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.
If you are going to an acupuncturist to treat a specific problem, make sure you describe the problem in detail. You might not get relief after only one treatment. If your acupuncturist recommends that you keep coming back until the problem is gone, you should schedule several appointments and stick to them.
Before going to your appointment, understand what s involved with acupuncture. Needles are going to be involved. This is just part of the treatment process. If this makes you nervous, you must confront your fears. If you think it is necessary, look for other people that have done it before, and ask them how their experiences were.
You should find out if your acupuncturist is NCCAOM certified before you set an appointment. This national board certifies practitioners that have completed a national exam and full program. It doesn’t say anything about whether their sessions are painful or not, but it does mention their educational level describing how many hours were spent in school and if they did any supervised internships at their school’s clinic.
If you have some fear of acupuncture because you think that it is going to hurt, ask your acupuncturist about techniques in painless needling. Ask questions about where he learned that technique and how long he has been practicing it. Only go with practitioners who have had multiple years of experience.
You shouldn’t have anything alcoholic to drink before treatment. Acupuncture is meant to help get the mind clear. You cannot get the clarity you seek if you have consumed alcohol. If you have partaken of alcohol within the last eight hours, reschedule your session.
Sometimes, you have to feel worse to feel better. This is generally referred to as a healing crisis. You may experience worsening of symptoms. However, you will soon feel better. Speak with the practitioner you go to if things start to take a turn for the worst and see if there is anything you can do to heal a little faster.
If acupuncture benefits are not a part of your insurance plan, start by writing the company a letter. It is possible that the company will consider amending their plan. For maximum effect, send a copy of the letter to your HR representative. Your employer may have a part in determining which benefits are included on your plan.
Acupuncture isn’t some new fad designed to take your money and leave you in pain; it’s a tried and true method of healing and improving lives! Hopefully this article has opened your eyes to the possibilities and convinced you to give it a try. All it takes is one visit, and you should be feeling less pain!