Acupuncture Research Update - Four Reasons to Give Acupuncture a Try

By Angie
This is the first of a series of articles highlighting recent research findings in the field of acupuncture. Acupuncture is sometimes discounted as a sham or as just a placebo, however there is a great deal of research suggesting that acupuncture can be of benefit for many problems that people face today. I seek to bring you relevant and interesting updates in this series.

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Acupuncture may help you sleep better

Insomnia can affect everything you do; without a good night’s sleep you just aren’t yourself. You’re less productive and more irritable, and your immune system can become compromised leading to more frequent illness. For many people, the immediate response to a bout of insomnia is to go to doctor or a chemist for sleeping tablets, even though these come with serious side effects.

Recent research however has found that acupuncture and moxibustion (an ancient Chinese herbal remedy commonly used to in conjunction with acupuncture) may have a significant effect on insomnia. According to the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) patients treated with acupuncture and moxibustion showed improved quality of sleep, faster time to fall asleep and better daytime functioning. So if you’re having trouble getting to bed, try acupuncture before buying sleeping tablets. Check out the link to the research here and here.

Acupuncture can help with Migraines

Migraines are the worst type of headache. They can last hours and completely ruin your day. There are a number of prophylactic drugs designed to reduce migraine frequency but their results can be inconsistent and unpromising, not to mention the potential side effects.

There has been a lot of research into the effect of acupuncture on the frequency, intensity and duration of migraines. Recent studies show that acupuncture can significantly reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines, either in conjunction with prophylactic medication or by itself. If you’re tired of letting migraines take over your whole day and force you into a dark room to wait it out, try acupuncture for a series of treatments, and get on track to stop having them. Have a look at some recent studies here and here.

Acupuncture can help with Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies can be very annoying and really impact on your quality of life. Every time a certain season rolls around millions of Australians head to the chemist for antihistamines that don’t target specific allergic reactions and can be largely ineffective.

An increasing amount research is coming out suggesting that acupuncture may have a significant clinical effect on seasonal allergies. Where drugs are designed to target a broad scope of allergies, acupuncturists can more effectively pin point how to treat specific allergies. This may lead to a greater reduction in symptoms, longer lasting relief and no (or extremely minimal) side effects. So next time you get the seasonal runny nose and sniffles try making an appointment with an acupuncturist rather than with antihistamines. Have a look at the research here and here.

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Acupuncture may help with Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety over the fast pace of modern life is something millions experience every day and most people don’t think they can do anything about it. A lot of research however has recently suggested that acupuncture may a similar effect as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – the most common practice of psychologists when treating anxiety.

Everyone gets sad or overwhelmed by things sometimes - it’s unavoidable from time to time -  but depression can become too much to handle and rapidly take over your life. As further research is done acupuncture is promising to be of benefit when treating depression.

If you suffer from anxiety or depression don’t wait for it to take control of your life. Consider a complementary approach to help you de-stress and feel better. Have a look at the research here and here.

With these and more benefits acupuncture is a wonderful modality worth considering. Acupuncture has been used to address a range of physical conditions from runny noses to headaches, and it can also be of benefit for emotional conditions such as anxiety or depression. So if you or anyone you know is looking for a natural, drug-free, way to make their life easier and healthier, contact me or book online to make an appointment.

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