It’s that time of year again where many people turn to cleanses and detox programs to get their body back on track. Toxins can accumulate in the body for many reasons and there are many symptoms that can signify that a detox is needed. These symptoms can range from fatigue, skin issues and sleep problems.
When you think of detoxifying your body, you might think of a glass of green juice or maybe even a skin brush. But have you ever considered acupuncture as a detoxifying treatment? Acupuncture is a major part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and relies on the balance of Qi (pronounced chi) or life force energy for its effectiveness. Acupuncture needles are applied to certain energetic meridians and points which allow chi to flow more freely throughout the body. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine fall into the category of preventive medicine, in fact ancient Chinese physicians believed that “a superior healer is one who treats a disease before it shows symptoms, while an inferior one treats a disease only after it has manifested pain or discomfort,” (Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor, 100 B.C.).
Acupuncture has a natural diuretic effect and because of this detoxes the body through the urinary tract. This is why acupuncture is widely used for drug detox programs. In addition to helping you detox toxins, acupuncture will also help reduce appetite and cravings. You will feel a sense of lightness and will instinctively want to eat foods that are plant-based, healthy and detoxifying. When you eat foods that are heavy and full of toxins, you will notice that the chi gets blocked. Eating foods that are colorful, full of vitamins and minerals and light on the body will allow the energy to flow better through the body.
Acupuncture needles are needed in order to reach the meridian points within the body. Although many people shudder at the sight of the long acupuncture needles, it’s the pain you feel when the needle is inserted that is important to look at. Acupuncture pain signifies a presence of toxins in that area that were probably accumulated through harmful foods additives, polluted air or water. Even stress and anxiety can create physical toxins in the muscles and in other body tissues. The pain experienced during an acupuncture treatment will dissipate once the toxins are released. And your next appointment will be even less painful the more you get acupuncture treatments.
Many Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners recommend acupuncture as a viable treatment to detoxify your body and for a good reason. Acupuncture doesn’t require celery juice, complicated herbal supplements, tea detox or cleanses. All it requires is a few acupuncture appointments and your body does the rest of the work. If you already have found a detox program that you like, acupuncture is the ideal way to help support your body through the process and get the most out of your program. San Diego has so many great places for natural juicing and detoxing. Contact me at my acupuncture office in Banker’s Hill if you have any questions about what I recommend.