When people hear about acupuncture they usually think about the needles that go into the skin. And they might be thinking, ‘How can needles in my skin make me feel better?’ But there’s no need to worry, acupuncture is a practice that has been around for about 3,000 years. Its benefits include relieving headaches, chronic pain and even helping digestion. 

Acupuncture originated in ancient China and it serves as a medicinal remedy to treat certain conditions. The way that it works is by inserting tiny needles in the skin in specific points of the body. It’s mostly used to treat pain but can also be beneficial for wellness in general. According to Acupuncture History – News Medical, “The tradition of acupuncture theory believes that energy flows within the human body and this energy can be channelized to create balance and health. This energy flow is called qi and pronounced “‘chee’.” 

Acupuncture provides positive and helpful results when experiencing headaches by removing the negative energy which is causing one pain. According to Acupuncture for Headaches and Migraines: How It Works – Healthline, “From a modern medical perspective, acupuncture stimulates various systems of your body.” Since headaches are caused by nerves or blood vessels around the skull, acupuncture would help by sectioning the body into different pressure points and zones and targeting a specific area. When the needles are put in different points it stimulates the nerves near the pressure point. Furthermore, “[acupuncture] stimulates the nerves to release hormones, such as endorphins, that trigger a response from your body.” says Acupuncture for Headaches and Migraines: How It Works – Healthline. They believe that systems that help relieve the headache are the circulation system and immune system. 

The way in which acupuncture helps relieve chronic pain is very similar to the method used to help relieve headaches. This is because pain receivers are nerves and what causes headaches, are nerves. The only real difference in the procedure for relieving headaches or chronic pain would be where in the body the needles would be placed. Former Saugus student Brandon Ornelas said this about his experience with acupuncture: “I got introduced to acupuncture through my mom and she suggested I get it to help relieve back pain […]it was great after I got after the needle aspect of it I was able to relax and it felt like a fresh breath of air.”

For helping stimulate digestion in the body, acupuncture is perfect since digestion issues usually stem from the blockage of food in the digestive system. Although it’s important to note that blockage of food isn’t the only issue that causes digestive issues it includes poor sleeping patterns, unhealthy diets, and overall poor self-care. So prior to trying solely on getting the results from acupuncture, make sure you’re eating balanced meals and are taking care of yourself. 

As mentioned previously, the blockage is somewhat similar to acupuncture since acupuncture unblocks the negative energy in the body. Acupuncture for Digestion — Blog — Morningside Acupuncture addresses the function that occurs in the body, “Acupuncture helps by balancing the gut-brain axis and the nervous system to reduce stress, which in turn improves digestive function.” To get the full effect of acupuncture it’s recommended to drink some Chinese herbal teas to help further promote healthy digestion in the stomach. 

If you’re interested in where you can get acupuncture near you, here are 3 recommendations. There’s Bamboo Acupuncture located in Bouquet Canyon, this location has five stars! Next we have SoulStrong Wellness located in Bouquet Canyon as well and is also a massage therapy office. Lastly we have Ping’s Acupuncture & Herb Center which has five stars as well! Remember not to stress about the fact that needles are used for acupuncture. Focus on the experience and feeling better