Acupuncture has been around for centuries, although many still view it as an “alternative” treatment for pain. If you’ve tried every conventional method of pain relief, yet are still hurting, you may want to consider this ancient art of healing. Millions of people can not be wrong, and you’ve got nothing to lose in trying to find relief with it.
Ask your acupuncturist how many years of experience they have. It is important to choose a doctor who has been practicing for at least five years to make sure they know what they are doing. Look for reviews on the Internet and ask your acupuncturist for a few references if you want to learn more about their methods.
Avoid any acupuncturists that claim to be healers of serious illnesses, like cancer and diabetes. Although acupuncture has all kinds of benefits, it cannot cure severe diseases. If you have a serious illness, continue seeing your medical doctor.
Make sure that you practice good hygiene on the day of your acupuncture appointment. If you attend an appointment without properly cleansing your skin, there is a chance that you can get an infection when the needles are inserted. Shower as close to your appointment time as you can to decrease this risk.
Acupuncture is not a good option if you feel very stressed. Do not hesitate to cancel a treatment if you had an extremely stressful day. Acupuncture will not be very efficient if your muscles are tense and the toxins released during the treatment could actually make your stress even worse.
Make sure your cell phone is shut off well before your appointment begins. You want to be able to focus on your session and nothing else. Phones will only get in the way of that. While you may think putting your phone on vibrate is enough, hearing that someone’s trying to get in touch with you can still be very distracting.
Acupuncture is great for people that have issues with insomnia. Weekly treatments keep you relaxed and on a consistent schedule. Your acupuncture treatments should be part of your weekly schedule. See if your practitioner can suggest some exercises to help you sleep.
Before accepting treatment, make sure you see the needles being used. All needles for acupuncture must be sterile and marked for one time use. This is an important aspect of your health safety. If you didn’t see the needles unwrapped in front of you, ask for a new set.
Find out how long a visit will take before you head off to your first appointment. You need to be able to relax, so being able to book off the time after the appointment is key. By learning the length of your treatments, you can set a schedule for yourself, which will minimize your stress and maximize your relaxation.
While acupuncture has been proven to be a very safe technique, some people have been known to suffer from mild side-effects. Some of these side-effects include: lightheadedness, nausea or fainting. These conditions are quite rare. However, it is important to discuss possible side-effects with the practitioner before having any procedure done.
It is best to wear some loose clothes to your acupuncture appointment. Loose clothing will help your acupuncturist reach all the places where he or she needs to put some pins. Besides, tight clothing could keep your blood from properly circulating and make you very uncomfortable during your acupuncture treatment.
Sometimes acupuncture can leave you feeling sore, particularly on your feet and hands. Generally, the soreness will go away in a day’s time, although you may experience some issues for up to a week later. Simply try to stay off your feet as much as possible, and allow your hands to rest as well.
As you choose an acupuncturist, research is key. Sadly, not every practitioner available to you will be the best choice. Start with a list of recommendations and contact each. Ask for references and follow up on them. Check out the cleanliness of their office and ask about their needle cleaning practices.
If you don’t know anyone who has seen an acupuncturist, check online reviews for practitioners in your area. Also contact the Better Business Bureau and any nearby Chamber of Commerce. They will provide you with any complaints which may have been filed against the practitioners you are considering, so take note.
If your insurance policy doesn’t cover acupuncture, try writing them a letter. It’s important that they know that acupuncture is something that their customers want. Ask friends and family who are on the same policy to write letters as well. If you don’t know what you should say, the AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine has form letters available.
Expect to be questioned when you go to your first acupuncture appointment. A good acupuncturist will spend a good amount of time reviewing your medical history with you. Fully explain all of the problems you are experiencing for the best results.
One option you have when it comes to hiring an acupuncturist is to choose a chiropractor. Depending on where you live, they will have one to one hundred and fifty hours of training, but it isn’t specifically mandated. They take a test which is administered by the local Chiropractic board. They usually only provide this service in conjunction with chiropractic adjustments.
Acupuncture can help digestive problems. There are specific treatments designed just for this. Speak with an acupuncture specialist or dietitian to determine whether the quality of your diet will improve your results. Make it a point to attend frequent appointments to ensure that you see the best results.
Know that other techniques may be performed on you past the typical needles. This is totally normal and really dependent on what your consultation reveals. Your acupuncturist should talk you through these prior to treatment. These alternative techniques can be as simple as massage, but there are other more unique ones too.
