Acupuncture
Acupuncture forms a core component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) dating back thousands of years. Acupuncture has evolved from Chinese folk medicine to a popular, evidence-based intervention for a host of ailments. TCM and acupuncture are based on the concept of imbalance in the body’s energy. Thus, acupuncture aims to restore homeostatic balance. In the past 100 years there has been another phase of evolution through its interaction and integration with Western medicine practices and research. The two modalities complement each other well, with Chinese medicine able to offer effective solutions in many arenas where Western medicine falls short. At Boise Physical Therapy 180 your acupuncture sessions may be paired with cupping and instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) techniques in addition to traditional acupuncture.
Acupuncture has been shown to:
- Improve circulation by enhancing generation of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a vasodilator, meaning it relaxes the inner muscles of your blood vessels, increasing blood flow and regulating blood pressure.
- Release muscle tension and pain by stimulating and breaking up bands of bound muscle fibers called trigger points.
- Relieve pain by producing endorphins, your body’s natural opioid-like peptides.
Stimulate the release of enkephalin, beta-endorphin, endomorphin, and dynorphin, which together have an analgesic (pain relieving) effect similar to opioid drugs but without the side effects. - Activate the parasympathetic nervous system, the body’s “rest and digest” state in which healing can occur. When our body is in a state of stress and our sympathetic nervous system or “fight or flight” mode is engaged, we instead experience increased muscle tension, blood pressure, and inflammation.
- Regulate the immune system by stimulating production of cytokines, T-cells, and B-cells.
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