Textbooks about acupuncture date it back to about 100 BCE. It is probably one of the oldest forms of medicine still in practice today. To me, that says a lot. If it didn’t work, it wouldn’t still be around.
Is Acupuncture for Me?
Almost anyone can benefit from acupuncture. In the area of cancer research, acupuncture can help treat hot flashes (common symptoms from breast cancer medications), cancer related pain (including post-operative pain and joint pain), chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (pain, numbness and tingling in the fingers and toes), dry mouth, digestive concerns like constipation, diarrhea and increasing appetite, nausea, insomnia, stress and overall well being.
Acupuncture can be ideal for many people living with cancer and recovering from treatments because it does not involve pills! A major complaint when people ask their doctors how to treat these side effects is that they are given another prescription. Less oral medications means less side effects from drugs – doesn’t that sound nice?
You will get the best results from acupuncture with a series of treatments, which on average is about 6 to 10 treatments. I would be more than happy to get together and talk about how many treatments would be right for you!
What Does an Acupuncture Treatment Look Like?
When you get an acupuncture treatment, extremely thin needles are inserted into very specific points on your body. The most common areas include the arms and hands, legs and feet, and abdomen or back. These needles are usually only inserted about as deep as your thumb is wide, and is extremely safe.
Acupuncture rarely hurts. Some people feel a dull ache or a tingling sensation when the needles are put in, and occasionally points around fingers and toes are a little sharp, but the sensation passes quickly. Once they try it, most people love acupuncture as it is very relaxing and enjoyable. Most people take a nap!
With an acupuncture treatment, you get to lie down for about 30 minutes and let the needles do the work. We’ll go slow and make sure you feel safe and comfortable along the way. By the time you’re done, you should feel much more relaxed, and many people report an immediate improvement.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
There’s evidence that says that acupuncture works by stimulating nerves in the fascia, which is a connective tissue beneath your skin and surrounds your muscles, organs, and bones. Other evidence suggests that acupuncture helps activate neurotransmitters in the body that help regulate pain.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, acupuncture works by directing the energy and information of your body, collectively known as Qi (“chee”). Sometimes this means bringing more Qi to an area, and sometimes it means dispersing Qi and helping it flow more smoothly, helping you to get better!
In TCM, energetic meridians run throughout your body. These meridians are named after Western organs, like your heart and your liver. When we make a TCM diagnosis, it tells us which meridians or organ systems are out of balance. We then choose acupuncture points to help bring those meridians and your body back into balance.
Discover a more holistic approach to your health care with acupuncture! Call our clinic today to set up a consultation!
