WELLSET GETTING STARTED GUIDE
Everything you need to know about Acupuncture
Ever wondered “What is Acupuncture?” or “How can an Acupuncturist help me?” or even “How can I find an Acupuncturist near me?” Look no further! This Getting Started Guide is a great place to start.
ACUPUNCTURE OVERVIEW
If you are looking to treat physical pains without pills or surgery, recover from illness more quickly, regulate hormones naturally, increase overall wellness, or manage stress or anxiety, Acupuncture may be for you!
Acupuncture is one aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that can aid a variety of conditions. Practitioners are highly skilled and highly trained licensed professionals. The most well-known type of acupuncture involves the placing of very thin needles throughout the body at certain strategic points. These acupuncture points connect pathways in the body that regulate energetic flow (Qi), that is responsible for overall health. Practices that often accompany Acupuncture often include Cupping, Acupressure, and Gua Sha.
Find your Acupuncturist in a click
THOUSANDS OF TRUSTED ACUPUNCTURISTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
WHAT SCIENCE HAS TO SAY
Acupuncture:
An ancient wellness practice for the modern age
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice, dating back approximately 3,000 years ago. In the past few decades acupuncture has become incorporated into Integrative Medicine and allopathic medicine in the West. While there is still research to be done, there is general consensus among scientists that acupuncture is an effective treatment to reduce chronic pain and ease anxiety. Traditionally Qi, or life force energy, is regulated by acupuncture. However, modern medicine attributes the effectiveness of acupuncture to the bodies natural response to a sending blood flow and energetic attention towards a low-level threat (introduction of a needle into the body). The result is increased blood flow and relaxation of nearby muscles.
The National Institute of Health, a research leg of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is currently supporting research on the effects of acupuncture on reducing pain that accompanies chemotherapy, and hot flashes associated with menopause.
Sources: NCBI, Mayo Clinic, Hopkins Medicine, National Institute of Health
What our expert practitioners have to say
DEVAN TORBERT, MAcOM, LAc.
ACUPUNCTURIST
Wellset: What is an acupuncture session like?
DR DEVAN TORBERT: Each session is different depending on your practitioner; however, most acupuncture treatments include the insertion of hair-thin needles into the skin at certain points to create harmony in the body. These needles do not hurt as they are extremely thin. During your session you lay with the needles for about 20-30 minutes, relaxing and resting during this time.”
WELLSET: HOW CAN YOU EXPECT TO FEEL AFTER A SESSION?
DR DEVAN TORBERT: After the treatment, most people report feeling elevation in mood, relaxed, and in less pain than before coming in. Over the course of a few sessions, many report seeing their symptoms improve.
BUT WHAT IF I AM AFRAID OF NEEDLES?
Acupuncture needles are not really needles like the ones you get shots with. They are about as scary as a very thin pine tree needle!
DR. JENNA MONTANA
ACUPUNCTURIST
WELLSET: How can acupuncture help heal the body?
DR JENNA MONTANA: The theories of how acupuncture facilitates the healing process are numerous, but in my research and clinical experience, acupuncture is a powerful way to relax the body, mind, and spirit, which can encourage healthy digestion, restful sleep, rejuvenation, and healing. In various research studies, acupuncture has been shown to affect the immune system, calm inflammation, and even promote neurotransmitter balance depending on the treatment technique and points used.
WELLSET: HOW CAN YOU EXPECT TO FEEL AFTER A SESSION?
DR JENNA MONTANA: What I love about acupuncture is that it does not force the body into any particular state, just facilitates it. For example, a sedative medication will biochemically overpower the system to create a relaxed physical and mental state, but acupuncture is mild enough and calls upon the body’s own biochemistry to achieve a specific goal. This makes it a good match for patients who are sensitive to many herbs, supplements, or medications, but need assistance with health issues nonetheless.
RELEVANT HEALTH CONCERNS
So, how can Acupuncture help you?
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: