A lot of people would consider a natural way of addressing a health issue a whole lot better than a synthetic approach or one coming from the pharmaceutical industry. This is because the natural approach often produces long-term, safe, and effective outcomes. With regards to the process of detoxification, the NAD or naturally assisted detox is often seen as very effective, both in terms of cost and outcome. For health pundits, there are many ways to naturally detoxify your body. For them, one of the natural and best paths to detoxification is acupuncture. It is a multi-millennia old healing technique that since 1974 has been a great success in the treatment and cure of substance addiction in the US.
In acupuncture, the natural healing processes of the body systems are involved and set into motion by the use of ultra-thin needles inserted into certain parts of the body. A qualified and licensed acupuncturist has been trained to identify and locate over 2,000 acupuncture points that can activate and remove blockages to the flow of energy. The needles remain in the skin for about 20 to 40 minutes and inserted precisely in predetermined depths along the meridians of the body.
How Do the Needles Stimulate the Neurotransmitters?
When a needle is inserted into an acupuncture point, it causes the release of endorphins (natural pain-killing chemicals) and neurotransmitters from the central nervous system. The cascade of endorphins and neurotransmitters into the bloodstream gives the patient a feel good factor that reduces his withdrawal symptoms and cravings for drugs in a natural way. Acupuncture can help in the restoration of neurotransmitters which is needed to rectify imbalances and maintain the smooth flow of energy throughout the body. To correct imbalances, acupuncturists will need to recourse the flow of chi or vital energy.
If the patient is on the path to recovery, he needs to regain both his emotional and physical balance. To accelerate recovery, acupuncture treatment in Jacksonville can help strengthen the immune system and activate the release of endorphins in the body. Researchers from the Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine’s Department of Integrative Medicine performed a study that was featured in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine. The test subjects used were rats and the results of the study indicated that acupuncture was essential in the treatment of alcoholism as it helped regulate the post-synaptic neural activation in the NAC and striatum of the rats.
How Does Acupuncture Affect the Body?
Since there is no guaranteed technique to cure addiction effectively and wholly, researchers believe that the use of ancient and so-called alternative treatment can help spur recovery. This is one reason why acupuncture is a very common form of treatment used by various rehab centers in the United States and the world. It requires only the use of needles, is inexpensive, and highly effective.
The following are the benefits that acupuncture can provide patients suffering from substance abuse.
Acupuncture can:
Relieve emotional problems
Cure insomnia
Alleviate physical pain
Neutralize withdrawal symptoms
In a major study conducted by the Colorado Mental Health Institute and published in in 2006 in the Journal of Dual Diagnosis, it was found that ear acupuncture or auricular acupuncture is a cost effective and useful adjunctive treatment to dual diagnosis therapy. The remedy, which is as good as NTR/ NAD treatment, helped overcome cravings and ameliorated symptoms like feelings of anger and insomnia. Acupuncture is widely deemed a viable alternative treatment for recovery even if proof supporting its effectiveness in detoxification therapy is mainly anecdotal.