If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from chronic pain, Acupuncture may help! Chronic pain can stem from a previous injury, manifest due to an autoimmune disease or because of many other reasons. Stacey Keay is trained to help find beneficial solutions to ease your pain. With regular treatments, many patients find that in addition to pain decreasing, they see an increase in the ability to sleep and have a better sense of well-being overall.
So how does this process work, you ask? Acupuncture is the practice of inserting needles at specific points on the body to strengthen, stimulate, and relieve various symptoms. In Chinese medicine, the belief is that there is energy (Qi) constantly moving through the body. Energy can get blocked, which causes imbalance and disharmony, and illness can occur as a result. The goal of acupuncture treatment is aimed at moving blockages and stagnation, and it promotes a smooth, appropriate flow of energy through the body.
When it comes to chronic pain sufferers, Acupuncture has the ability to unblock energy within the body that may be causing pain.
However, we do live in a science-based world, and everyone is beginning to understand how acupuncture works within that realm. When we experience a stressful thought or event, our bodies produce hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. As a result the heart beats faster, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises, and our breath quickens. This is the “fight or flight” response, and it helps us stay focused and alert in emergencies. Unfortunately, over time the “fight or flight” response can stop being helpful and can cause damage to the mind and body.
Acupuncture activates the nervous system, initiating a cascade of hormones and neurotransmitters that influence the body's own internal regulating systems. This promotes health and healing. During an acupuncture treatment, the body goes from the flight or fight response that coincides with pain and stress, to a restorative state. This leads to a deep state of calm that effects the rest of the day, and often for many days following.
Tests show that acupuncture:
- promotes blood flow
- relieves pain
- reduces inflammation
- restores homeostasis (internal conditions within the body)
Do you have questions about chronic pain relief with acupuncture? Contact Stacey to discuss acupuncture options that can help!
