Are you pregnant and feeling terrible in your body? Relax, it’s common for pregnant women to feel like their body is giving up on them, especially when they’re deep into the second trimester, and hormones are going wild. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice designed to release tension from the muscular and nervous systems. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the benefits of acupuncture during pregnancy.

What are the Benefits of Acupuncture During Pregnancy?

Acupuncture also works with the body’s energy meridians, clearing energy blockages that practitioners believe cause ill health in the body. A licensed acupuncturist will use long, thin needles in the therapy, inserting them into your muscles at specific acupuncture points.

The therapy results are amazing, and many pregnant women swear by the beneficial effects of acupuncture. So, what can you expect from acupuncture treatment if you’re pregnant?

Improved Circulation

Acupuncture involves working with energy meridians and specific points on the body relating to organ function. An acupuncture therapist will use needles to unlock tension and energy blockages, resulting in improved blood flow to the organs, including the brain.

Stress and Tension Relief

The long, thin needles used by the acupuncture therapist penetrate deep into the muscular tissue without causing any pain. When they touch a knot in your shoulders or back or any part of the muscular system, they cause the muscle to relax, working out the tension. The result is a huge amount of relief in tight areas like the shoulders, hips, and upper and lower back.

Improved Mood

Acupuncture therapy also stimulates the nervous system, causing the brain to release feel-good chemicals like dopamine, norepinephrine, and oxytocin. It also assists with balancing estrogen during pregnancy. As a result, you can expect an improvement in mood and fewer days where you feel annoyed and frustrated.

Reduced Swelling

Carrying the extra weight of the baby can be hard on your feet and lower legs, especially in the advanced stages of your pregnancy. Acupuncture therapy helps to reduce the edema caused by water retention around the ankles, knees, and calf muscles. Your skin feels less tight, and there’s less pressure, reducing pain symptoms.

Craving Management

During pregnancy, most women experience strange cravings for foods they wouldn’t normally eat. For instance, they might send their partner to the store in the evening to get them a bag of oranges or Oreos. The hormone-stimulating effect of acupuncture therapy helps to balance ghrelin and leptin, the hunger hormones responsible for initiating these cravings during pregnancy.

More Energy

Acupuncture works to remove energy blockages in the seven meridians running from the base of the pelvis to the crown of the head. Eastern medicine believes these meridians must be in balance for optimal health. Acupuncture therapists use their needles to remove blockages, boosting your life force. The changes result in higher levels of energy and well-being.

Find a Qualified and Experience Acupuncture Therapist

It is important that you find a licensed acupuncture therapist with years of experience and reviews to back it up. Your acupuncture therapist should have good client testimonials and qualifications from a reputable training institution.

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Southlake Natural Family Wellness

Our mission is to support the health and well-being of our patients by offering individualized, comprehensive holistic care including acupuncture, herbal recommendations, customized nutritional counseling, allergy elimination (NAET), whole food supplements, lifestyle suggestions, moxibustion, and cupping, as well as helping couples get pregnant and STAY pregnant by supporting all the paths to conception.

About Farrah Hamraie

Farrah Hamraie, L.Ac, MOM, Dipl.OM (NCCAOM), is licensed and board-certified in Acupuncture and Herbal medicine in the State of Texas with a Masters of Oriental Medicine from the Dallas College of Oriental Medicine. She is also a Diplomat of NCCAOM (the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), a Board Certified Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist, and a member of the American Association of Oriental Medicine.