by Joan Arata RN, BSN
After several years in bedside nursing followed by a career on the business side of healthcare, I turned my attention to making acupuncture more accessible to many more people. I personally experienced the many benefits of acupuncture which is what led me to my interest in educating people about the positive impact of acupuncture on both physical and mental health.
Acupuncture is an ancient therapy used to support the healing process and promote relief for many conditions. The practice of Acupuncture is built on the philosophy that an imbalance of the body systems, causes illness.
In modern times, Acupuncture has been shown to provide relief by improving blood flow, which boosts oxygenation in the body. During treatments, tiny needles are inserted into the body at precise points, where the blood vessels converge with the nerves. The needles stimulate the local tissues to help support the nervous system, promote circulation and enhance the body’s healing abilities.
Healthy blood circulation is a vital component of life.
It’s what the blood is carrying that makes circulation so important for the body. Blood transports fresh oxygen, hormones, and nutrients that we absorb from the air we breathe and the food we eat.
The organs and tissues of the body need a constant flow of blood and oxygen in and out to ensure healthy functioning. Without sufficient blood circulation, the organs and tissues of the body become depleted, weakened, and eventually stop functioning. Any restrictions of blood
flow, both in the veins and arteries, deprives the body of much-needed nutrients, which can then lead to many medical issues.
There are various causes of poor circulation and lack of oxygenation. Common causes include physical overuse, improper diet, diabetes, poor lifestyle choices, smoking, alcoholism, and even excessive stress.
The symptoms of poor circulation generally include pain, weakness of the limbs, tingling, numbness, and increased sensitivity. If poor circulation becomes chronic throughout the body, fatigue can develop both physically and mentally.
Acupuncture and additional lifestyle therapies such as acupressure, supplements, and a healthy diet aim to provide relief by increasing blood flow and oxygen to the entire body. In this way, these therapies not only treat the symptoms of poor circulation but also aim
to resolve the root cause. Acupuncture in particular is effective for enhancing blood and oxygen to specific regions of the body to promote relief. Researchers are constantly studying what makes Acupuncture effective for pain and other conditions.
Many studies show that Acupuncture is great for increasing blood circulation because the use of acupuncture needles stimulates nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide (NO) is a key regulator of localized blood circulation and the increase in NO leads to greater blood flow and circulation to the tissues. These regulatory effects contribute to the effectiveness of acupuncture in providing relief for many conditions, especially pain relief.
Acupuncture is a sought-after treatment to help provide relief. The increase of blood flow and oxygen in tissues helps to relax muscles, relieve pain, improve metabolic waste throughout the body and promote system-wide balance for better health.
Joan is a registered nurse and the owner of Modern Acupuncture in Florham Park. She can be reached at joan.arata@modacu.com
