Acupuncture

“Traditional Chinese acupuncture involves the insertion of extremely fine needles into the skin at specific "acupoints." This may relieve pain by releasing endorphins, the body's natural pain-killing chemicals, and by affecting the part of the brain that governs serotonin, a brain chemical involved with mood.”

— Harvard Medical School

“Acupuncture can be used as part of an overall rehabilitation plan for athletes recovering from injuries. By improving circulation, reducing inflammation, and increasing range of motion, acupuncture can help speed up the healing process.”

— Franciscan Health

Acupuncture is meant to keep the energy flow (called “qi”) balanced along the meridians. An acupuncturist will place needles at specific pressure points, usually along a person’s back or neck where they can slow pain transmission. Sometimes, a gentle head massage accompanies the placement of the needles. “Treatment takes about an hour, and patients are advised to undergo at least six sessions, usually once a week. The acupuncturist may also suggest dietary changes. For example: Caffeine can exacerbate migraine, and some acupuncturists believe it disrupts the flow of the body.”

— American Migraine Foundation

“When the body is under stress, an area of the brain called the hypothalamus releases neurochemicals, and research shows that acupuncture can calm this response. Acupuncture has also been shown to increase the release of endorphins, the body’s own ‘feel-good’ chemicals, which play an important role in the regulation of physical and emotional stress responses such as pain, heart rate, blood pressure and digestive function.”

— Evidence Based Acupuncture

“Studies looking to prove or disprove the use of acupuncture for insomnia have concluded that it may be able to improve sleep because of the way it influences certain neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain).

One particular review noted that specific neurotransmitters involved in the sleep-wake cycle, which is the body’s internal clock, are positively affected by acupuncture. These neurotransmitters include:

• Norepinephrine, which helps you wake up and stay alert

• Melatonin, a hormone which helps the body wind down and prepare for sleep 

• Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which helps to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night”

  — Very Well Health

“Acupuncture helps stimulate the “rest and digest” response, also known as your parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) in the body. In this relaxed state, blood flow to your digestive tract increases, the salivary gland is stimulated which produces digestive enzymes in the body, intestinal activity increases, and sphincters in the digestive tract relax. In addition to digestive benefits, acupuncture for digestion can increase activation of the PNS and also decreases stress in the body which usually contributes to digestive issues.”

— Gastro SB Clinic