Natural treatments are becoming more popular today as the drugs traditional doctors prescribe come with scarier and scarier side-effect warnings. What can you do to ensure that you and your family stay healthy? Reading about acupuncture is the first step to feeling better, so continue onto the rest of this article.
Choose a licensed professional for your acupuncture treatment. Do not hesitate to ask if you can see a licence or get some references. If you have doubts about your acupuncturist, it is best to cancel your appointments and choose another doctor who seems more professional. Do some research online to learn more about different doctors.
Approach acupuncture with an open mind and make sure you fully understand what the treatment will do to your body. You should not dismiss this treatment before giving it a chance. Schedule a series of appointments to get treated for your chronic pain and choose to keep using this method if you get good results.
Ensure your practitioner is licensed with your state Health Department. That means that your practitioner has more credentials than an easy weekend program. The Health Department will only issue a license to someone with an adequate amount of training, so you can feel more secure about visiting one of these professionals.
For the best experience at your acupuncture treatment, wear comfortable clothing. This will allow the acupuncturist to access any pressure points that are important for your treatment. Also, it is a good idea to write down your symptoms and bring a list of problem areas so that you can give specific details for him to target.
Eating before your session will help so that you are not distracted by hunger. The session is about clearing the mind so that your body can relax and repair. This is difficult to do if you are distracted by outside concerns like hunger. An easy rule of thumb is to eat about two hours before a session for the optimal benefits.
Do not focus on how long treatment will take, as this can keep you from focusing on the big picture, which is to get well. The acupuncturist likely cannot give you an answer to that immediately anyway, as it depends partly on what you are willing to do at home to help yourself.
Be sure to give yourself some extra time to get to your appointment. Rushing in at the last minute will put you into a stressful frame of mind. Stress is an inhibitor to a successful treatment. Giving yourself a few extra minutes to arrive will allow you to calm down from the stressors of the day and let your body have the time to calm down. This calm will make your session be much more useful to you.
The first time you have an acupuncture session, you should watch out for fatigue. Some people get a burst of energy after an appointment, but others feel physically drained. Make sure you don’t have anything important scheduled after your appointment so that you can get rest if you need it.
Bring a pillow from home. Acupuncture is a very different experience than most people are used to. It’s nice to have something comforting and known with you, especially during the first few sessions. A favorite pillow (maybe your bed pillow) is a nice place to start. It’ll help you relax.
Recent studies show that acupuncture can help those on medication for depression and anxiety. For starters, patients are able to reduce their dosage of medication when they also have acupuncture because the procedure reduces feelings of nervousness and sadness. Acupuncture also reduces the side effects of depression medications, like weight gain and nausea.
There is quite a bit of mystery surrounding the benefits of acupuncture. Medically speaking acupuncture may help your body produce natural pain-killing chemicals and possibly help your body release them when needed. Traditionally, acupuncture will help balance the way energy flows through your body. This energy flow is called your qi.
Acupuncture has been proven to be beneficial to children. However, children may experience feelings of fear or apprehension because of the needles. If this happens, the practitioner can often use acupressure instead. Acupressure is massaging of the acupoints instead of the insertion of needles. The child will get the same results without the emotional trauma.
If you are going to the acupuncturist for pain relief, be sure to apply heat after the session. Acupuncture gets the blood flowing in order to remove blockages to relieve pain. The use of ice will have the opposite effect and will negate the pain relief benefits you receive after a session.
You may cry during your acupuncture treatment. Many people experience emotional releases while having acupuncture performed. This is quite normal and indicates that treatment is working. While you may feel discomfort if you have this happen, feel secure in the knowledge that your acupuncturist has seen this before.
Make certain that you plan on spending a while in your first visit with your acupuncturist. Initial appointments may last a couple of hours since the acupuncturist needs to be aware of your medical history. Be open with your acupuncturist so that they can develop a treatment plan that is right for you and your needs.
Traditional Chinese medicine is a very interesting topic and you should learn more about different traditional home remedies. However, do not let an acupuncturist convince you to set up an appointment by referring to traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture is a science and you need to find someone who will use their medical degree to convince you they are a good acupuncturist.
On the day of your appointment, do not ingest any stimulants. That includes coffee, caffeinated soda or alcohol. These products can lead to changes in your pulse and qi, throwing off your diagnosis and leaving the practitioner treating you for the wrong things. Drink plenty of water instead to stay hydrated.
Discussion about this post