A lot of us have heard about acupuncture, but some of us aren’t sure of what it’s all about. Acupuncture is an ancient alternative treatment for countless maladies. Below, you will learn things about acupuncture you may not have known, and may even decide to try it out.
If you want to try acupuncture as a way to resolve pain and discomfort but are afraid of needles, see what you can do to cure your phobia. This treatment option has proven useful time and time again for a variety of painful conditions. Don’t let your nervousness keep you from experiencing the benefits of acupuncture.
Don’t eat too much ahead of your appointment. Being overly full can interfere with your treatment, but don’t starve yourself either. This is because lying down is very uncomfortable when your stomach is full.
Acupuncture may appear painful; however, it really isn’t. The needles are very thin, unlike those at a regular doctor’s office. From a few feet away, the needles are practically invisible. There may be a little discomfort, but most people find the treatments to be very relaxing.
Some vitamins or supplements should be stopped if you are starting acupuncture treatments. Ask your physician if any medicines should be stopped before your first appointment. You would hate to decrease the effectiveness of acupuncture because you were taking items you should not have been.
Make a detailed list of all your prescribed medications before seeking an acupuncture treatment. This will give them a better idea of how to personalize your treatment to meet all of your specific needs.
Don’t surround your acupuncture appointment with things to do. Allow yourself some relaxation time prior to and after your visit. This will allow your body to better respond to treatment. To get the most out of treatment, relax yourself and enjoy.
Once you have started an acupuncture therapy program, you must follow it to its completion. As with any other treatment plan, you should not stop treatments halfway through the plan. Though you might be tempted to stop before the entire length of treatment is complete, especially since you experience an improvement, the best results will come from finishing all sessions. Allow the prescribed treatment length to run its course and then you can determine how your body has coped with it all.
Figure out the length of your acupuncture treatment. They often run from 30 minutes to as long as an hour. Don’t plan anything within an hour of your appointment to give you time to relax.
You may have a busy schedule, but after an acupuncture session, you need to take the time to rest. You can achieve physical and mental restoration using acupuncture, but your body still needs rest time to heal. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep the night after your session.
Some people who have received several acupuncture treatments reported that they felt worse. This may be a sign of healing. This means your symptoms may get worse before getting better. If your symptoms worsen, consult with your acupuncturist; in order for you to get better, continue treatment until the course is finished to allow your healing cycle to complete.
Petition your company to add acupuncture to its insurance plan if the benefits are not already available to you. If you have coworkers that are interested in it, have them all write to Human Resources. If enough people show interest in acupuncture, an insurance company is more likely to cover it.
It is not unusual to see a small amount of bruising or tiny red dots. This type of reaction is typical after acupuncture. You shouldn’t be mad or alarmed about this. These marks will go away after some time and you’ll feel better physically when all is said and done.
Acupuncture tends to bring emotions to the surface. Therefore, you shouldn’t be alarmed if you suddenly get very emotional during your treatment. Know that the acupuncturist has had to deal with emotional patients that cry or emit other emotions out of nowhere. Having an emotional response is a sign that the treatment was effective.
Acupuncture does not cure you instantly. Often you must follow a full course of treatment. Do not miss any of your sessions if you want the best results. Remember to commit to your treatments so that you can be certain of recovery from pain.
Your acupuncturist may suggest that you take an herbal treatment before your session. Such herbs can be helpful, but they may result in undesirable side effects or harmful drug interactions. Before you take any herbal supplements, consult your primary care doctor about possible interactions.
In order to truly benefit from acupuncture, you need to clear your mind and focus on what is happening to your body. Your cellphone and any other devices should be turned off. Only provide your acupuncturist’s phone number to one person in the event of an emergency. Also, make sure you don’t have anything stressful going on before you head in to the office.
Acupuncture is more complicated than sticking needles into a human pincushion. Hopefully, this article was informative and has made acupuncture less mysterious. You are now better informed so that when you decide to, you can get it done for yourself.