While it may sound somewhat far out, acupuncture is an time-honored practice that has been used successfully for centuries to treat a variety of health conditions. Western medicine is finally coming to embrace the practice and understand the significance of it’s remarkable benefits.
Acupuncture has been found to help relieve a variety of diseases and conditions, including:
- Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches
- Labor pain
- Low back pain
- Menstrual cramps
- Migraines
- Osteoarthritis
- Dental pain
- Infertility
- Stress
- Anxiety and depression
According to Chinese medical theory, illness in a person arises when the cyclical flow of Qi (pronounced chee) or life energy becomes unbalanced or is blocked along certain pathways. By inserting needles into specific points along these pathways (termed ‘meridians’), acupuncturists can unblock and re-balance the flow, resulting in healing.
The Eastern or Traditional Chinese Medicine explanation for how acupuncture works is that the life energy, or Qi, can be influenced and balanced by stimulating the meridians (via acupuncture needles) that connect all of our major organs. And many Western practitioners view acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. This stimulation appears to boost the activity of your body’s natural painkillers and increase blood flow.
The substances released as a result of acupuncture not only relax the whole body, they regulate serotonin in the brain which plays a role in human and animal disposition- this is why depression is often treated with acupuncture. Some of the physiological effects observed throughout the body include increased circulation, decreased inflammation, relief from pain, relief of muscle spasms and increased T-cell count which stimulates the immune system.
What You Can Expect From A Session
Acupuncture involves the insertion of extremely thin needles through
your skin at strategic points on your body. Each
person who performs acupuncture has a unique style, often blending
aspects of Eastern and Western approaches to medicine. To determine the
type of acupuncture treatment that will help you the most, your
practitioner may ask you many questions about your symptoms, behaviors
and lifestyle. He or she may also closely examine:
- The parts of your body that are painful.
- The shape, coating and color of your tongue.
- The color of your face.
- The strength, rhythm and quality of the pulses in your wrist.
This initial evaluation may take up to 60 minutes or more, but subsequent appointments usually take about a half-hour. A common
treatment plan for a single complaint would typically involve six to 12
treatments, scheduled over a few months.
During acupuncture, points are located in all areas of the body.
Sometimes the appropriate points are far removed from the area of your
pain. Your acupuncture practitioner will tell you the general location
of the planned treatment and if articles of clothing need to be removed.
If appropriate, a gown, towel or sheet will be provided to preserve
your modesty. After you lie down on a padded table, the treatment
begins:
- Needle insertion.
Acupuncture needles are very thin, so insertion usually causes very
little discomfort. Between five and 20 needles are used in a typical
treatment. You may feel a deep, aching sensation when a needle reaches
the correct depth. - Needle manipulation.
Your practitioner may gently move or twirl the needles after they’ve
been placed. Another option is to apply heat or mild electrical pulses
to the needles. - Needle removal. In most cases, the needles will remain in place for 10 to 20 minutes while you lie still and relax.
There is usually no sensation of discomfort
when the needles are removed. Your acupuncture practitioner should
discard the needles after removal — reusable needles can spread
infection. After
a session, some people feel relaxed while others feel energized. But
not everyone responds to acupuncture. If your symptoms don’t begin to
improve within a few weeks, acupuncture may not be the right treatment
for you.
The risks of acupuncture are low if you have a competent, certified acupuncture practitioner.
As with just about any medication or other type of therapy or
treatment, there are some possible side effects, complications, and
possible contra-indications which a practitioner should discuss with you
beforehand.
Local practitioners in the Glens Falls area include:
Emmajean Rombach, Dancing Dragonfly Acupuncture, 518-223-3717
Kevin Campopiano, The Acupuncture Studio, 518-615-0505
Queensbury Family Health Center, 518-798-6400
There
is evidence that acupuncture works best in people who expect it to
work. Since acupuncture has few side effects, it may be worth a try if
more-conventional methods have not worked for you. Keep your regular
doctor informed, too, that way your health and healing can be monitored
from both approaches.