Acupuncture is a safe and effective 2000 year old natural therapy that is used to heal illness, prevent disease and improve well-being. Tiny, hair-thin needles are inserted into specific points in the body, where they are gently stimulated to trigger the body's natural healing response. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes the flow of energy, Qi (pronounced 'chee'), within your body can become obstructed and imbalanced due to various emotional and physical stressors. This imbalance then leads to illness and pain. Acupuncture is effective for controlling pain and can regulate the body's physiological functions to treat various internal dysfunction and disorders.
Does it Hurt?
Because acupuncture needles are so fine, very little sensation will be felt upon insertion. Once the needles are inserted, the practitioner may rotate the needles back and forth or gently lift and thrust them. You may feel sensations of tingling, heaviness, warmth or a dull ache around the needle. These are desired sensations that indicate the point has been correctly located and that the Qi is moving. You should never feel true pain during a treatment, and the practitioner will take care to never stimulate the needles beyond what the patient can withstand.
What Can Acupuncture Treat?
The World Health Organization has identified over 5o conditions for which acupuncture has been proven to be an effective treatment, and dozens more into which they are still investigating. Some conditions which respond well to treatment include acute sprains and strains of muscles and joints, neck and back pain, headache, menstrual irregularities, PMS, symptoms of menopause, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, hemorrhoids, impotence, infertility, insomnia, palpitations, repetitive stress-disorder, stress and anxiety, depression, post-stroke paralysis, and addictions such as over-eating, smoking and drug dependence.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
You would never expect one pill to cure an infection or reduce high blood pressure, and it is just as unreasonable to believe one acupuncture treatment will cure pain or disease. It may take two or three treatments to really notice a difference, and ten or more to resolve your condition entirely. One or two treatments a week for a month is a typical course of treatment. The more frequently you receive acupuncture treatments, the longer the results will last, until you may need only a treatment for maintenance once every few months. There is a saying in Chinese Medicine that for every year you have had a complaint, expect one month of treatment. While this is quite general, it gives a sense of the timeline necessary for treatment.
What Can I Expect At My First Treatment?
The first time you see an acupuncturist expect a very in-depth interview. Practitioners of TCM see the individual as a whole being and therefore need to have a clear picture of your whole health. Questions may delve into areas as varied as your sleep habits, cravings, energy level, aches and pains, bowel habits and more. Next the pracitioner will look at your tongue and feel your pulse in each wrist; these techniques give clues about your individual constitution and internal workings. Finally, the acupuncturist will choose a number of acupuncture points to treat your condition—anywhere from as few as 2 to as many as 10 or more. The needles may be placed in your arms and legs, torso, back, scalp or ears (auricular acupuncture). They are left in for 20 to 30 minutes, and all you have to do is relax.
