5 Ways Acupuncture Can Help You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions
It's that time of year when your resolutions seem to be set to a soundtrack of gloomy prognostication rather than the Rocky theme song. For many of us, New Year's Day is a very short-lived shining beacon of hope and optimism. Instead, our resolutions morph into a nebulous time loop where lofty goals become gnawing pipe dreams.
But before you throw your hands up in defeat, there is an alternative way to bypass the merry go round of unfulfilled goals - acupuncture! Yes, the ancient art of strategically placing hair thin needles into acupuncture points can lift even the heaviest of strongholds - our very own selves.
Here is how acupuncture can help you achieve your goals:
#1 - Weight Loss (better eating habits)
Losing weight and establishing better eating habits is the most common New Year's resolution by far. Acupuncture offers a safe and natural way to increase metabolism and curb cravings. By regulating the bowels, strengthening the digestive fire (metabolism), and reducing appetite, acupuncture can help you drop some pounds when coupled with a healthy diet and exercise.
#2 - Focus/Manage Stress
On a mental/emotional level, acupuncture can help with motivation. When we feel unmotivated, often our qi is not moving smoothly which we call stagnation. Stress alone is a major culprit of stagnation and often brings related complaints such as headaches, insomnia, and fatigue. Acupuncture restores the energy balance, removes blockages, and thereby enables you to find focus and motivates you to exercise in a healthy way. Probably the most common reason that people slack off from an exercise routine is a lack of motivation or feeling too busy/overwhelmed. Acupuncture can help give you the jump start you need to get off of the couch and do something about your resolutions.
""Thank God for acupuncture. It's been around for 2000 years. It's not going anyplace and people use it all of the time for a variety of cures and to avoid illnesses." ~ Tim Daly
#3 - Relieve Pain Naturally
If you have chronic pain that affects your day-to-day life, acupuncture offers a safe and natural type of pain relief. Unlike medications, acupuncture won’t cause adverse reactions or unpleasant side effects. According to a number of studies conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH), acupuncture has been proven to be successful in the treatment of chronic pain including neck and back pain, osteoarthritis, knee and joint pain, and headaches including migraines and tension headaches. Living in Chicago in the winter, many of us are familiar with how the cold weather can exacerbate chronic pain. Cold constricts the blood vessels and impedes circulation, and this leads to pain. With herbs, acupuncture, and massage, Chinese Medicine offers a variety of methods to help increase circulation, warm the channels, and stop pain.
#4 - Quit Smoking (or any other bad habit)
Whether you’re trying to quit smoking or would like to kick another addictive habit to the curb, acupuncture can help. Acupuncture treatments can help alleviate issues such as jitters, cravings, irritability, insomnia, fatigue, and other symptoms related to withdrawal. Used in a variety of clinical settings, The National Acupuncture and Detoxification Association (NADA) Protocol was developed to help people recover from substance abuse and alleviate withdrawal symptoms. In a NADA treatment, 5 designated acupuncture points in the ear are needled: Lung, Kidney, Liver, Shen Men, and Sympathetic. These points promote organ recovery, balance the nervous system, and treat stress and anxiety.
#5 - Boost Your Immune System (better overall health)
Often, people seek out acupuncture treatments when they are already sick. This year, consider using acupuncture as preventative care and supercharge your immune system to protect yourself from seasonal bugs. Increasing the body’s Defensive Qi, or the body’s first line defense, will not only help prevent illness but also encourage a quick recovery if you do get sick. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, acupuncture can address symptoms such as congestion and itchy eyes by strengthening your defensive Qi while also addressing the underlying imbalance.
An overlooked component to robust immunity is good sleep. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, sleep is vital for building up your immune system, giving your brain a chance to “reboot.” Acupuncture is a natural, safe and effective way to help you get better quality sleep and as a result better overall health.
Needless to say, if the stress in your life is throwing you off balance, consider coming in for a treatment to regain peace of mind and stay healthy. With so many amazing benefits of acupuncture, we encourage you to explore this treatment option. Acupuncture has been benefiting humankind for thousands of years – and for good reason. Working with a Chinese Medicine practitioner can set you on the path this year to a longer and healthier life! Click on the link below to make an appointment today and reap the benefits of a healthy mind and body.
