What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture

 

Acupuncture is a system of integrative medicine that involves piercing the skin and surrounding tissues with thin needles to alleviate pain and to treat various physical, mental and emotional conditions. Originating in ancient China, acupuncture is now widely practised in the West.

The Benefits of  Acupuncture: Mind & Body

Acupuncture is beneficial because it gets to the root of your issue with limited side effects and provides a powerful sense of wellbeing for both mind and body.

Acupuncture is excellent for shifting us out of the fight, flight, fright response of the sympathetic nervous system and into the calm, rest and digest state of the parasympathetic nervous system. 

Why is this important? When we are in a heightened state our body is not focused on healing, but escaping, fighting and surviving. We are flooded with stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol causing:

  • Our heart rates to rise 

  • Our minds and thoughts race

  • Our blood pressure elevates

  • Our breathing becomes shallow

  • Our muscles tighten ready for action

For short periods, this is ok and even necessary, but if we’re in a constant state of stress due to pain, work or our personal lives, we are causing our bodies harm.

Acupuncture is effective at relaxing our minds and bodies to allow for healing. By utilizing the acupuncture points, the flow of our vital life force known as Qi can be manipulated to bring us back into a state of equilibrium.

What to Expect During Your Acupuncture Treatment

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Access a Wide Range of Acupuncture Treatments

Acupuncture employs thin, single-use needles to access various acupuncture points along energy pathways known as meridians. It is at these points where the energy is redirected, unblocked or strengthened.

As the needle pierces the skin a variety of sensations can be felt:

  • Warmth

  • Heaviness

  • Dull aching

  • Tenderness

  • Itchiness

  • Twitching

  • Nothing

But what you’ll notice most are the sensations after the treatment. My patients always remark at how relaxed and at ease they feel.

Acupuncture treatments can vary depending on your individual needs. If you are experiencing muscular or joint pain, a series of weekly or bi-weekly treatments for up to 4 weeks tend to garner the best results. 

If you’re coming for fertility support, timing is everything. For women, appointments will be based on various points in the menstrual cycle, which is critical for addressing any underlying issues. Some may need to come twice a month, others weekly. 

Mental-emotional issues, digestive disorders, disrupted sleep patterns and stress management are treated in-person with acupuncture but also with lifestyle advice to prolong the effectiveness of the treatments. Nutritional suggestions, mindfulness techniques and even Chinese herbal formulas could be prescribed to aid you on your wellness journey. 

Acupuncture is a marvellous way to get reacquainted with your body; it allows us to listen more closely and heal more deeply.