5 Way How Acupuncture Can Beat The Heat In Summertime
As the summer sun blazes and temperatures increases, finding effective ways to stay cool becomes a priority. While many people turn to air conditioning, cold beverages, and swimming pools, there is an ancient practice that offers a unique and holistic approach to beating the heat and the symptoms that come with the summer months: Acupuncture.
Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to promote balance within the body. Recently, this age-tested therapy has gained attention for its potential benefits in alleviating heat-related discomforts, symptoms and enhance overall well-being during the hot summer months. Keep reading to find out the benefits of Acupuncture in summer.
Understanding the Body’s Response to Heat According to Chinese Medicine
During the summer months, the body’s Yang energy is at its peak, leading to a tendency for excess heat to accumulate.This accumulation of heat can lead to symptoms including thirst, irritability, restlessness, and insomnia. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) explains these imbalances well and demonstrates how acupuncture in summer months can bring the body back into balance.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the principles of Yin and Yang are key to understanding how the body responds to external factors like heat. During summer, Yang energy, which represents heat and activity, is at its highest. When this Yang energy becomes excessive, it can lead to an imbalance, causing various symptoms that affect both physical and mental health.
Excess heat in the body can manifest in several ways:
Thirst and Dehydration:
The rise in heat causes excessive sweating, which depletes bodily fluids and leads to dehydration.
Thirst and Dehydration:
The rise in heat causes excessive sweating, which depletes bodily fluids and leads to dehydration.
Heat can affect the stomach and intestines, leading to symptoms such as bloating, constipation, or diarrhoea.
Excess heat can disturb the heart and mind, making it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.
Acupuncture in Summer : 5 Ways How Acupuncture Helps Beat the Heat
Acupuncture, a core component of TCM, it involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the body to balance the flow of Qi (vital energy). This Ancient practice can help lower the impact of summer heat in multiple aspects:
1. Regulating Body Temperature
Acupuncture is a useful way to deal with the summertime heat since it has been demonstrated to help control body temperature. A study published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine studies the effects of acupuncture stimulation on temperature control function in normal adults. The study, conducted by Lin et al., involved using specific techniques to stimulate areas of the body.
The results showed that stimulating certain spots caused the body to cool down. This happened by slowing down how fast the body uses energy, sending more blood to the skin, and making you sweat more. On the other hand, stimulating other spots made the body slightly warmer because the blood flow in the skin decreased. These findings suggest that different areas used in acupuncture have unique roles in controlling body temperature regulation.
By targeting specific acupuncture points, the body’s natural cooling processes, like widening blood vessels and boosting blood flow, are enhanced. This helps get eliminate excess heat and keep the body temperature balanced.
2. Sweat Reduction (Hyperhidrosis)
Excessive sweating, also known as, hyperhidrosis is a common and uncomfortable symptom during the summer months, often making dehydration and discomfort worse. Acupuncture has been found to help reduce excessive sweating. A study published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies investigated the effects of a standardized acupuncture approach on menopausal symptoms, including sweating, in women with moderate-to-severe symptoms.
The study had 67 women, and 77.6% of them had less hot flashes, day and night sweats, and sweating in general after getting acupuncture. The treatment plan was to have sessions every week for five weeks. These sessions would help with body heat and hormones. The results showed that acupuncture can help reduce sweating and other problems during menopause, making people feel better.
These discoveries show that acupuncture could help stop sweating and make bodies feel cooler. So, when it’s super hot outside, acupuncture might be a great way to feel better and avoid problems caused by the heat.
3. Relief from Heat-Induced Symptoms
Acupuncture has been used to help with symptoms caused by heat, like headaches, moodiness, and trouble sleeping that get worse in the summer. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers useful treatments for these issues.
A thorough review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology looked at the healing potential of TCM for heat stroke, highlighting both herbal and outside treatments. Among these outside treatments, acupuncture has shown promise in easing symptoms linked with heat stress. The review talked about different studies and medical reports that showed how well acupuncture works in reducing heat-related symptoms and improving overall health.
For example, a study conducted by Dr. Lei Li and colleagues involved 200 patients with heat stroke. The results indicated that 85% of the participants experienced significant symptom relief after receiving acupuncture treatments.
Acupuncture in summer helps the body handle heat by making blood flow better, helping it get cooler, and making swelling go down. This helps make problems caused by being too hot not as serious. So, acupuncture is a good way to feel better and stay healthier on really hot days.
4. Cooling Effects
Acupuncture is known for its ability to cool the body, which can be very helpful during hot summer months. A review published in Zhongguo Zhen Jiu (Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion), found that different acupuncture techniques can change the skin’s temperature effectively.
The study explored clinical and experimental research on how different needle techniques affect body temperature. Some acupuncture methods can lower body temperature through increasing blood flow, changing nerve activity, and changing the manner by which tissues utilize energy.For example, using techniques that reduce activity was shown to lower skin temperature, giving a cooling effect on the body.
These findings suggest that acupuncture can be a useful way to handle too much body heat, helping to keep a balanced and comfortable body temperature during times of high environmental heat.
5. Stress / Anxiety reduction
Acupuncture has been shown to significantly reduce stress and anxiety, providing a natural and effective alternative to conventional treatments. A meta-analysis done by Hyojeong Bae and team looked at 14 randomized controlled trials with 1,034 participants to check how well acupuncture works in reducing preoperative anxiety.
The study found that acupuncture treatments led to bigger drops in anxiety before surgery compared to placebo treatments. Significant improvements were measured using both the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S) and visual analogue scales (VAS) meta-analysis of preoperative anxiety reduction.
Also, another study published in 2015 highlighted that acupuncture not only reduces anxiety by affecting the part of the brain that regulates emotions but also does so with fewer side effects compared to drug-based treatments. This research found that acupuncture can help bodies heal themselves. It’s a faster and more natural way to deal with feeling worried or scared.
These findings show that acupuncture can really lower stress and worry. This is very helpful during hot weather when stress often goes up. By helping people relax and feel balanced, acupuncture helps keep everyone feeling good and comfortable.
Ready To Book Acupuncture In Summer?
Certified: Selecting a skilled and trustworthy acupuncturist is essential for receiving safe and effective treatment. Start by ensuring that the practitioner is properly licensed and certified. Here are GinSen all our acupuncturist are certified and are members of either the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) or the Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine (UK) (ATCM).
Experienced: Consider how long the acupuncturist has been practicing. More experienced practitioners often have a deeper understanding of various conditions and treatments. At GinSen all our acupuncturist have extensive experience, with over 30 years of experience each under their belt.
Consultation and Assessment: A good acupuncturist will conduct a thorough initial consultation to understand your health history, current concerns, and treatment goals. They should provide a clear treatment plan tailored to your needs, including the expected duration and frequency of sessions. At GinSen we offer free personalised consultation and offer a treatment plan based on your specific condition and hold your hand till you reach your health goal.
Conclusion:
Acupuncture is an effective way to stay comfortable during the summer months. This traditional method helps in controlling body temperature and reducing too much sweating. It also helps with problems caused by heat, like headaches, feeling irritable, and trouble sleeping. By reducing these symptoms, acupuncture improves overall health when it’s hot. For a natural and effective way to handle summer heat, acupuncture is a smart choice.
For more information about how Chinese Medicine can help you beat the heat, book your free consultation with our Chinese Medicine experts today
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We can’t guarantee the treatment result, as the symptoms of conditions are unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person. The treatment length and recovery time also varies for individual. Please visit our clinics website: GinSen where a specialists will discuss your care and provide a consultation, and the treatment will be designed to meet your individual needs.
