If someone told you that sticking needles in your body is a great way to relieve pain and discomfort, would you allow for such a thing to happen? Probably not! Especially if it is worded that way.
But, it turns out that there is a whole pain management practice, which originated from Chinese traditions and has been used for hundreds of years. Known as acupuncture, this mechanism is used to treat various health conditions!
And as uncomfortable and daunting as it may sound, acupuncture sessions are quite effective and popular. For starters, as per PR Newswire, the acupuncture market witnessed a rise of approximately 13 percent in the past year! By 2026, it is projected to increase to 14.31 billion USD.
This guide has got your back for those who wish to learn more about the experience before entering an acupuncture clinic!
Acupuncture Explained
Acupuncture involves the use of metallic needs to penetrate the body’s skin. The practitioner then uses specific movements to electrically stimulate the needles.
As per the original Chinese tradition, the human body has over two thousand points within a pathway that help create an energy flow of a healthy body. The practice of acupuncture revokes any disruption in this flow that may have led to diseases.
However, know that this treatment is not everyone’s cup of tea, nor is it a universal solution to combat all diseases.
So, before proceeding, we suggest that you discuss it with your doctor first and then only visit a clinic that has a licensed acupuncturist. For instance, if you are looking for acupuncture treatment in Brampton, first gather information about the experts within your locality.
When to opt for acupuncture?
A lot of thorough research has been done to analyze acupuncture’s effect on various diseases. As per data collected by NCCIH and World Health Organization, Acupuncture has proven to be helpful for the following:
- Facial pain
- Dysentery
- Neck pain
- Lower back pain
- Inducing labor
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Painful mensuration
- Chemotherapy-induced nausea
- Dental pain
- Tennis elbow
- Peptic ulcer
- Reducing the risk of stroke
- Headache and migraine
- Knee pain
- Sprains
- Sciatica
- Allergic rhinitis
- Morning sickness
- Abnormal blood pressure
The First Acupuncture Clinic Visit
When you visit the acupuncture clinic, do not worry about getting poked with needles! While you will get there eventually, the first visit is often a consultation and evaluation.
The practitioner will look at your health and ask about your prevailing ailments. Be honest about what symptoms or health problems you are facing.
Share your and your family’s medical history, nutritional diet, and ongoing or previous treatments. The acupuncturist might also ask about your emotional well-being. Once a thorough evaluation is done, a physical assessment will be conducted.
This includes checking your pulse rate on both of your wrists as an indicator of the flow of energy within your body. The structure and color of your tongue will be analyzed along with your voice and overall behavior.
This comprehensive examination of your body and behavior will be used to craft a personalized treatment for you. This includes the selection of acupuncture points.
The treatment begins
Once the acupuncturist knows what points to target, the actual treatment can begin. The specific points cause the body to release certain calming hormones, including endorphin.
The first session might be slightly longer than others. However, generally, an hour is dedicated to the practice. The practitioner will also share dietary recommendations to further enhance the treatment.
So, how would it feel?
Nothing like you anticipate it to be! Although the thought of being poked with over twenty needles is surely daunting, the needles in question are so thin that you don’t even feel them. In fact, unless you are hypersensitive to pain, the process is quite painless.
On the contrary, many reports that the feeling of getting acupuncture is very relaxing! It is quite common for people to either take a nap during the treatment or feel as if they are in a limbo between consciousness and unconsciousness.
Treatments available at Acupuncture Clinics
While the name of such clinics may suggest that you can only get one form of treatment here, this is not really the case. The world of acupuncture is diverse, and the available options differ. What unites them all? The fact that each treatment targets acupuncture points!
Apart from conventional acupuncture (via the use of thin steel needles), the available services in an acupuncture clinic include:
- Acupressure: The practitioner applies pressure on the acupuncture points via fingers to relieve pain in this treatment.
- Electro-Acupuncture: Rather than using movements to cause simulations, this method uses a device to create consistent electrical impulses. This method is ideal when dealing with paralysis and chronic pain.
- Cupping: Plastic or glass cups are placed on different acupuncture points all over the body. The vacuum created by the plastic glass causes the skin’s pores to open up to boost blood flow.
- Scraping (Gua Sha): In this method, the skin is moisturized with oil and then rubbed via the convex side of the spoon. This helps in cracking the sub-dermal capillaries. This may manifest as bruising but helps remove toxins from the body and stimulates healing.
- Tui na: A mixture of acupressure, acupuncture, and massage is used for effective energy flow.
- Moxibustion: A mugwort plant is molded into different shapes like a stick, cone, and loose wool. It is then burned to provide warmth to different acupuncture points. This boosts circulation and relieves fatigue and pain.
Ending Remarks
All in all, the world of acupuncture might be scary from the outside. But once you gather the courage to take the first step, the experience will turn out to be very relaxing.
So, check with your doctor to ensure that this is the path you can take. If yes, see if the prickly yet exhilarating experience is one that you wish to take!