The needles are sterile, for one use and come in a sterilized package. After every use, they are immediately discarded.
On your first visit, expect that the practitioner to inquire about your health history. Other inquires would be about your sleeping habits and your tolerance to cold or heat, your diet and digestion. After taking your detailed health history, the practitioner will likely perform a tongue assessment and check your pulses according to TCM.
After a careful review of your detailed medical history and diagnosis, your practitioner will begin your treatment. The treatment entails the insertion of Acupuncture needles in specific points of your body. Acupuncture needles are very small, almost the width of a hair. Most patients report no sensation to insertion. Moxibustion and electrical stimulation might also included in the treatment, very much like at a chiropractor or physical therapy visit.
The first visit is normally about an hour and 15 minutes. Follow up visits are 45 minutes to an hour. At least 4-6 treatments are necessary for resolution. Like other therapies, a series of treatments needs to be completed to achieve the best results.
Six to ten treatments is the minimum for most conditions.
The needles used in acupuncture are semiflexible and extremely thin. Reaction varies from person to person, but for the most part the needles do not hurt. On average, the needles are only inserted half an inch deep.
You should prepare a detailed medical history. This would include your current and your past medications.
Make sure you have eaten at least once the day of your appointment. Fasting before your treatment most cetrainly does not help!
Avoid caffeinated foods and beverages for at least several hours before treatment. It may change the way we interpret your pulses, therefore changing your Chinese medical assessment results.
As always, drink plenty of water and please avoid wearing constrictive garments.
Simply– Acupuncture is very effective at alleviating the discomfort of many maladies. Check out these patient testimonials
Ancient Solution for Modern Problems
The word “acupuncture” is actually European in origin, coined by a Dutch physician who observed the practice on a trip to Japan. To the Chinese practitioner, it is represented by the character “chen”, which means, literally, “to prick with a needle”. With a documented history of around 2,000 years, some practitioners claim acupuncture’s history is closer to 4,000. In fact, the Chinese believe the practice began during the Stone Age.
Acupuncture remains heavily influenced by its roots in Chinese philosophy, which, in turn, is permeated with the ideals of balance and flow within the context of your body, lifestyle, and world around you.
At its most basic, acupuncture is based on the belief that illness and pain are caused by blockages in the body’s energy flow, qi (pronounced “chee”) through its pathways, called meridians.
By inserting small needles into the skin at various points along these meridians, the blockages are removed and the flow of qi restored.
Science behind Acupuncture
Many of us living in this modern technological age might be surprised that acupuncture actually does have corresponding measurable effects examined by science.
Neuroimaging studies, for example, have revealed that acupuncture relaxes areas of the brain associated with pain and activates the areas associated with rest and relaxation. Many of the acupuncture “points” used correspond to nerve bundles and muscle trigger points.
Even several of the meridians, along which practitioners believe qi runs, correlate to major arteries and nerves. Also, according to ultrasound studies performed, it appears that connective tissue wraps around acupuncture needles when they are inserted and rotated, producing an effect much like massage or yoga on those tissues.
Uses for Acupuncture
Due to its overall effects and health benefits, acupuncture is ideal for a wide range of physical and emotional ailments. One popular use of acupuncture is to alleviate pain, whether from back pain, headache, migraine, or any other condition which produces discomfort. It has also been used effectively for women’s health, including fertility, PMS, menopause, and even for help with discomfort during pregnancy and delivery. Additionally, many have found it to be ideal in overcoming smoking and other addictive behaviors. Emotional issues such as depression and anxiety have found themselves amenable to acupuncture treatments.
Of course, acupuncture is really ideal for overall health maintenance and well-being. Many people find that regular treatments with a knowledgeable and experienced acupuncturist helps to maintain balanced energy, contribute to weight loss, decrease stress, and increase overall feelings of happiness and well-being.
Minimally invasive and virtually without side effects, acupuncture is the perfect blend of ancient Eastern medicine and cutting-edge scientific evidence for the treatment of most ills and ailments.
Contact us today for more information on how acupuncture, herbs, and a comprehensive lifestyle evaluation can help you to optimize your health..
