After acupuncture treatment

How to Take Care of Yourself After an Acupuncture Treatment

The 24 hours following each acupuncture session can be as influential as the treatment itself.
By resting, applying heat packs, and engaging in healthy practices, you can enhance results while avoiding the reintroduction of harmful toxins into the body.

This will leave you with a greater sense of mental clarity, as well as improved physical vitality.

Take it Easy

Rest and relaxation are essential following acupuncture.
Although some people experience significant energy boosts after their acupuncture sessions, it is best not to act on this surge of energy.
A period of rest will enhance the physical and emotional restoration process that begins during each acupuncture session and continues long after you’ve left.

Stay Hydrated

In addition to drinking plenty of water, it is important to avoid caffeine and alcohol. Not only do these substances have a dehydrating effect, they can throw off your physical and emotional awareness.
If the goal of acupuncture is to heighten the senses, the last thing you want is to immediately mask them with booze or coffee.

Eat Healthy

Caffeine and alcohol are by no means the only substances that will blunt the mental clarity brought about by acupuncture.
Fast food and processed snacks also act as drugs, especially if they are high in sugar.
Replace processed foods with fruits, vegetables, and healthy sources of protein.
It is also imperative to drink plenty of water.

Avoid Ice And Cold Treatments

Few things stunt the energy flow imparted by acupuncture faster than an ice pack. Not only does cold halt progress, it can actually cause further pain. Instead, pain relief should be brought about via the careful application of heat packs.

Massage is Okay

Massage is perfectly acceptable after acupuncture, and in some cases, can actually enhance benefits by promoting a calm, rested state.
Post-acupuncture massage is particularly beneficial for those who seek assistance with muscle pain and trigger points.

Be Patient

In today's fast-paced society, anything that doesn't have an immediate effect is quickly discarded in favor of an instant gratitude solution.
For this reason, many people find it very difficult to wait it out before achieving the full benefits of acupuncture.
Some acupuncture patients are particularly frustrated when the areas treated through acupuncture feel worse before they get better.
For those who struggle with this concept, try meditation, which can help you release problematic mental chatter and feelings of anxiety.

10 Top acupunture mtyhs

Following thousands of years of success in China, acupuncture's efficacy has been confirmed by the United States National Institute of Health. Despite this scientific verification, several myths remain. A few of the most concerning are highlighted below:

1. Acupuncture is painful.

The first thing most people ask when considering acupuncture is: "Does acupuncture hurt?" This fear is understandable, but the needles used for acupuncture are only slightly thicker than a human hair. 

Trained acupuncturists take great care to ensure that these needles do not cause pain. 

In most cases patients find it so relaxing that they even fall asleep during a treatment.

2. Acupuncture is outdated folk medicine.

Acupuncture has been around for a long, long time, but that doesn't make it outdated. 

Several recent studies indicate that acupuncture is an effective solution for many common health complaints from anxiety to chronic back pain. 

One significant meta-analysis study of 17,922 patients concluded that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain and is therefore a reasonable referral option.

3. Only private practitioners offer acupuncture.

As acupuncture continues to gain recognition as a viable treatment modality and alternative to many costly and addictive pharmaceutical treatments that are mainstream in the West, it will more frequently be applied in large hospital settings, as well as in smaller, more intimate interdisciplinary clinics. 

4. Acupuncture is purely an Eastern practice.

This healing method originated in ancient China over 3,000 years ago and from there expanded into Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the Middle East and Europe. 

Since then, acupuncture has become firmly accepted in the West. So much so that on July 22^nd, 2016 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics proposed the reclassification of acupuncture from “a new and emerging Profession,” to a unique, defined occupation with its own code. 

The proposed code is in the category of “Diagnosing and Treating Healthcare Practitioners”, which is the same category in which physicians and surgeons are classified.

5. Acupuncture is expensive.

Acupuncture can be surprisingly affordable, both in the short and long-term. It is used to prevent a wide array of chronic health conditions, which between drugs, standard therapy, and hospital visits, could otherwise be quite expensive. 

Insurers are increasingly demonstrating a willingness to cover acupuncture, although some will only do so if other therapies prove ineffective. 

6. Acupuncture merely treats acute physical pain.

Although acupuncture is most commonly known for treatment of pain disorders, it is also effective for many other health conditions, including mental/emotional health concerns. 

In addition to safely and effectively treating acute and chronic pain disorders, satisfied patients have also reported success with acupuncture treatments for anxiety, depression, infertility, insomnia and allergies to name a few.

7. Acupuncture is a placebo.

Many skeptics attribute the benefits of acupuncture to the placebo effect. 

In doing so, they discount the growing scientific evidence that backs up acupuncture as a valid treatment.

8. Patients can easily get addicted to acupuncture.

While patients tend to be very enthusiastic about acupuncture and its benefits, there is little documented evidence of addiction. 

However, for some patients, a regular treatment schedule may be needed in order to enjoy long-term symptom management.

9. Acupuncture is unhygienic.

The fear of needles sometimes has little to do with associated pain, and instead, is sparked by hygiene concerns. 

Some skeptics believe that acupuncture needles transfer illnesses from one patient to the next. 

In reality, acupuncturists use sterilized, individually packaged, single use, disposable filiform (not hypodermic) needles for all patients. 

Each needle after use is then properly disposed of in a sharps biohazard container exactly the same as those used in hospitals. 

The risk of infection from an acupuncture needle is extremely low.

10. Acupuncture works miracles.

Acupuncture can significantly improve health if used correctly as prescribed and performed by a qualified licensed practitioner; however its efficacy may be limited if not used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle. 

To enjoy the full benefits of acupuncture, patients may be encouraged to follow prescribed dietary and lifestyle modifications, which may include eating a more balanced diet, regular exercise, in addition to some activities that may mitigate the negative impacts of stress such as yoga, tai chi or massage.

Acupuncture can promote quick self-healing and long-term wellbeing. 

It may not be a preferred solution for all of life's ailments, but if you can separate fact from fiction, you'll know when to turn to acupuncture as an effective alternative to traditional treatments.

Benefit acupuncture

Acupuncture Is Increasing In Popularity Among Celebrities Wishing To Improve Their Health And State Of Mind Naturally.

The therapy is not new though. In fact, it was accepted as a complement to western medicine, in 1997, by the National Institute of Health. Since then a long list of purported health benefits has been linked to this ancient Chinese medicinal practice.

 

Does Acupuncture Work?

A study by Australian researchers has found acupuncture is just as effective for pain relief as analgesic drugs. Emergency physicians at The Alfred, Northern, Cabrini and Epworth hospitals partnered with RMIT’s school of health sciences.

They wanted to see if this ancient therapy could relieve acute pain in hundreds of patients with either lower-back pain, sprained ankles or migraines.

”Acupuncture was equivalent to what we defined as conventional medicine standard care, which was strong oral analgesia, such as Endone, Panadeine Forte, Voltaren and Valium,” says Dr Michael Ben-Meir, director of Cabrini Hospital’s emergency department.
He continues; “The randomised controlled study of about 550 patients also found that the combination of acupuncture with standard pharmaceutical care delivered equivalent pain relief to acupuncture alone or standard care alone.”

“It is particularly good for people who do not want drugs, such as pregnant women, and for those whose pain is not relieved by Western medicine,” he explains.

”I find that it doesn’t always help all patients, but occasionally it’s the thing that really shifts them and gets them home and gets their symptoms resolved,” he says.

”It has an effect, there’s no doubt about that. It’s just, when do you use it? How often? Which points? And who delivers it? There’s a lot to be thought about and analysed before something like this is a standard therapy.”
Dr Ben-Meir continues; “Although the exact mechanisms of acupuncture remained unclear, this was also the case for some Western medicines.”

“Rising health costs should encourage more scientific assessment of low-risk complementary medicines because new drugs were expensive to develop and could cause side effects,” he explains.

The Health Benefits Of Acupuncture:

Weight Loss:

A 2009 study, published in the journal Nature, shows that this ancient Chinese therapy can be used to significantly reduce body weight and improve the outcomes of obesity. It was shown to allow for better outcomes than weight control drugs or lifestyle changes alone.

It works by stimulating certain nerves and muscles which improve energy flow and release endorphins, which stop you from craving more food and over indulging. Acupuncture will be most effective when supported with a healthy eating plan.

Headaches:

A study published earlier this year found that a fifteen-minute acupuncture treatment has the ability to improve  migraine headaches. This is achieved by increasing blood flow in the body tissues.
A 2015 study found that the use of the drug BoNTA in conjunction with acupuncture improved the frequency and severity of migraine.

Depression:

A 2013 study found that acupuncture could be a more efficient treatment then fluoxetine (Prozac). This is because it triggers endorphin stimulation in the brain. It also works faster than Prozac to relieve depression.

Infertility:

The American Pregnancy Association claims that a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicines could improve ovarian and follicular function.

The treatment could also increase blood flow to the uterus lining. This would help the lining to become thicker and richer.

Insomnia:

A 2016 study, published earlier this year in the Journal of Integrative Medicine, found that acupuncture could be used to treat insomnia. It helps to balance hormones in the body and reduce stress. Both of which are factors that can interrupt sleep.

It’s important to remember that everyone is unique and will experience different benefits as a result of any medical treatment.

Celebrities Who Use Acupuncture:

These celebrities have used acupuncture for everything from stress to weight loss, healthy skin to infertility:

Jennifer Aniston

Sheryl Crow

Matt Damon

Kim Kardashian

Penelope Cruz

Madonna

Gwyneth Paltrow

Elle Macpherson

@longevitymag14 December 2016

8 Celebrities Who Use Acupuncture

 
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