Black women have been turning to this alternative practice to support their mental and physical health in areas of weight loss, addictions, anxiety, hot flashes, fibroids and even pain. What we are also learning is that acupuncture can also improve their sex life as it works to restore optimal health rather than suppressing or masking a particular symptom. It increases your sex drive by improving circulation which helps promote blood flow along the pathways that surround the reproductive and other organs that affect can accelerate your sex drive.
Study Suggests Acupuncture Treatment Boosts Libido
Although there’s little research on acupuncture and sexual health, one small study, published in November 2013 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, is intriguing.
The study followed 35 men and women who had sexual dysfunction, likely caused by the antidepressants they were taking for their anxiety or other mood disorders. Some 50 to 90 percent of people on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) experience sexual dysfunction, the study authors noted.
Patients were treated with nine sessions of acupuncture, each session lasting 15 minutes. Some of the acupuncture points used in the study — called kidney 3, governing vessel 4, urinary bladder 23, heart 7, and pericardium 6 — are commonly targetted in the practice of traditional Chinese medicine to treat “conditions which often include sexual dysfunction,” says Dr. Khamba, one of the study’s coauthors.
By the end of the study, women reported improved libidos while men experienced an improvement in multiple sexual functions, including erection, the timing of ejaculation and the ability to orgasm.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
A component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is a technique used to balance energy (called chi), which is believed to flow through certain meridians or pathways in the body. This is achieved when acupuncturists insert fine needles into these meridian points.
Studies show that Black women are systematically under-treated for sexual health because of the racially biased medical belief that we experience more sex more frequently with more pleasure. So even when it’s unrelated to sexual health, acupuncture may be effective for a release.
Acupuncture Just for Black Women
Growing scientific evidence supports acupuncture as a complementary treatment for diabetes, which disproportionately affects African Americans. And studies indicate that Black female clients seek acupuncture treatment for women’s health issues, including infertility, fibroids, ovarian cysts, menstrual pain, hot flashes and weight loss. Consider seeking it for sexual healing. Private acupuncture sessions range from $100 and up per session (covered by some health insurance plans). Ear acupuncture, which was introduced to communities of color in the ’70s by the social activist groups the Black Panthers and the Young Lords, can be a more affordable option used for the treatment of addiction, trauma and stress.
To find a Black acupuncturist near you, check out the Black Acupuncturist Association website at blackacupuncturist.org.
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