How Does Acupuncture Work?

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Acupuncture works by improving the body’s functions and promote the natural self-healing process. It does this by stimulating certain anatomic sites (acupoints). The method often used to stimulate acupoints is the insertion of fine, sterile needles into the skin. Also, pressure, heat or electrical stimulation may further help enhance the effects. Other acupoint stimulation techniques include: heat therapy, massage, moxibustion, cupping and the application of topical herbal medicines and linaments.

What Happened During an Acupuncture Treatment?

What happened first is that your acupuncturist will ask you about your health history. Then they will examine your tongue’s color, shape, and coating, feel your pulse. He/she may do some additional physician examines depending on your individual health needs. Using these assessment tools, they will be able to recommend a proper treatment plan. To begin the acupuncture treatment, you will lay comfortably on a treatment table while precise acupoints are stimulated on different areas of your body. Most patients feel minimal to no discomfort as the fine needles are gently placed. The needles are typically kept between 5-30 minutes. People report that during and after treatments that they feel very relaxed.

How Many Treatment Will I Need?

The amount and number of treatments vary from person to person. Some people experience considerable relief in the first treatment. For more complex or long lasting chronic conditions, 1-2 treatments per week for several months may be required. Fore acute problems, typical fewer visits are required. During your initial visit an individualized treatment plan will be discussed.

What Conditions Are Commonly Treated?

There have been hundreds of clinical studies on the benefits of acupuncture that show that it successfully treats conditions ranging from musculoskeletal such as neck pain and back pain to nausea, migraine headaches, anxiety, depression, insomnia and infertility.