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What Evidence-Based Acupuncture Can Do for You

evidence-based acupuncture

Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years, and its popularity continues to grow. It is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that uses thin needles inserted into the body at specific points to restore balance and encourage healing. If you’re considering acupuncture as part of your healthcare regimen, it’s important to find an experienced, evidence-based provider—like the naturopathic doctors, at CARESPACE in Kitchener and Waterloo—who can help you make the most of this ancient modality. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits that evidence-based acupuncture at CARESPACE can provide.

Acupuncture for Pain Relief

One of the primary uses for acupuncture is pain relief. Benefits are seen in both acute and chronic pain conditions, including headaches, low back pain, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, neck pain, and many more.

Acupuncture is being studied by researchers worldwide as a natural yet effective treatment for pain reduction and management. The target area may vary based on the type of pain but can include areas such as the lower back, neck/shoulder, hands, and feet. In addition, acupuncture also helps improve circulation within the body which can increase feelings of relaxation and reduce stress levels or tight muscles that can increase pain sensitivity. A lot of research has promoted the use of acupuncture in managing chronic pain with long-lasting effects; this has begun to shape our understanding of how acupuncture works to heal musculoskeletal pains effectively.

Stress Management with Acupuncture

Evidence-based acupuncture can also be used to help manage stress levels. Acupuncture not only relaxes tensed muscle groups but it can also target issues such as migraine headaches, insomnia and anxiety. Research indicates that it may also help to balance hormones associated with stress and improve overall well-being. Because each individual is unique, traditional acupuncture takes into account one’s physical, psychological and emotional needs in order to create a personalized treatment plan.

Acupuncture works by stimulating specific nerve pathways throughout the body to reduce stress hormones, like cortisol, while simultaneously releasing serotonin – a hormone involved in regulating our emotions. For best results, practitioners recommend several sessions over time in order to feel the full benefits of acupuncture-related stress relief.

Conclusion

In summary, there are many potential benefits to evidence-based acupuncture from a naturopathic doctor — from relief from acute and chronic pain conditions to improved stress management. Acupuncture is safe, effective, and non-invasive — so it’s definitely worth exploring if you’re looking for alternative ways to improve your health! If you’re interested in learning more about how evidence-based acupuncture can benefit you specifically, book a free online appointment to speak with one of the naturopathic doctors at CARESPACE in Kitchener Waterloo today! They will be able to answer any questions you may have about this ancient modality and discuss whether it may be right for you.

Lindsay Bast

Lindsay Bast

Dr. Lindsay Bast is a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. He graduated from the University of Waterloo with an Honours B.Sc. in Kinesiology and from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine 2005. He sees patients of all ages with a variety of concerns and has a special interest in the effects of stress on health. Dr. Bast will work with you to uncover the hidden causes of your health concerns through interviewing, testing, physical exam and questionnaires. Where appropriate he will collaborate with other CARESPACE Practitioners to develop a coordinated treatment plan to achieve your goals.