What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a technique that uses specialized needles to encourage natural healing, relieve pain, and improve mood, energy, and overall function of the body.
Acupuncture achieves these goals by inserting acupuncture needles into places located on the body that are part of a network of points that were mapped centuries ago by the Chinese. Most are found along ‘meridians’ or ‘channels’ that are believed to be the pathways by which energy or Qi (pronounced ‘Chee’) flows through the body.
What are the benefits of Acupuncture?
Acupuncture offers a drug free alternative for treating numerous ailments that can throw a kink into our everyday lives. This method has been effectively used for the treatment of back pain, general muscle pain, headaches, sports injuries, anxiety, insomnia, digestive problems, abdominal concerns, menstrual cramps, weight loss, infertility, hot flashes and many more imbalances.
Is Acupuncture safe?
Acupuncture is a very safe practice and uses only sterile acupuncture needles that are designed for one-time use. The education and clinical training for a naturopathic doctor who uses acupuncture ensures that all of the hundreds of acupuncture points can be needled safely with no major side effects.
However, as with any therapy that breaks the skin, there is a small risk of bleeding or bruising after a treatment. These side effects are usually mild and do not impact everyday life.
Is Acupuncture Painful?
Most people are surprised to learn that acupuncture needles are extremely thin, about the diameter of a human hair. Therefore in most cases, insertion by a skilled practitioner causes no discomfort. In fact, many patients often ask if the needles are still in place because they can no longer feel them. It is possible to experience a sense of heaviness or sharpness in the area of insertion for a brief period of time, but most patients find the treatments very relaxing, and even tend to fall asleep during treatment. Some techniques can cause more discomfort than others so it is important to communicate with your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have.
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