Effects and Functions of Acupuncture

1. ‌Unblock Meridians and Regulate Qi and Blood‌

• Stimulates specific acupoints (e.g., Hegu (LI4), Xuehai (SP10)) to promote circulation of Qi and blood, alleviating pain, numbness, and swelling.
• Improves blood flow, reduces blood stasis and edema, and supports tissue repair.

2. ‌Balance Yin and Yang; Strengthen Vital Qi and Expel Pathogens‌

• Regulates the balance of Yin and Yang (e.g., through Taixi (KI3), Sanyinjiao (SP6)), addressing conditions like diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cold/heat imbalances.
• Boosts immunity and helps expel external pathogens (e.g., colds) or internal disharmony (e.g., indigestion).

3. ‌Pain Management and Neurological Regulation‌

• Effectively relieves headaches, migraines, muscle pain, arthritis, and other pain-related conditions.
• Modulates nervous system function, balances neurotransmitter release, reduces anxiety and depression, and improves sleep quality.

4. ‌Enhance Immunity and Promote Recovery‌

• Increases immune cell activity, reducing risks of infections and allergies.
• Aids functional recovery post-stroke or injury and accelerates rehabilitation.

5. ‌Regulate Endocrine and Digestive Functions‌

• Addresses endocrine disorders like menstrual irregularities and menopausal syndrome.
• Stimulates digestive enzyme secretion and intestinal motility, relieving stomach pain and constipation.

6. ‌Additional Benefits‌

• Warms meridians and dispels cold, alleviating pain and numbness caused by cold pathogens.
• Enhances skin health by regulating endocrine function and blood circulation.

‌Precautions‌:

• Keep warm after acupuncture to avoid cold exposure.
• Avoid treatment on an empty stomach, after overeating, or while intoxicated.

Suitable Candidates for Acupuncture

1. ‌All Age Groups‌

• ‌Children‌: Effective for pediatric conditions like cerebral palsy, developmental delays, anorexia, acne, and myopia.
• ‌Middle-aged Adults‌: Targets chronic conditions such as back pain, joint pain, hypertension, and diabetes.
• ‌Elderly‌: Supports post-stroke recovery, hemiplegia, brain injury rehabilitation, and digestive issues (bloating, constipation).

2. ‌People in Suboptimal Health States‌

• Those with chronic fatigue, low energy, weakened immunity, or frequent seasonal illnesses.

3. ‌Disease or Symptom-Specific Groups‌

• ‌Pain-related conditions‌: Headaches, cervical spondylosis, lumbar disc herniation, arthritis, and acute sprains.
• ‌Neurological disorders‌: Facial paralysis, trigeminal neuralgia, insomnia, anxiety, and post-stroke nerve recovery.
• ‌Digestive disorders‌: Stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, and gastrointestinal dysfunction.
• ‌Respiratory issues‌: Colds, coughs, asthma, and chronic bronchitis.
• ‌Gynecological conditions‌: Dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, infertility, and menopausal syndrome.
• ‌Skin conditions‌: Eczema, urticaria, acne, and shingles.

4. ‌Specialized Groups‌

• ‌Obesity‌: Addresses simple obesity, postpartum weight retention, and abdominal obesity (e.g., “beer belly”).
• ‌Yang-deficient constitutions‌: Symptoms like cold limbs, frequent nocturia, or cold-induced pain.

Precautions

• Acupuncture must be performed by a licensed practitioner. Avoid treatment when fasting, overly full, or under the influence of alcohol.