Acupuncture (from Latin, acus (needle) and punctura (to puncture) is a form of alternative medicine and a key component of traditional Chinese medicine involving thin needles inserted into the body at acupuncture points. It can be associated with the application of heat, electricity, pressure or laser light to these same points. Acupuncture is used for a wide range of conditions. Amongst those are allergies, anxiety, arthritis, chronic pain, constipation, depression, fibromyalgia, headache, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, low back pain, migraine and post-surgery pain
Acupuncture is a part of a holistic way to improve your health. It can promote healing, boost immunity, support physical, mental, and emotional health. It improves overall body function and wellness. Acupuncture is a gentle, safe, painless and effective way to treat a wide variety of health concerns.
WHAT IS BODY ACUPUNCTURE?
Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body—most often by inserting thin needles through the skin.
Results from a number of studies suggest that acupuncture may help ease types of pain that are often chronic such as low-back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis pain. It also may help reduce the frequency of tension headaches and prevent migraine headaches. Therefore, acupuncture appears to be a reasonable option for people with chronic pain to consider.
The Treatment Path
Our acupuncture specialist will give you an exam and ask questions about your pain and how well you are functioning. You will be also asked about your overall health.
Then our specialist will look for the places (called points) on your body to access the chi that is blocked or not flowing right. Each of the points relates to certain health problems or body functions.
Our acupuncture specialist will look for landmarks on your body -using certain muscles or bones, for example- to find the points so that he or she can place the needles.
After the acupuncturist finds the points, he or she will quickly tap very thin sterile (disposable) needles into your skin. He or she will probably place several needles. Some may be placed deeper than others, depending on what the provider believes is needed to restore the flow of chi.
Every provider is different, but in most cases treatment lasts for 20 minutes to an hour. You may have several visits to complete your treatment. Some people have ongoing visits.
WHAT IS EAR ACUPUNCTURE?
Ear acupuncture is based as well on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and is equal to body acupuncture. Ear acupuncture is widely used for many conditions, including addiction treatment, obesity, chronic pain, neurological and hormonal conditions, migraines, insomnia, stress, depression, irritable bowel or bladder, and many other symptoms which can be effectively assessed and treated with this modality.
The ear holds the greatest number of acupuncture points of any part of the body, and as a reflex microsystem projection of the brain, the ear provides a precise map of the whole human system. Structures or tissue not accessible with body acupuncture or without invasive procedures (such as parts of the brain, or inner scars) are available here for treatment.
The Treatment Path
As with most therapies, an ear acupuncture treatment begins with a detailed assessment. This includes a brief review of your symptoms, but it focuses on the interference fields that may be triggering them. It is advisable not to plan any strenuous activity for a few hours after your treatment and have a light snack prior if experiencing hunger.
The points that need treatment are identified using either the pulse (vaso-autonomic response or RAC), or an electronic device called a pointfinder. This device is used to detect increased electrical skin conductivity which is found at an electrical active point (positive or negative). Only a disturbance or pathology will show as an active point, making this treatment also a diagnostic tool.
Your ear tells the story!!!
While the first session requires a greater time for an intake and patient history, a typical treatment will last 30-45 minutes. The treatment time will be relaxing and stress relieving; you may fall asleep.
There is no set number of treatments for any health condition treated by ear acupuncture, but symptom relief can often be immediate. With chronic conditions, it is important to uncover the root causes of your symptoms to clear the path for healing.
We use very fine, sterile, disposable needles; an active point will be sensitive, but the sting or pinch only lasts for a second. There should be no pain or discomfort during the treatment itself. Some people feel sensations such as: warmth, tingling, heaviness or an electrical sensation from the needles - these are normal.
Because tenderness of ear points is one of the primary diagnostic features of this method, soreness on the ear points can sometimes continue for a while after the treatment. Also, in the case of a chronic condition, one may experience a “retracing” of symptoms. In other words, in some cases a patient may feel their body going through symptoms that took place during a condition’s development—a reversal of symptoms, rather than an immediate pain relief. Like in Homeopathy this can occur after the first session. Remember that "Eastern" medicine seeks to trigger natural healing responses, rather than mask symptoms.