Many individuals initially receive acupuncture treatments to manage chronic back or neck pain. But did you know that acupuncture is also effective for many other common health concerns? From indigestion to depression, acupuncture offers important health benefits for patients of all ages.

Below, our acupuncturist shares how acupuncture helps to support whole body health:

Support healthy weight loss.
If you are struggling to lose weight and keep off the pounds, acupuncture can help. Acupuncture treatments help stimulate the body’s digestive system and endocrine system, increasing the body’s metabolism rate while curbing appetite. Enhancing physiological function brings balance back to internal organs and supports natural weight loss.

Alleviate anxiety and depression.
Do you worry about the side effects of medication like Prozac and Xanax? A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that acupuncture treatments enhance the effectiveness of antidepressants. For example, placing needles in the feet, earlobes and hands stimulates the release of neurotransmitters associated with improved mood and lower stress. Patients taking antidepressants were able to lower their doses, thereby reducing unwanted side effects while still benefiting from the medication.

Prevent chronic headaches. 
While an aspirin may help treat the occasional headache, medication is not a long-term solution for chronic headache pain. New research suggests that neurochemical changes within the brain play a role in tension headaches. According to research studies, acupuncture treatments help signal the brain to adjust these neurochemical imbalances, which helps prevent headaches from occurring in the first place.

Relieve indigestion, heartburn and acid reflux.
Do you suffer from heartburn, severe cramping or diarrhea? If you experience these symptoms but test negative for gastrointestinal disorders like celiac disease, acupuncture may be able to help. According to a research study, patients who did not respond to antacid treatments still benefited significantly from acupuncture. Acupuncture treatments helped to decrease the incidence of acid reflux by 77 percent and heartburn by 83 percent.
 

Have you tried acupuncture treatments for reasons other than back pain relief?