reducing muscle tension, improving digestive function, and helping to decrease the heart rate. Acupuncture can give individuals a sense of calm and peace of mind, which helps to alleviate anxiety.
It’s effective for treating chronic and acute depression. Many individuals report that their sleep improves over time, and acupuncture can support sleep health, metabolism, and relieve many common symptoms of depression.
Benefits of Acupuncture for Mental Health
Acupuncture treatments at Focus Physiotherapy can leave patients feeling relaxed and with a greater sense of well-being. This helps you treat symptoms related to chronic stress from depression and other mental health issues.
The body’s release of endorphins during acupuncture helps reduce pain sensations and increase the circulation of lymphatic fluids and blood. This increases the amount of oxygen that’s delivered to the tissues and provides the nutrients needed for proper function.
This process can also increase the elimination of waste products while providing a greater level of oxygen to the body’s tissues.
Cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, can also be reduced through the use of acupuncture, along with blood pressure and the resting heart rate.
A study from the University of Arizona highlighted the reduction of symptoms in depression among women, with more than half of the study’s participants reporting that they no longer experienced depression after eight weeks of treatment.
Research has also indicated that positive effects on blood pressure and heart rate can also be seen from the use of acupuncture.
More importantly, the sympathetic nervous system, which regulates the body’s stress response, may also be positively affected by acupuncture, helping patients find lasting relief from the effects of chronic stress.
A Comprehensive Approach to Treating Mental Health
Acupuncture can be a powerful supplement to more traditional mental health treatments. It offers a customized approach to treating individuals who suffer from some of the most common mental health challenges.
Used alongside other treatment methods, acupuncture can help build the foundation for lasting health and freedom from disease.
Finding the Right Acupuncture Professional
Focus Physiotherapy provides a wide range of services that help patients overcome chronic pain and recover from injury. Acupuncture must be applied correctly in order for you to obtain the benefits it can provide.
Acupuncture practitioners must complete a formal training and certification process, and there is legislation in place in many areas to ensure that those practising acupuncture offer the highest quality of care possible.
You should only work with an experienced acupuncture therapist to help treat mental and other health issues.
Understanding the many benefits that acupuncture provides can help you decide if it should be included as part of your overall treatment plan. When coupled with other treatment methods, acupuncture can help you get the results you want.
Taking the time to find the right treatment and health care provider can save you money in the long run and ensure that you get positive results from your acupuncture treatment.
If you want to learn more about how acupuncture can help you in addressing your own health issues, contact Focus Physiotherapy today for more information