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Acupuncture has been used for over 3,000 years and we are still learning today about all the benefits that acupuncture can have for your health and your wellbeing. If you are looking for help dealing with a painful or uncomfortable condition, acupuncture could well be the treatment that gives you some relief and brings back your quality of life. Palmercare Chiropractic, Sterling offers the very best in acupuncture care for a wide range of conditions.
Acupuncture has been a part of traditional Chinese medicine for over 3,000 years. Within traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is thought to work because of the effect that it has on your qi (chee). Your qi is your lifeforce that flows around your body and when the flow becomes blocked or unbalanced, it is thought to lead to a wide variety of health conditions. Acupuncture removes any blockages and allows your qi to move freely again, restoring balance to your body.
Within modern medicine, a different interpretation of how acupuncture works has been developed. When the tiny needles are inserted into your body it causes the smallest amount of damage. But this damage stimulates your central nervous system to release chemicals that promote the body's natural healing abilities. This means that it should help to heal the condition you are dealing with by increasing the healing chemicals that reach the problem area.
The National Institutes of Health state that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for certain medical conditions, based on rigorous scientific studies. These conditions include:
The World Health Organization (WHO), on the other hand, takes a broader approach and states that acupuncture is effective or therapeutic for over 100 conditions. They put the conditions into three categories, based on how much scientific evidence there is to back up acupuncture's effectiveness. Some of those with the highest amount of evidence ("proved through controlled trials to be effective") include:
WHO also has a long list of conditions for which acupuncture has proven to be therapeutic but more evidence is needed to demonstrate its effectiveness. Some of these include:
These lists are not comprehensive and acupuncture is recommended for many more health conditions than you see here. If you're not sure if acupuncture is the right treatment for you, get in touch with Palmercare Chiropractic, Sterling for some expert guidance and advice.
Beyond treating health conditions, acupuncture can also greatly improve your wellbeing. Exactly how you will feel after an acupuncture session will vary from person to person, with some people reporting feeling energized and others reporting being relaxed. In either case, both groups report feeling happier and more content. So even if you aren't in pain and you don't have a health condition that needs to be managed, regular acupuncture can still add value to your life.
Every professional who conducts acupuncture will have their own technique of administering the treatment. In general, you should expect your first session to be an exploratory session that discusses your symptoms, your lifestyle, and your medical history. A physical examination will also likely be conducted.
The following sessions will be focused on treatment. The needles that are used in acupuncture are so small that you won't feel any pain when they are inserted. Their placement is very precise and the best placement can often be quite far away from the site of your pain. Acupuncture has very few side effects when conducted by a professional, although some people can feel a little drowsy or dizzy for a very short while afterward.
Acupuncture is a safe treatment that has not only thousands of years of practice and knowledge behind it but also a wealth of scientific evidence backed by leading health organizations. It can be an effective and side-effect-free treatment for a variety of health conditions and it can improve your overall happiness and wellbeing. If you think acupuncture could be a good option for you, get in touch with Palmercare Chiropractic, Sterling today for your consultation.
