Unlocking the Power of Acupuncture for a Healthier Brain
Having difficulties focusing, remembering tasks or organizing your thoughts? Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can help optimize your brain power through a treatment approach that incorporates different modalities, including nutritional support.
According to acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, the mind (Shen) embodies consciousness, emotions and thought. Shen influences long term memory, the ability to think clearly contributes to wisdom, and presides over activities that involve mental and creative functions. When the mind is healthy we are able to think clearly. When the mind is unhealthy or unbalanced we experience confusion, poor memory, and clouded thinking.
Disharmony of the mind often manifests as anxiety, insomnia, muddled thinking, forgetfulness, and chronic restlessness. Meditation and acupuncture, as well as physical exercises such as Tai Chi or Qi Gong, can balance and strengthen the mind.
Good nutrition can also help boost your brainpower. Not only is it essential to overall physical health, but it can also enhance the function and harmony of the mind. The right foods enhance brain function by providing essential nutrients such as flavonoids, Omega 3s, vitamins, folate and iron that are great for improving the quality and quantity of learning capacity, cognitive abilities, memory, and overall brain function. You can enhance your brain's health and function by including:
- blueberries
- fish
- leafy green vegetables
- seeds
- nuts
- whole grains
But acupuncture does more than just boost your brainpower. It can also help those dealing with hyperglycemia, cerebral ischemia, and those suffering from ADD and ADHD.
Acupuncture Improves Memory and Learning Capacity
Acupuncture can significantly improve learning and memory capacity that has been impaired by hyperglycemia and cerebral ischemia, according to a 2003 study published in the October 2008 issue of Neuroscience Letters.
Researchers reported on whether electro-acupuncture (acupuncture needles stimulated with a mild electrical current) could improve learning and memory in rats whose memory and cognitive functions were impaired by the decreased circulatory effects of diabetes resulting in cerebral ischemia.
In the study, the effects of the acupuncture treatments were measured with a passive avoidance test, an active avoidance test, the Morris water maze, and electrophysiology. With all tests, significant improvements were seen in restored memory and learning capacity. Researchers believe that the positive results of this study indicate similar benefits for humans and warrant further investigation.
Contact us to see how acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can optimize your mental skills!
Tackle ADD and ADHD with Acupuncture
People with ADD or ADHD generally have trouble concentrating and paying attention. Symptoms include difficulty following directions and boredom or frustration with tasks. Those with ADD or ADHD also tend to move constantly and can be impulsive, not stopping to think before they act.
Behaviors typically associated with ADD and ADHD can interfere with the ability to function at school, at work, and at home. If you struggle with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you can include acupuncture as one of the treatment methods that are beneficial in managing attention disorders. Research indicates that when treating these disorders, a multidisciplinary approach is most effective; including behavioral therapy, exercise, dietary changes, and medication.
These behaviors are generally common in children, but they occur more frequently and are more severe in those with ADD or ADHD. Attention disorders are not exclusive to children. It continues as people age and, in some cases, obvious symptoms do not manifest until later. As time passes, people struggling with ADD or ADHD may have difficulty with time management, organizational skills, goal setting, and employment and may have problems with relationships, self-esteem, and addiction.
Treatment for ADD and ADHD
Treatment for ADD or ADHD is best managed when families and academic and health professionals work together to meet the unique needs of the person. Coordinated efforts can help them learn to focus their attention, develop their strengths, minimize disruptive behavior, and become more productive and successful.
Acupuncture is an excellent addition to any ADD or ADHD treatment plan, as it is used to help the body restore balance, treating the root of the disorder, while also diminishing the symptoms. Acupuncture can help improve focus and attention, reduce fidgeting, lower hyperactivity, augment mood management techniques and enhance concentration.