Acupuncture is a modality that’s part of the Chinese Medical System; it involves the insertion of thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body. Some people swear by New City acupuncture, citing it as a miracle in improving their quality of life. Acupuncture is majorly known as an alternative treatment for pain, but increasingly, it is being used for overall wellness, including stress management. Like any other treatment, it is important to take the same steps you would choose a doctor. Read on to learn more about acupuncture.
What happens during the procedure?
Acupuncturists have unique styles of performing acupuncture, blending aspects of Eastern and Western approaches to medicine. Your practitioner may inquire about your lifestyle behavior to help establish which acupuncture treatment will help you the most. They may also closely examine the painful body parts, shape, color, and coating of your tongue. Other examination areas include the color of your face and strength, rhythm, and pulse quality in your wrist.
Acupuncture points are situated all over your body, and sometimes the right points are far from the painful area. Your provider will inform you of the general site of the planned treatment. If you need to remove any clothing, you will be given a towel, gown, or sheet. You will then lie on a padded table for treatment which involves:
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Inserting the needle
Your provider will insert acupuncture needles to various depths at strategic points in your body. The insertion causes little discomfort since the needles are very thin. Many people don’t feel pain as the needles are inserted. A typical acupuncture session uses five to twenty needles. You may feel a mild aching sensation when the needle reaches the correct depth.
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Needle manipulation and removal
After placing the needles, your practitioner gently moves or twirls them. Your provider may also apply heat or mild electrical pulses to the needles. The needles will remain in place for approximately 10 to 15 minutes while lying still. Lastly, your specialist will remove the needles; this part of the treatment is usually pain-free.
A session may take about one hour, but some appointments are much shorter. A common treatment for a single complaint would typically involve one or two treatments a week. The condition being treated and its severity determine the number of treatments you need. Generally, it is common to have six to eight acupuncture sessions.
Some people feel relaxed, and others feel energized after the treatment but not everyone responds to acupuncture. If you don’t experience symptom relief within a week, acupuncture may not be the right treatment.
How effective is acupuncture?
The benefits of acupuncture can be difficult to measure, but many people find it helpful in controlling various painful conditions. Some types of simulated acupuncture are as effective as real acupuncture. There is also evidence that people who expect the treatment to work experience the best results. Acupuncture has some side effects, so it may be worth a try if you have trouble alleviating pain with other more-conventional methods.
Consult your provider at Integrative Health of Rockland to know how you can benefit from acupuncture.
