Can acupuncture help you? Are there acupuncture benefits? You know, it depends. It depends on your attitude and approach toward personal wellness and problem-solving. Acupuncture falls under holistic healing, where you are active in your health and outcomes. There is another side where you rely on guidance, advice, or support from regular medicine and do not have to take an active role in repairing your health.Â
It’s not so much that acupuncture can’t help you. Even though acupuncture and Chinese Medicine offer significant health benefits, it takes time and personal commitment. So, let’s look at the crazy benefits of acupuncture and holistic healing.Â
WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE
Before there was regular Medicine, there was acupuncture. This ancient healing art has been used for centuries to treat a wide range of physical and psychological illnesses. With the insertion of tiny needles into the skin at specific points on the body, known as ‘meridians’, acupuncture stimulates the body to improve energy flow, help reduce pain and tension, rebalance your emotional health, assist in your spiritual journey, and boost overall health. Let’s explore the many benefits of acupuncture and how acupuncture can help you lead a healthier, happier life.
Acupuncture is one of five branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The other four branches are: herbs, qi gong, tunia, and food. Only acupuncture involves inserting tiny needles into the skin.Â
DIFFERENT FORMS OF ACUPUNCTURE
And besides being one of five branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture is practiced in more ways than outlined in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture can be Classical, it can be Taoist, Korean, Vietnamese, or Japanese. Acupuncture can come from a family lineage, from a school, or an apprenticeship. The educational system in the United States is Traditional Chinese Medicine. Here is an episode that gives more information on the history of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Anyways, each one of these forms will be different. Some of the most common ways the forms will differ will be in needling technique, different points, and the theories will be different. Yet, all forms involve the insertion of tiny needles into the skin.Â
ENERGY FLOWÂ
One of the key benefits of acupuncture is the ability to change energy flow in the body. In the West, energy in the body is electrical and transmitted through the nervous system. Western thought further suggests that the insertion of needles into a specific point on the body can stimulate the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. Endorphins can help to reduce pain and promote feelings of relaxation and well-being.
Acupuncture can also stimulate the release of neurotransmitters from the nerves, such as serotonin and dopamine, which can help to regulate mood and improve energy levels. Additionally, acupuncture can increase blood flow to specific areas of the body, which can help to promote healing and reduce inflammation.
DEFINITION OF QI
Yet, in Chinese Medicine, the ability to move energy is more than the ability to reduce pain by releasing endorphins or elevating mood through the release of serotonin and dopamine. Energy is considered Qi in Chinese Medicine, and Qi is more than energy as defined in the West. Qi is your life force and the spark of life. Qi is a physical force with dimension and volume and contains the vitality which causes the heart to beat, the intestines to move through peristalsis, memories to form, and love to be expressed. A skilled acupuncturist can change the energy flow, improve digestion, mood, and sleep, reduce fatigue, eliminate diarrhea, or boost the immune system. These are just a few things a talented acupuncturist can help you change.
Overall, Western science does not understand the exact mechanisms by which acupuncture works to improve energy flow in the body. However, a strictly Western science attempt to explain qi currently only has enough science to understand the stimulation of the nerves, the release of neurotransmitters, and increase in blood flow. That promotes balance and harmony within the body, improving energy levels and overall health.
ACUPUNCTURE BENEFITS & EMOTIONS
But energy flow is fundamental to the concept of health and well-being in Chinese Medicine. When the energy flow is balanced in the body, your emotional health is balanced and grounded. As life happens, you use your body, you consume foods and you age. All of this can change the balance of energy in the body. As energy changes, your emotional health changes.Â
To rebalance emotional health, acupuncture promotes qi flow and restores balance to the body’s systems. This can help to reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and other emotional disturbances. Acupuncture can also stimulate the release of endorphins, which are natural painkillers that can help to improve mood and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.
What is interesting is research on the results of acupuncture has shown that acupuncture can be effective in treating a range of emotional health issues, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addition to the physical effects of acupuncture, the process of receiving acupuncture treatment can also have a calming and relaxing effect on the body and mind, which can help to reduce stress and promote emotional well-being.
ACUPUNCTURE BENEFITS & SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING
Acupuncture can go deeper than the physical and emotional body and assist in your spiritual journey. Much of Classical Taoist Chinese Medicine touches on the spiritual aspects. Although most internal alchemy is only known through Neidan, every aspect of Chinese Medicine has a part in internal alchemy. Acupuncture is no different and one of the things it can address is your “destiny.”Â
Destiny has a slightly different meaning than how the West sees destiny. Destiny talks to the gifts you brought into the world. These gifts create a propensity in a person. Through internal alchemy, acupuncture can help change this propensity. It involves a range of techniques and practices aimed at refining and purifying the body, mind, and spirit, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of the self and the universe. Here is a great article on some of the Taoist thoughts in Chinese Medicine.
WRAPPING IT ALL UP
Acupuncture offers a personalized and empowering approach to health and healing that can unlock the secrets of your body, mind, and spirit. It is a mysterious and powerful tradition that holds the promise of unlocking your innermost vitality and well-being.Â
It is founded on the human body as a microcosm of the universe, and that health and wellness can be achieved by balancing the body, mind, and spirit in harmony with the natural world. With its deep understanding of the interconnectedness of all things, acupuncture offers a holistic and comprehensive system of healing that recognizes the unique needs of each individual.Â
Kim Blaufuss is a formally trained Classical Chinese Medical Provider and Taoist practitioner.
Her unique approach combines Eastern and Western Science to provide a comprehensive and transformative emotional healing experience. By working with her, you can gain access to her extensive knowledge and expertise, and benefit from her personalized and compassionate approach to healing.
Kim Blaufuss’ teachings can help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself, cultivate inner peace and joy, and promote healing at a fundamental level. Her work has helped countless individuals achieve their spiritual and emotional goals, and by working with her, you, too, can experience the transformative power of her teachings. If you’re looking for a spiritual and emotional healer who can guide you toward greater well-being and fulfillment, then Kim is the perfect choice. Set-up your private work session today.