What is Acupuncture?
What can Acupuncture treat?
- Tension Headaches
- Migraines
- Low Back pain
- Neck Pain
- Sinus pressure
- Knee Pain
- Arthritis pain
- Tennis/Golfers elbow
- Sprain/Strains
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Nerve pain
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How does Acupuncture work?
Traditional Chinese medicine explains that health is the result of a harmonious balance of the complementary extremes of “yin” and “yang” of the life force known as “qi,” pronounced “chi.” Illness is said to be the consequence of an imbalance of the forces.
Qi is said to flow through meridians, or pathways, in the human body. These meridians and energy flows are accessible through 350 acupuncture points in the body.
Inserting needles into these points with appropriate combinations is said to bring the energy flow back into proper balance.
There is no scientific proof that the meridians or acupuncture points exist, and it is hard to prove that they either do or do not, but numerous studies suggest that acupuncture works for some conditions.
Some experts have used neuroscience to explain acupuncture. Acupuncture points are seen as places where nerves, muscles, and connective tissue can be stimulated. The stimulation increases blood flow, while at the same time triggering the activity of the body’s natural painkillers.
It is difficult to set up investigations using proper scientific controls, because of the invasive nature of acupuncture. In a clinical study, a control group would have to undergo sham treatment, or a placebo, for results to be compared with those of genuine acupuncture.
Some studies have concluded that acupuncture offers similar benefits to a patient as a placebo, but others have indicated that there are some real benefits.
Conditions it is used for include different kinds of pain, such as headaches, blood pressure problems, and whooping cough, among others.
What should I expect during my Acupuncture session?
Your Chiropractor at ICT Chiropractic & Acupuncture will examine you and assess your condition, insert one or more thin, sterile needles, and offer advice on self-care or other complementary therapies, such as Chiropractic Adjustments, at home stretching.
You will be asked to lie down on their back, front, or one side, depending on where the needles are to be inserted. Our Chiropractors only use single-use, disposable, sterile needles. As each needle is inserted, you might feel a very brief stinging or tingling sensation.
After the needle is inserted, there is occasionally a dull ache at the base of the needle that then subsides.
Acupuncture is usually relatively painless.
Sometimes the needles will be stimulated with electricity after insertion depending on the goal of the treatment.
The needles will stay in place for between 5 and 30 minutes.
The number of treatments needed depend on the individual. A person with a chronic condition may need one to two treatments a week over several months. An acute problem normally improves after 8 to 12 sessions.
Is Acupuncture safe?
Your Chiropractor at ICT Chiropractic & Acupuncture is extensively trained to provide treatments to ensure that:
- It is performed correctly, and is safe.
- There are very few side effects.
- It can be effectively combined with other treatments.
- It can control some types of pain.
- It may help patients for whom pain medications are not suitable.
Are there any risks associated with Acupuncture services at ICT Chiropractic & Acupuncture?
Every therapy has risks as well as benefits.
The possible risks of acupuncture are:
- The number one side effect is bleeding, bruising, and soreness that may occur at the insertion sites.
- It is dangerous if a patient has a bleeding disorder or takes blood thinners.
- For this reason, ICT Chiropractic & Acupuncture uses only single use, individually wrapped, surgical stainless-steel sterile needles. There are never needles used from one patient to another.
- In rare cases, a needle may break and damage an internal organ.
- When inserted deeply into the chest or upper back, there is a risk of Pneumothorax (collapsed lung), but this is very rare.
The United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulate acupuncture needles as medical devices. Their manufacture and labelling need to meet certain standards. The needles must be sterile, nontoxic, and labelled for one use only, by a licensed practitioner.
As with any complementary therapy, it is advisable to use it alongside conventional treatments in cases of chronic or severe illness.
