Get Help from Pain with Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of Chinese medicine’s ways of treating pain that has been practiced for a very, very long time. This healing tradition makes use of meridian points wherein reed-thin acupuncture needles are inserted into strategic areas of the body in order to stimulate the meridian points which are carriers of energy flowing through channels throughout the body. Stimulating these points also helps increase vitality in the body and clears up the blockages in the channels.

Types of Pain

Acupuncture can treat several varieties of pain. Some of the most common type of pain are:

1. Shoulder pain – Meridian points on the shoulder area are treated with needles to resolve this issue.
2. Leg pain – In this type of pain, the acupuncturist treats 11 acupoints found along the length of the leg and foot. If the patient has also lower back pain along with the leg pain, the acupoints located in the lower back are also used to resolve the issue.
3. Headaches and migraines – Headaches and migraines are related to the dilation of blood vessels in the head. To relieve the pain needles need to be inserted into the neck and heat areas. To slow down the activity of blood vessels in the neck and head, you need to insert needles in the leg and arms.

To lessen the likelihood of unwanted blood vessel dilation, you need to undertake the treatment in a sitting position rather than lying down.

Visiting an Acupuncturist

A lot of things can occur when you visit an acupuncturist. The first thing the practitioner does is to examine and evaluate your condition. You need to mention the parts of your body where pain is felt as well as other important information the practitioner needs to know.

After your acupuncturist takes your medical history he/she will stick acupuncture needles at the proper acupoints determined during the examination phase of the treatment. The needles used are a few centimeters long and are usually fine.

Your acupuncturist will insert the needles deep into the muscle tissue or superficially on your skin, depending on the kind of pain you have. After the needles are inserted, you may have to wait for around half-an-hour for pain to go away.

Some Points to Consider

If you are planning to undergo acupuncture treatment for the relief of pain, you should remember that the acupuncturist may require you to remove your clothes so that he/she can access the areas of your body that need to be treated. As the needle is inserted, you may feel a dull ache or a tingling sensation but no pain.

Dominic Sembello is a licensed and board certified acupuncturist and the clinical director of Health Source Acupuncture in Linwood, NJ.