What is Acupuncture?
A Registered Acupuncturist performs acupuncture, an ancient Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice involving inserting sterile thin needles into very specific points on the body. People have used it to all types of ailments for over 3000 years. Acupuncture commonly may help ease pain and discomfort from injuries and aging. However, today, people seek acupuncture as an alternative medicine for disorders including fertility, digestive, hormonal, and emotional imbalances.
The Details – How it works
Our Registered Acupuncturist in Markham creates a prescription of acupuncture points to stimulate specific meridian systems in the body to help support the flow of qi (pronounced CHI) – life energy- and blood through the body. According to TCM, this Qi flow helps with the regulation of energy and metabolism, as well as the stimulation of many other systems in the body that affect one’s health.
Various conventional medical theories propose how acupuncture works. Indeed, scientific studies have examined acupuncture’s effectiveness. For example, inserting needles into painful locations in the body triggers the release of endorphins, your body’s natural morphine, explaining how acupuncture provides pain relief.
What to expect from an acupuncture session?
You will rest in a comfortable position while allowing access to areas of session. Session sheets will drape you to protect your privacy. We will clean bare skin with an alcohol swab, then insert sterile needles into 10-30 points. The needles will typically remain in place for approximately 20 minutes. You may experience some sensations as we insert the needles, but they should not be uncomfortable and should not persist. There is a slight risk of bleeding and bruising. Acupuncture sessions can be very relaxing. It is not uncommon for clients to fall asleep during their sessions.
WHAT CONDITIONS CAN BE ADDRESSED?
Our Registered Acupuncturist in Markham focuses on to assisting patients who are suffering from stress and anxiety.
Acupuncture sessions for stress and anxiety can help with emotion regulation and assist with getting out of that “stuck and grumpy” feeling. In fact, acupuncture can help with accessing those “feel good” emotions! According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, our emotions directly affect the functioning of our body systems. Therefore, when a person is stressed or anxious, the body may react with neck and shoulder tension, upset stomach, headaches, poor sleep and acne (just to name a few). It is common for people undergoing stress to experience the following:
- Neck & shoulder tension or sore/tender muscles
- Tightness in the chest, chest discomfort, changes in heart rate
- Teeth grinding, lock jaw
- Digestive issues: upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, constipation
- Overthinking and constant worry
- Sleep disorders
- Lower immune system and ease of catching colds or seasonal illness
- Disorganization and forgetfulness
- Irregular periods
- Loss of sexual desire or sexual function
- Acne
- Tinnitus
Acupuncture for stress and anxiety can be provided by a Registered Acupuncturist and has been may help to release stress and tension out of the body and mind.
Naturopathic Living Solutions located in Unionville, Markham has a Registered Acupuncturist who offers meridian head massage with an acupuncture care. An acupuncture care for stress and anxiety with this meridian head massage has been known to help with lowering stress out of the body and mind. There are specific points related to the digestive system as well. With a combination of gentle and firm pressure techniques, this meridian head massage can may help support the immune system, ease anxiety, enhance circulation to your head and neck and promote those “feel good” emotions.
It is recommended that this meridian head massage to be performed in combination with your acupuncture care for stress and anxiety; a full “head to toe” body session. The effectiveness of both needles and head massage will be supported .
WHAT DOES SESSION INVOLVE?
After a detailed history and clinical examination, the practitioner will discuss session options.
While lying down the needles are inserted in selected acupuncture points; then the patient is left to relax for about 30 minutes. Electrical stimulation, moxa, low level laser or infrared heat may also be applied.
WHAT CAN ONE EXPECT FROM ACUPUNCTURE CARE?
In general, most people should see some benefit within one to four sessions. Often there will be an aggravation or worsening of symptoms after the first or second care, which may cause alarm. However, these symptoms quickly may ease as the sessions continue. At first, the benefits may only be short-lived, but after regular sessions, the benefits are sustained.
As the benefits of acupuncture are not only symptomatic, any perceived change is a real change, equivalent to the tuning of a car engine. Depending on the cause of the problem, it may take a shorter or a longer time to become “out of tune” again, which may require “booster” sessions from time-to-time. It is important to understand that acupuncture can only may help with function; but it cannot effect structural changes. For example, it can may help ease the pain and stiffness associated with a pinched sciatic nerve, but it cannot replace or repair the damaged intervertebral disk.
ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
All acupuncture needles are single-use disposable needles to prevent and control transmission of infection. Our Registered Acupuncturist is experienced and therefore, complications from needling are rare and never serious. Even if you are pregnant, acupuncture can still be used, although caution will be exercised with the use of certain points.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF ACUPUNCTURE?
Acupuncture performed by a Registered Acupuncturist at Naturopathic Living is extremely safe. It is always worth trying before resorting to drugs and surgery, which themselves often have side effects. Anti-inflammatory drugs are the conventional mainstay of session for musculoskeletal conditions but are notorious for causing unwanted irritation of the stomach and intestines. Excessive painkillers can also damage the kidneys. In many instances, surgery can be avoided with acupuncture or at least the condition can be managed to the point where fewer drugs are needed to obtain relief.
In many conditions that have failed to respond to conventional care, Acupuncture can help to ease the disorder (thus enabling a reduction in drug therapy) or manage the ailment.
SCIENTIFIC VALIDATION
There has been a lot of scientific research into acupuncture over the last 20 years. The ancient principles, which were hard to understand, have now been largely validated by scientific methods:
[a] Bio-energetic: There is much evidence to show that the nature of Qi is electro-magnetic. Acupuncture points have a lower electromagnetic potential, which can easily be demonstrated with a sensitive ohmmeter. Disturbances in bio-energy cause biochemical changes, which in turn cause anatomical changes in the body.
[b] Neurological: Although meridians do not correlate with nerve or circulatory pathways, it has been shown that acupuncture has an inhibitory effect on nerve pain transmission. It also has a direct effect on parts of the brain by increasing the blood flow to the medulla, which relays pain message.
[c] Chemical: The body, in response to acupuncture stimulation, releases various chemical substances. These include endorphins, bradykinins, and prostaglandins. Endorphins are pain-relieving and mood-elevating and are probably responsible for the euphoria that is often experienced after session. Bradykinins are also pain-relieving, and prostaglandins have anti-inflammatory effects.
[d] Placebo effect: Proponents of acupuncture often argue that the benefits are all in the mind. The scientific term for this concept is the “placebo effect”. It is generally accepted that in any care, the placebo or psychological effect accounts for about 30% of the benefit and that one’s state of mind can affect the outcome of any session. Despite this benefit, one does not have to believe in acupuncture for it to work; notably, acupuncture works in children and animals, which are not subject to the preconceptions of the placebo effect.