Benefits of Acupuncture
The most immediate benefit from receiving an acupressure/acupuncture treatment is the easing of physical and mental tensions. Stimulation of acupuncture points induces the muscles to relax and the mind to calm. Once this process of relaxation is initiated, energy and blood flow more freely through the body, helping to reduce tightness, swelling and pain.
Some stress-related physical and psychological symptoms that can be affected by these treatments include:
- Headaches
- Neck, shoulder and chest tightness/pain
- Digestive disorders
- Back pain
- Physical and mental fatigue
- Moodiness, irritability
- Anxiety or depression
- Insomnia
One of the most significant features of receiving an acupressure/acupuncture treatment is the involvement of the client’s consciousness in the therapeutic process. When acupuncture points are pressed or needled, the recipient becomes more aware of their body tensions. It is a very common occurrence for people to comment that they did not realize how tight or sore they are, and how much more they are in touch with their physical self after a treatment. This awareness enhances one’s ability to develop a deeper state of relaxation, particularly with successive treatments.
As relaxation progresses and energy and blood are flowing more freely, the innate healing processes of the body and mind are stimulated. There is a decrease in heart rate, a lowering of blood pressure levels, as well as increased secretion and motility of the gastrointestinal tract. These are activities that conserve and restore body energy. The result is an improvement in the processes of digestion, absorption and assimilation of energy-supplying food.
Overall, acupressure/acupuncture treatments stimulate the orderly movement of the body’s energy toward a state of balance. The client experiences this balance in a number of ways. After a treatment, one feels relaxed, yet energized. The mind is tranquil and there is clarity of thought. Pain is diminished or resolved, and a sense of well-being ensues.
Once the energy of the body has been stimulated by this treatment, the effects of its improved flow continue long after the client gets off of the table. This is due to the fact that this vital energy is what motivates all of the function of the body and the mind. Improved energy flow results in improved metabolic functioning.
It is when these treatments are administered in regularly scheduled intervals that their full potential is realized. Series of treatments have a cumulative effect on the functioning of the body and the mind. They can serve as a means of reducing the detrimental effects of chronic stress, thus preventing relatively mild conditions from turning into more serious disorders.