Many people turn to acupuncture as a last resort for chronic pain or other medical conditions. But acupuncture can also have many preventative health benefits when used regularly to keep your life force, or Qi, in balance.
The patterns of Qi in your body are important for good health. When the natural flow of Qi becomes blocked as a result of stress, injury or even your sitting position, your body is unable to heal itself. Acupuncture can be used to bring your Qi back into balance and as a result improve your overall health.
When your Qi is flowing and balanced, your body is able to heal itself because your immune system is stronger and your healing potential is higher. Regular acupuncture treatments can even help with ailments like a common cold, allergies, fibromyalgia, insomnia and stress. Children and babies can also benefit from acupuncture.
When a new patient comes to my office, I begin by completing a detailed health history with them. I use that, along with details of the type and location of the pain or illness they are experiencing, to create a prescription that is unique to each patient. That prescription includes specific points on your body where I will place the tiny acupuncture needles to rebalance your body, which helps relieve your pain. Although your pain may be in one place, I will not necessarily place the needles only in that spot. At the same time that you experience relief from the pain in that area, the rebalancing of your body with acupuncture may lead to improvements in other areas of your body. While some people may be apprehensive about pain from the acupuncture needles, most patients say they experience no pain during the treatment.
The first visit usually takes two hours and includes an initial mild treatment. For optimal results, one hour weekly follow up sessions are recommended. Some people feel relief after just one session while others take more time to rebalance. Most people can feel the improvement in their Qi as they will feel more centered, calm and less stressed.