The better question might be “what can’t acupuncture treat?”
Here’s a list of some common complaints we get:
- Musculoskeletal pain (including sports injury).
- Headaches and migraines.
- Sleep problems (not enough, too much, frequent waking, sleepwalking, nocturnal emissions, etc.).
- Gynecological troubles (cramping, PMS, fertility, menopause, etc.).
- Mental/emotional issues (depression, anxiety, postpartum, stress, etc.).
- Post-surgical recovery.
- Cancer support.
- Pharmaceutical drug alternative.
- Hormonal regulation.
- Tightness around scar tissue.
Acupuncture is a tool used for the restoration of health in a wide variety of conditions. The placement of needles on the body can offer increased functional mobility for the musculoskeletal system as well as analgesic effects to relieve both acute and chronic pain. Acupuncture can help interrupt the pain signal pathway from the brain and is often used for hormone regulation, among many other things. Other modalities under the umbrella of acupuncture that accompany the needles, such as electronic stimulation and cupping, can assist in this process.
Sometimes during treatment, we use small machines that attach to the needles using wires and clamps. This sends an electrical current to the needle at an appropriate frequency to allow for the pulsation of the needle to a safe depth.
The benefits of e-stim include:
- Proven improved blood circulation.
- Pain relief (although soreness is to be expected for 1-2 days following treatment).
- Typically faster treatment results for symptom relief.
Cupping therapy uses special cups to create suction on your skin, drawing blood to the surface.
This can help in several ways:
- It promotes local blood flow, easing muscle spasms and pain.
- The increased blood volume and circulation may also reduce inflammation and encourage healing.
- The suction mimics a deep-tissue massage, breaking up knots and tension.
- Large nerve fibers are activated through the vibrational pressure of cupping.
- The production of nitric oxide may be stimulated, which can assist in the opening of blood vessels and can lead to the prevention of cholesterol and fat build-up in the walls of the arteries.
- The thymus can be prompted to support the body’s natural antioxidative processes, thereby enhancing the immune system.
For more information, check out this article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538253/
Acupuncture’s effects on muscles are multifaceted, including
- pain relief
- muscle relaxation
- potentially supporting muscle regeneration.
These effects may be due to acupuncture’s ability to
- stimulate the nervous system
- release pain-relieving chemicals like endorphins
- improve blood flow and reduce inflammation in muscle tissue.
Ligament healing can take 3 to 12 months, even for minor injuries, compared to 2 to 6 weeks for muscles.
This difference is due to limited blood supply and less cellular activity in ligaments.
Acupuncture can support
- faster healing of ligaments by promoting pain relief
- improved blood flow
- reduced inflammation
- potentially improved proprioception
The best attire for acupuncture treatments is comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that allows for easy access to the points where the needles will be inserted such as arms, legs, back, neck, shoulders, and feet.
Shorts and tops are provided in your room for you to change into if you so please. Sometimes you might sweat during your session.
Please take off your jewelry or watches and put them on the table beside you.
We may also ask you to take off your shoes.
Strenuous exercise is generally not recommended after acupuncture, but light exercise, such as walking, yoga, or swimming, is usually fine.
If you’re unsure whether or not you should exercise after acupuncture, it’s always best to talk to us. We can give you personalized advice based on your individual needs.
If you do decide to exercise, start with a short, gentle workout and listen to your body. If you start to feel any pain or discomfort, stop immediately. In addition, be sure to stay hydrated after acupuncture, as exercise can make you sweat more.
Acupuncture is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles, which views the body as a network of energy channels (“meridians”). Acupuncture aims to restore balance in the mind, body, and spirit by stimulating specific points along these channels.
On the other hand, dry needling stems from Western medical principles, it is commonly performed by physical therapists and chiropractors, and needles target specific points in single muscle groups such as trigger points directly related to the area of pain or dysfunction.
Acupuncture can also target points directly in the area of pain called “Ashi points,” which are believed to be local accumulations of “qi” related to the specific pain symptom, but the points which are not located near the pain area can be used based on the TCM principles.
The treatment schedule can vary depending on the condition being treated.
Typically, 2 to 3 treatment sessions per week are recommended to build momentum for the first few weeks. After that, a slower schedule with 1 or 2 appointments per week is followed.
At the maintenance stage, the frequency of visits can decrease significantly. For example, every other week or monthly visits might be sufficient.
- In general, waiting for at least 30 minutes and showering with lukewarm water are considered safe.
- Avoid extreme temperatures for 24 hours. This means avoiding not only hot showers and baths but also saunas, hot tubs, and cold plunges.
- Avoid scrubbing the needling site vigorously and Pat the area dry gently with a clean towel.
Generally, it’s recommended to wait at least 30 minutes and use lukewarm water for showering as these are considered safe practices.
For the next 24 hours, it’s best to avoid extreme temperatures. This includes hot showers or baths, saunas, hot tubs, and cold plunges.
Instead of vigorous scrubbing at the needling site, gently pat the area dry with a clean towel.
Initial appointments are about 60-90 minutes, allowing us to thoroughly discuss your health and personalize your treatment plan.
Follow-up visits are typically 30-60 minutes, focused on monitoring your progress and adjusting the treatment plan to ensure you’re getting the most out of your acupuncture sessions.
Our acupuncture treatment session generally consists of two main parts:
- A thorough consultation and a personalized treatment plan.
: During the consultation, we’ll take the time to understand your unique needs and goals. - We reviewed your medical history and discussed your symptoms in detail.
: Based on this assessment, we tailor your treatment to include a combination of acupuncture, e-stim, cupping, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercise.
