Acupuncture is rooted in ancient Daoist tradition, brought to Western perspectives decades ago. Although it’s an effective way to treat pain and other conditions, many doctors and Canadians don’t know exactly what acupuncture is, how it works, or the benefits one can tap into.
Acupuncture originates from East Asia and has been used for thousands of years to treat a wide variety of conditions. As a non-Western medicine, acupuncture involves inserting thin acupuncture needles painlessly into specific regions to produce a natural chemical response. Acupuncture is believed to reduce pain while increasing blood flow, stimulating muscles and nerves, and comes with a number of other health benefits.
What’s the purpose of acupuncture?
The philosophy that goes into acupuncture is all about achieving balance. Early acupuncture practitioners believed that pain in the body was from an imbalance. The belief is acupuncture can find the specific acupuncture point which, when stimulated, can address one’s physical condition and bring the body back into balance.
How do I get acupuncture when I am afraid of needles?
This is the most common question next to ‘what is acupuncture’ that we receive. There are numerous Canadians with a fear of needles who enjoy acupuncture weekly. The needles themselves are very thin, compared to the type you use for medicine injections and blood-taking. You shouldn’t feel any pressure as the needle is inserted and once the needle is in the muscle, there shouldn’t be any pain whatsoever.
What conditions does acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture treats several acute and chronic illnesses, although everyone responds differently. Acute conditions treated include plantar fasciitis, post-concussion syndrome, tendonitis, sprains, strains, and nausea from pregnancy or chemotherapy. Chronic conditions acupuncture is used on includes chronic back pain, fibromyalgia, migraines, spastic bladder, osteoarthritis, peripheral neuropathy, chronic neck pain, and rheumatoid arthritis.
How long does it take for acupuncture to work?
How many sessions a person needs before acupuncture works varies. For example, some say a course of treatment may require a month or longer to work. Acupuncture done multiple times a week is going to produce different results than treatment performed once a month. If you can physically handle it, we recommend starting with a simple acupuncture schedule of approximately once a week before you move up to more.
In this acupuncture FAQ, we hope helped to provide some answers as to the secrets of acupuncture. Although every person responds differently, this is no different from medications or other forms of Western medicine. If you are not getting relief from your current medication regimen, or you’re interested in keeping your treatment plan as natural as you can, acupuncture is a promising therapy that has helped tens of thousands of Canadians live pain-free.