Low libido, impotence, or difficulty with orgasm are not always strictly related to sexual function or genitals. It can also be influenced by our mental and emotional state or underlying health issues. That’s why many people are turning to acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine that involves inserting small stainless steel needles into the skin, as a holistic approach to sexual health and well-being.
Acupuncture is one of the most common treatments used in traditional Chinese medicine to improve a person’s sexual health. A growing body of evidence suggests that it may help improve the underlying problem.
“People often come to us with issues related to their sexual health,” says Acupuncturist, a New York state-licensed acupuncturist who has been practicing for nearly 20 years at Alban Acupuncture in New York City. Joseph Alban says.
“Sometimes it’s due to an underlying problem, like low sex drive or premature ejaculation, and sometimes it’s related to an underlying health issue like pelvic pain or endometriosis,” he says.
How acupuncture works
While Western medicine views the body as a series of mechanical, chemical, and electrical circuits, the traditional Chinese system views the body as more holistic.
“Acupuncture can help treat a variety of conditions to help people reach optimal health. Sexual health is a key component of that,” says Dr. Alban.
Qi can be translated as “life force” and refers to the vital energy that Chinese medicine experts believe enhances health and sexual desire. “We use Qi to grow, digest our food, reproduce, heal our bodies, exercise, go about our daily lives, and detoxify. All of our bodily functions come from Qi in some way.” says Alban.
According to traditional Chinese medicine beliefs, “In addition to the qi we are born with, or what Westerners call a person’s constitution, we also get qi from the food we eat and the air we breathe.” ” says Alban.
He explains that in traditional systems, acupuncture is used to address this life force deficiency or imbalance. “When a patient comes to see us, we look for the underlying imbalance through testing and customize treatment to target different aspects of that underlying imbalance,” he says.
What is the cause of Qi deficiency? Alban believes that Qi is regulated through stress management and physical movement. “Qi deficiency is mainly caused by poor diet, excessive stress, drinking too much, not getting enough exercise, and illness. Acupuncture stimulates the body to improve the production and flow of Qi, It allows the body to replenish Qi,” he added.
According to StatPearls, this procedure uses needles to remove blockages and imbalances in the Qi energy that connects various organs, helping the flow of life force and energy.
One example is kidney qi deficiency, which is said to be associated with decreased sexual desire. Infertility treatment with Chinese medicine (2nd edition). “However, more evidence is needed to establish this link. “In kidney qi deficiency, kidney energy is weakened and we need to work on increasing kidney energy to address this problem. ,” says Alban.
Alban recommends selecting and combining specific acupuncture points such as Kidney 3 (Taixi, or Great Valley) and Bladder 23 (Shenzhou, or Kidney Shu) with other acupuncture points that help move Qi. .
“In addition to acupuncture, we may also use different types of stimulation, such as moxibustion, which involves burning mugwort near the skin,” he says.
In Alban’s experience, acupuncture treatments are typically given over several weeks. People often come for weekly visits for two to four months. While some patients do well with acupuncture alone without maintenance, for others, acupuncture may require one visit per month, or three or four consecutive visits once or twice a year. Design the program.
Research results
The pilot study was published in August 2022. sexual medicine We found that acupuncture was associated with significant improvements in sexual dysfunction in women. A total of 24 women underwent acupuncture treatment from October 2018 to February 2022, and changes in sexual function before and after treatment were evaluated using a questionnaire. Sexual desire, sexual arousal, vaginal lubrication, orgasm, sexual satisfaction, and dyspareunia (dyspareunia) all improved significantly after treatment.
In a systematic review published in October 2021, Journal of Complementary and Integrative MedicineA study aimed at evaluating the effects of acupressure on sexual dysfunction reviewed 13 papers and found evidence that acupuncture has a positive effect on sexual dysfunction without serious side effects. Did. Effects were observed on desire, sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, and impotence.
Addressing underlying issues that may be contributing to sexual problems
If a patient has symptoms that affect their libido, enjoyment of sex, or orgasms, whether due to hormonal issues, endometriosis, depression, headaches, fatigue, or other causes, the acupuncturist looks for the underlying diagnosis and uses acupuncture. Points suitable for that diagnosis.
There’s also evidence that acupuncture can help improve some of these underlying issues, Alban says.
A randomized controlled trial of 106 women with endometriosis was published in May 2023. Fertility and infertility They found that acupuncture improved menstrual pain, shortened the duration of pain, and improved well-being and quality of life, but the effects diminished when treatment was discontinued.
Acupuncture can also help men with underlying issues. Meta-analysis published in December 2022 European Urology Open Science They found that “current evidence supports acupuncture as an effective treatment in reducing chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome symptoms, particularly pain.”
Acupuncture is good for stress and good for sex
Dr. Anita Sadati, an integrative gynecologist and functional medicine physician in Roslyn, New York, is also a fan of acupuncture for promoting sexual health. In her view, one of the most powerful effects of stress on her is through her hormonal pathways.
“Acupuncture is a great technique to reduce and balance stress hormone levels, which in turn affects your state of mind, relaxation, and therefore desire,” she says. However, people with sexual dysfunction should have a thorough examination by a doctor to check for any medical conditions or medications they are taking that could inhibit desire or sexual enjoyment, she said. added.
Find an experienced acupuncturist near you
Alban points out that most acupuncturists will be able to address any symptoms related to sexual health in terms of finding patterns and balance and addressing them with acupuncture points. “Sexual health issues and how best to approach them with acupuncture and other treatments have been debated for centuries in Chinese medicine, which has a history of more than 2,500 years,” he says.
There are several types of certified acupuncturists.
- Some doctors receive additional training in this method. Many are members of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA). Find the group’s referral directory on the AAMA website.
- Other acupuncturists receive specialized training through multi-year master’s programs in acupuncture or traditional Chinese medicine. Afterwards, you will take the national certification exam by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). NCCAOM Certified Practitioners can be found on her website ([プラクティショナーを探す](click and enter your city and state).
- Naturopathic doctors are trained in acupuncture. You can find a doctor at the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Enter your postal code into the group’s online directory.
If you have a fear of needles, you can talk to your practitioner about the possibility of using needle-free acupuncture, which uses pressure on pressure points instead.
Health insurance coverage and acupuncture treatment
While some insurance plans cover acupuncture, Alban warns that many don’t. “It also depends on what your problem is. Pain-related symptoms may be more likely to be covered,” he says.
Fortunately, only a limited number of sessions are usually required to treat symptoms of sexual dysfunction and improve sexual health. Additionally, acupuncture has been proven to help alleviate common problems such as allergies, anxiety, and sleep disorders such as insomnia, and acupuncturists can treat multiple illnesses at the same time.
Additional reporting by Meryl Davids Landau.
