Acupuncture in Addiction Treatment: 7 Ways it Can Help

What Is Acupuncture?

As recovery centers constantly look for new therapies to incorporate into their addiction treatment programs, many have added holistic approaches that have been around for hundreds of years to give their clients the best chance of a successful recovery from drugs and alcohol. Acupuncture therapy is just one of these many complementary and alternative medicines that have shown to help addiction recovery when added to traditional substance abuse treatment.

Acupuncture is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and it involves inserting very thin, sterile needles through the skin at strategic acupuncture points throughout the body. Traditional Chinese Medicine explains its mechanisms as balancing the flow of energy, Qi (pronounced chee), which is believed to flow through meridians (pathways) in the body. Western medical practitioners view acupuncture as a way to stimulate nerves that signal the brain to release hormones and biochemicals that reduce stress, inflammation, and pain, such as serotonin. Acupuncture treatments are used to relieve a wide range of symptoms and conditions such as various aches and pains, headaches and migraines, digestive issues, stress, mental health disorders, and insomnia.