What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient type of treatment that is medicine-based. It uses small needles on specific points on the skin to treat a variety of conditions, including stress and pain. In fact, pain treatment is one of the main reasons that acupuncture treatment is used.
What does acupuncture do?
The overall goal of acupuncture is to trigger the body’s self-healing mechanisms. Acupuncture can be used to treat the following conditions.
- Nausea and vomiting (including symptoms related to chemotherapy)
- Respiratory disorders
- Insomnia
- Stress and anxiety
- Morning sickness
- Sprains
- Strokes
- Allergies
- Hypertension
- Migraines
- Chronic pain
The practice is based on the Chinese belief that energy or life force in the body (called chi or qi) must be balanced to be healthy. The needle insertion process is used at specific meridians that affect the flow of chi through the body, re-balancing it to address the particular ailment.
What to Expect in Acupuncture Treatment
You generally do not need to do any advance preparation before your acupuncture appointment. Instead, you simply need to communicate with your acupuncturist ahead of time, so they can prepare to treat you for the specific ailment you have.
At your appointment, your acupuncturist will not only go through the needle insertion process, but they might also examine:
- The coloring of your face
- Your pulse (to check strength, quality, and rhythm)
- Shape, coating, and color of your tongue
- The specific parts of your body that are painful
The initial treatment will generally take longer than subsequent treatments, but timeframes for treatment will vary.
The treatment itself will generally follow the following procedure.
- Needle insertion
- Needle manipulation
- Needle removal
The needles used in acupuncture are very small. They may cause a little discomfort, but they are generally not painful. The needles may be inserted at different levels of depth, depending on the type of treatment you need. As a rule, between five and 20 needles are used in most sessions.
Some sessions will also require some needle movement. Some patients might also benefit from heat application or the use of mild electrical pulses.
Needles will stay in place for between 10 to 20 minutes. Once the treatment is complete, then the needles are removed. Most people feel no discomfort while the needles are removed.
7 Acupuncture Benefits for Stress and Anxiety
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Releasing Endorphins
Acupuncture can release hormones that help deal with stress and anxiety. These “happy hormones” like endorphins, serotonin, and others single to the body that it is safe and secure. This type of effect leads to a signal in the body to turn off its stress response.
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Decreased Depression Symptoms
According to a 2016 study of both animals and humans, acupuncture may help treat depression. More recent research, including a 2019 case study, indicates that acupuncture can help decrease suicidal thoughts and other depression-related symptoms. In part, this reaction could be related one of the body’s natural responses to acupuncture—the release of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is commonly known as a relaxation amino acid.
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Decreased Occurrence of Tension Headaches
Those who have at least six sessions of acupuncture have shown a decrease in tension headaches. The needling effects seem to be very beneficial when combined with standard treatment for tension headaches.
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Increased Feelings of Relaxation
While acupuncture certainly cannot address all sources of stress and anxiety, it has been shown to decrease general stress levels. Most people who receive treatment report that they leave each session with a sense of deep relaxation.
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No Reliance on Medications
Acupuncture does not use any medications or substances that would have long-term negative effects on the body. It is especially useful for those who have not responded well to other types of treatment or are not very tolerant of taking medications for pain.
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Very Few, Minor Side Effects
The potential side effects of this treatment are minimal and include things like soreness and minor bleeding or bruising. You might have an increased risk of side effects if you have a pacemaker, a bleeding disorder, or are pregnant.
Set Up an Appointment Today
Regardless of whether you are trying acupuncture for the first time or the hundredth time, you are in good hands with Sarah Jenkins. Take advantage of the many benefits of acupuncture by contacting our office to schedule an appointment or visit or clinic located at The Core in downtown Kelowna.
