How acupuncture helps inflammation

Inflammation: How your immune system can turn against you, and how to make it work again

In the glamorous world of balanced health, there lies a covert saboteur, one that cunningly evades the light yet contributes to the wellness woes, wrecking healthy aging and even fertility. Let me introduce you to chronic inflammation, the less attention grabbing yet equally powerful cousin of its acute counterpart.

Picture this: your immune system is like a sophisticated bouncer at an exclusive party, meticulously scrutinising each guest before granting entry. Yet sometimes, a mischievous villain slips past these defenses, lurking in your body’s deepest corners, reigniting your immune system’s fiery defensive response. This is how your immunity guards you against intruders including bacteria and viruses firing inflammation at them.

Another potential drama unfolds when your body mistakes its reflection in the mirror for a sinister stranger. In the suffering of an autoimmune fight, your own immune system wages war on your body’s healthy cells and tissues. And, regrettably, this is destructive and not restorative, damaging the joints, intestines, or other organs and tissues as if they were malicious intruders.

Our lifestyles can also be the provokers of persistent inflammation. Those seemingly harmless, sometimes hard to avoid factors, such as sitting too much, neglecting physical activity, or eating a diet high in processed foods and refined carbohydrates can collectively fan the inflammatory flames. And let’s not forget the consequences. Chronic inflammation is slowly destroying you from within. It damages blood vessels, heightening the risk of heart disease, stroke. Not to mention the increased risk of developing cancer, diabetes and fertility troubles.

Alas, chronic inflammation’s manifestations are more subtle, masquerading behind the veil of commonplace complaints. It may seem elusive, but here are some clues that might suggest its presence:

  • Fatigue and an lack of energy
  • The “dance partners”, depression and anxiety
  • Aching in your muscles and joints
  • Gastrointestinal upsets, from constipation to diarrhoea
  • Fluctuations in weight or appetite
  • A perpetual, unwelcome visitor: the headache
  • Brain fog that’s clouding your clear thinking

So, be aware of chronic inflammation’s deceptive charm and consider how it may be affecting your life. It’s time to shine a light on this masked marauder and ensure you’re living your most vibrant, fabulous life!

How to shine the light on the unwelcome guest, inflammation and get rid of it

1: Eat smart to calm inflammation

2: Get active!

3: Manage your weight

4: Sleep well: Not getting enough sleep can increase inflammation. Can’t sleep well? Learn about acupuncture for insomnia.

5: Watch your alcohol intake

6: Tackle chronic stress: Ongoing stress can fuel inflammation and worsen conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, depression, and inflammatory bowel disease. Also, discover how acupuncture helps reduce stress.

5: Quit smoking

6: Consider acupuncture as your powerful allie

Why acupuncture is the ultimate natural therapy for inflammation

Determinedly, modern research supports the efficacy of acupuncture in reducing inflammation. Journal of Nature reports that acupuncture floods your body with a potent healing balm for inflammation – Adenosine, increasing it 24-foldNumerous studies showed acupuncture can modulate inflammatory cytokines, key players in the inflammatory process. Researchers from Netherlands explore modulating effect of acupuncture on some 17 inflammatory mediators, and the healing effects on conditions like asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis, rheumatoid arthritis, crohn’s disease and complex regional pain syndrome.

Acupuncture goes beyond providing mere relief for symptoms. This fascinating treatment delves into the body’s inner workings, addressing the root causes of chronic inflammation. It’s an intimate conversation between your body and the gentle touch of acupuncture.

What’s more, acupuncture works in harmony with our body’s natural pain relief system. By promoting the release of endorphins, acupuncture soothes our aches and discomforts.

So, embrace acupuncture as a sophisticated ally in your quest to combat inflammation. Step into the mesmerising world of ancient healing, and allow your body to bask in the glow of optimal health and balance.

Whether you’re aiming to prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes, dementia, or other conditions connected to chronic inflammation, the sooner you incorporate these seven steps into your life, the better!

How COVID affects sperm quality

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, a concerning issue has emerged: a potential link between the virus and decreased sperm quality in men. While fever is believed to be a contributing factor, research has also shown that the virus can damage the very cells that support sperm, and even bind to the sperm itself, potentially causing irreparable harm.

A study conducted in India revealed that a staggering 70% of men experienced a 49% decline in sperm quality ten weeks after recovering from Covid-19. However, the remaining 30% did not see a decline in measurable sperm parameters. While there was some improvement in sperm quality 21 weeks after recovery, most men still experienced a 12% decrease in sperm quality compared to before contracting the virus. And for 15% of men, there was no sign of improvement at all. The question of whether this damage is permanent remains unanswered.

The epididymis, a long and coiled tube in testes, which stores and transports sperm, has also been found to be inflamed in some men during mild to moderate Covid-19 infections. A study conducted by University of Sao Paulo Medical School showed that epididymis was inflamed in 11 of 26 men during mild to moderate covid infection but not in the degree of an intensive care unit. Furthermore, laboratory research showed that this coronavirus can infect the Sertoli cells in testes, which provide support for sperm.

As the medical community searches for ways to mitigate the damage caused by Covid-19, some have raised the possibility of using acupuncture as a treatment for male fertility issues. While there have been no studies specifically addressing the effect of acupuncture on Covid-related male fertility problems, previous research has shown that acupuncture can improve blood flow to the testes, improve sperm parameters, and reduce inflammation. Could this natural treatment hold the key to helping men overcome the damage caused by this modern pandemic?

Long COVID

Does acupuncture help with long COVID?