Acupuncture has become mainstream over the past few years. If you’re not familiar with this ancient Chinese medical practice, it’s a form of integrative medicine that involves pricking the skin with small needles. Acupuncture focuses on the meridians, or energy centers, in the body. The needles activate the energy centers and your body and mind experience benefits as a result of this energetic shift. Acupuncture can change the brain’s neural pathways and has been shown to have benefits for addiction. Let’s dive into the ways in which this ancient treatment can help our modern dilemmas. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists acupuncture as a complementary treatment option for drug addiction.
Acupuncture helps with withdrawal from drugs and alcohol by regulating sleep cycles and appetite, which are often negatively impacted during the withdrawal process. In turn, anxiety is lessened and some of the withdrawal symptoms get easier. Additionally, acupuncture can treat co-occurring conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Getting acupuncture on a regular basis can help increase endorphins, known as the happiness hormones in the brain. In turn, it can reduce drug and alcohol cravings, help treat depression, and improve sleep. It’s a form of self-care that can be used in conjunction with more traditional therapies and your recovery program. Acupuncture also helps relieve chronic pain.
Ear acupuncture, in particular, has been shown to be an effective treatment for drug addiction. In acupuncture, the ear is seen as a microcosm of the entire body. There’s a five-point acupuncture protocol that has been shown to assist with longterm recovery by reducing anxiety and nervousness, managing anger, and increasing relaxation.
If you’re not into the idea of needles, acupressure is a viable option. Acupressure simply involves applying pressure with your hands to the acupuncture points in the body. You can even do this on your own.
Tree House Recovery of Orange County, California is a premiere men’s addiction treatment facility that uses eight different modalities to help our men become the best versions of themselves they can be. We teach our men that every day of their journey is something to celebrate and that recovery isn’t a sprint– it’s a marathon. To get started with Tree House Recovery, call us today at (855) 202-2138
