Acupuncture is an old healing practice of traditional Chinese medicine dating back over 4,000 years. It still remains effective today as a way to strengthen the body rather than merely treating symptoms. It is primarily used to relieve pain as well as treat other conditions.

What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a way of balancing the body. It uses thin needles placed at specific points on the meridians pathways to increase the blood flow and reduce pain. When these specific points are stimulated, your body’s function improves and begins a self-healing process. An acupuncture session will typically last 30 minutes. Our acupuncturist will develop a treatment plan based on your specific needs. The number of treatments will vary among each individual or condition. Acupuncture is painless despite popular belief. Many patients even report being more relaxed after receiving treatment. Acupuncture is a safe, alternative treatment for pain.

What does a typical session look like?
A typical session begins after your initial visit to assess your health condition and goals. Before you start any treatment plan, it is important to know the benefits and risks to make sure it is the right choice for you. Our acupuncturist will place the sterile disposable needles in specific points of the body. The needles will be left for a short period of time. This allows the body a chance to balance and start healing itself. You are free to return to normal daily activities following your acupuncture treatment session. It is recommended to drink plenty of water to help in the detoxifying process.

When should you consider Acupuncture?
Acupuncture has been gaining popularity in the U.S. even though it has been around for thousands of years. Acupuncture should be considered as a potential alternative to pain medications or steroid treatments. It is also a “complementary” medicine meaning it can be used along with other treatments like spinal adjustments.

More and more people are turning to alternative care as the success of this industry grows. The best acupuncture relieves many symptoms and problems. It has long been known to alleviate chronic pain. It is especially beneficial for back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headaches and shoulder pain.

Acupuncture has also been known to relieve other symptoms including, but not limited to:

  • Anxiety
  • Digestive problems
  • Infertility
  • Low Back Pain
  • Menstrual Cramps
  • Neck Pain
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Stress
  • Weight Loss
  • Insomnia

The World Health Organization also recognizes the following conditions as having benefited from acupuncture treatments:

  • High and low blood pressure
  • Morning sickness
  • Arthritis
  • Dental pain
  • Labor inducer
  • Reduces the risk of stroke
  • Post stroke hemiplegia

Acupuncture has also been effective in reducing symptoms of nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy. Many patients get acupuncture concurrently with their cancer treatments. With the growing opioid epidemic, more physicians are turning to a more natural approach for pain relief. Some physicians prefer acupuncture over prescription medicine due to the low risk of complications and adverse reaction.

For more information on acupuncture or to schedule an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact us today at (818) 995-4488!