Acupuncture is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and has been used in China, as well as several parts of Asia for over two centuries. This alternative therapy involves inserting needles into the body and is meant to alleviate the symptoms of various conditions.
Here are the reasons why acupuncture can benefit seniors.
- There is no prescription for acupuncture
Acupuncture may provide relief to various ailments without dealing with the side effects of medication, which is one of the most significant benefits for seniors. In fact, research done by Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in 2019 suggests that more than 177,000 adults visit emergency wards due to side effects from drugs. Therefore, acupuncture is ideal for the elderly as it can be used without any complementary medication.
- Acupuncture may be useful for the respiratory system
Acupuncture may help treat various respiratory diseases like acute sinusitis, acute tonsillitis, acute rhinitis, and the common cold. Although practitioners sometimes recommend that patients should also take herbal supplements to speed up the healing process.
- Acupuncture may help treat eye disorders
Acupuncture may be able to provide relief from various eye ailments for the elderly. Some of these eye disorders include central retinitis myopia, cataracts, and acute conjunctivitis.
- This alternative therapy may help balance our overall health
Acupuncture is based on the concept of qi, known as the life force energy in our body. In fact, qi is known to be generated in various acupoints or meridians. Therefore, balancing this energy is a must as it enables the body to return to its normal state of health. The symptoms of various aches and pains, as well as acid reflux symptoms may improve. In addition, practitioners believe that when pathogens invade our body, they cause an imbalance that may result in diseases. Acupuncture can assist the body’s natural healing by restoring the balance and normal flow of qi.
- It may also help treat emotional distress and mental health
Acupuncture is known to provide a relaxed state of mind that may help treat mental and emotional problems. Some of the psychological problems that acupuncture may be able to treat include depression, anxiety, and insomnia. These are also problems that seniors commonly experience, and they come with pain and aches in many parts of their bodies.
- Acupuncture may help ease arthritis pain
Lastly, acupuncture may be beneficial to seniors who are undergoing chronic pain, including arthritis. Although not all rheumatoid arthritis can be treated by acupuncture, it can alleviate the symptoms of these conditions. During treatments, needles are commonly placed along the shoulders, arms and legs of seniors. Of course, the frequency of therapy for arthritis depends on the severity of pain experienced by the patient. Still, acupuncture might treat arthritic inflammation, and is worth a try as it does not have any nasty side effects.