Acupuncture has long been a mysterious phenomenon by which countless individuals the world over have sworn for its effectiveness in managing pain and other physical issues. Unfortunately, a good amount of knowledge on the topic has eluded vast portions of the general population. Keep reading the article that follows below in order to start learning what acupuncture may be able to do for you.
There is a lot more to acupuncture than the treatments involving needles. This medicinal practice is associated with a philosophy. You should learn more about the philosophy of acupuncture to adopt a healthier lifestyle. There are plenty of meditation exercises, home remedies and other practices you can use to introduce acupuncture in the different aspects of your life.
When you are looking for a qualified acupuncturist, make sure that he is certified by the NCCAOM. This organization ensures that the practitioner has completed the required coursework and internship, and that he has passed the exam. Without this certification, you cannot be sure of the practitioner’s level of training.
You should find out if your acupuncturist is NCCAOM certified before you set an appointment. This national board certifies practitioners that have completed a national exam and full program. It doesn’t say anything about whether their sessions are painful or not, but it does mention their educational level describing how many hours were spent in school and if they did any supervised internships at their school’s clinic.
There are few negative aspects to acupuncture as an alternative therapy, but one important one is that there are no guarantees the treatment will be effective. While it is rare, but soreness and bruising may occur, and it is also possible to get an infection if sterile procedures are not carefully followed.
Don’t let a fear of infection keep you from experiencing what acupuncture has to offer. Much like the other tools found in a medical environment, the needles used for acupuncture are clean and sterilized. These needles are fresh for each patient on each visit and disposed of after a single use. No need to worry about infections or diseases spreading.
Determine if and how your insurance plan covers acupuncture. Some plans cover acupuncture only if you are referred by your regular practitioner for a medical condition. Other plans cover acupuncture visits as wellness visits. Find out if your health insurance covers acupuncture so you can save some cash on the procedure.
Do you need your daily caffeine fix? If you have an acupuncture session scheduled, you may want to hold off on the coffee for a little while. Because coffee is a stimulant, it will raise sympathetic nerve activity. Acupuncture strives to do the opposite. You don’t want to work against yourself!
Be disciplined about your acupuncture plan. If you are seeing benefits, ignore those who have a negative opinion about acupuncture. Today’s culture of taking a pill for every problem makes people less likely to try treatments like acupuncture. Stay strong and committed to your own course of action.
Talk to a doctor about anything you are taking if you plan on having acupuncture treatments. If you are currently taking medication, herbs, or supplements, you need to speak to your doctor about what you can continue to take. They may have to make changes to what you’re taking before or in between your acupuncture treatments.
In most places around the United States, a license is required to practice acupuncture. Before going to a new office, ask to see the acupuncturists credentials. It is important to ask how experienced they are and where they went to school. Any place that can not provide this information should be visited with caution.
Do not let an acupuncturist convince you they are experienced because they practiced in another country. Keep in mind that practicing acupuncture in China or in another country is very different from what doctors are allowed to do in the U.S. Ask your acupuncturist about their education and experience in the U.S.
Have a basic understanding of what acupuncture treatment looks like before taking part of it. Typically, you will undergo approximately twenty sessions before really seeing results. If you cannot commit to the entire treatment series, you might be wasting your time, as no benefits will be seen. Make sure that this time commitment will work for you before signing on.
Learn how long the treatment is likely to take. Most acupuncture treatments last for about half an hour but more time might be needed if you want to be treated for multiple health problems. Knowing how long it will be can help you plan your day accordingly.
If you feel pain during an acupuncture session, let your practitioner know. A small prick is normal when the needle is inserted, but you should not feel anything beyond that. More intense pain can mean that the practitioner hit a nerve, and this can cause you to experience adverse side effects if it is not immediately addressed.
As you would with many other services, schedule a consultation with any prospective acupuncturists. These generally last 10-15 minutes, but they can give you an idea of whether or not they are right for you. Ask them any questions that you have, talk about their experience and education, express any concerns, and pay attention to how they make you feel in their office. If you ever feel uncomfortable, try someone else.
Do not worry if you feel sore after a treatment. If your acupuncturist manages to release one of the triggers that was causing you to feel tense or stressed, you will probably feel sore in this area for at least a day after your appointment. Contact your acupuncturist if you feel sore for more than a day.
Discussion about this post