What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of alternative and complementary medicine and a key component of traditional Chinese medicine in which very thin needles are inserted through your skin at strategic points on your body. By stimulating certain points on the body with the needles, acupuncture can alleviate pain or help to treat various health conditions. Traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force (known as ‘qi’) believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. According to traditional Chinese medicine, by inserting needles into specific points with appropriate combinations along these meridians, the individual’s qi will re-balance, helping to promote their overall well-being.
Western practitioners, on the other hand, view the benefits of acupuncture with its ability to create a neurological effect, stimulating nerves, muscles and connective tissue and boosting your body’s natural painkillers. Acupuncture is used to relieve discomfort associated with a variety of diseases and conditions, including headaches, lower back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, menstrual cramps, respiratory disorders, high and low blood pressure, morning sickness, sprains, sciatica and associated herniated disc pains and even chronic stress and anxiety.
FAQ
How do I know if I need acupuncture?
Recognize some of the signs that may be pointing towards the acupuncture treatment route. Acupuncture is a way to treat you physically, emotionally, mentally and even spiritually by strengthening the mind-body connection, which too often can be ignored in today’s society. But if you’re especially experiencing chronic illnesses and conditions, such as chronic neck and back pain — which is the number one reason people seek out acupuncture — and have tried and failed with all the alternatives (massage therapy, physiotherapy and/or yoga), acupuncture may be the best option for you. Acupuncture may also be useful in supporting mental health, from anxiety to depression, allergies, infertility, facial rejuvenation and a number of other health concerns — The possibilities for healing ongoing physical and mental conditions are endless — however, if you are still unsure about acupuncture, you can book a 15 minute meeting with our naturopathic doctors to help you determine whether acupuncture is right for you.