Among the many treatments for acne, only a handful has been shown to work. Acupuncture is one of those remedies shown to reduce occurrences of acne and help heal previous acne blemishes and scars. Since many elements can cause acne, several areas of the body can be stimulated to limit hormones and future breakouts.
Three Types of Acupuncture
Acupuncture uses thin needles to interrupt tense energy within the body and spread it around to put the body in balance or give it a balanced chi. Three different acupuncture treatments for acne are available. Regular acupuncture, where needles are strategically placed along hot-spots on the body to stimulate nerves and energy is the main acupuncture technique. Electro-acupuncture is when electrical currents are applied to acupuncture needles inserted into the skin to stimulate energy movement in the body. It also allows for a stronger stimulation of the needle than your hand can provide. The other treatment, auricular acupuncture, is applied to the ear. The reason for that is the many pressure points on the ear that help stimulate blood flow and energy balance to different parts of the body.
Key acupuncture points for acne are the lung, stomach and large intestine. When stimulated, they give off natural cooling to stop heat from activating acne.
Medications and herbal remedies typically have side effects, although they do not require the use of fine needles that may instill fear in some people. The most positive thing regarding both acupuncture treatments is that they reduce symptoms of acne as well as rarely having any side effects.
Surrounding the Dragon
When acupuncture needles are placed one inch apart from each acne lesion on your face, or even your back, that is called "surrounding the dragon." It is a simple, common acupuncture technique focusing on specific points. In this case, the points are not energy spots in the body, but are in fact the problem areas themselves. The reason for this is to break up the tension and toxins that cause the acne. Damp heat, as well as high testosterone levels, is a major internal cause of acne. "Surrounding the dragon" is the best way to get at the source of acne and eliminate it. The needles are left for about 20 minutes to disperse tense energy in the local area and help decrease inflammation around the acne site.
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