SOHMA Integrative Medicine

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acupuncture in lakewood

Does Acupuncture Actually Do Anything?

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Acupuncture is an ancient treatment that’s been used for centuries.

What is acupuncture? What is it used for? How does it work? And does it really do anything?

First, let’s answer what acupuncture is. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese method used to alleviate some health conditions and reduce pain among other ailments. The practice of acupuncture involves the practitioner inserting extremely thin needles, imagine the thickness of a human hair, into various parts of the body. These one-time-use sterile needles are inserted into strategic points called acupuncture points or “acupoints”. When triggered, the acupoints prompt the body to release natural chemicals to alleviate symptoms and fight illnesses.

Join us as we answer other questions about this ancient form of natural healing.

What is Acupuncture Used For?

Acupuncture is used to help treat many different symptoms and conditions, and every patient’s treatment will differ from person to person. Acupuncture has been shown to treat conditions ranging from allergies to chronic pain. 

Other symptoms and conditions acupuncture treats include: 

  • Tendonitis
  • Arthritis
  • Lower/Upper Back Pain
  • Neck Pain
  • Headaches and Migraines
  • Dental Pain
  • Injuries 
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Sprains

We know how painful these conditions can be. To treat any conditions with acupuncture a proper diagnosis needs to be made. After all, the only way to begin healing is by taking care of the root cause.

How does Acupuncture Work?

When your acupuncture points are activated by the needles, it is said to balance the energies in your body, which would be traditionally referred to as qi (chi). This causes your body to release natural chemicals into your muscles, spinal cord, brain, and other body parts. 

This re-balancing of chemicals promotes mental and physical health by stimulating the body’s natural healing capabilities. Acupuncture has been shown to successfully make a positive difference in a patient’s conditions that many insurance providers now cover acupuncture therapy potentially saving hundreds of dollars or more without the need for invasive procedures like surgery.

Does Acupuncture Really Do Anything?

Acupuncture is a results-based therapy that has shown to make a difference in the lives of many patients who follow through with it. Time and time again the short and long-term benefits of acupuncture have been seen in patients, athletes, and celebrities. Helping to reduce pain can lead to proper sleep and rest. Uninterrupted sleep means you can rest pain-free which is necessary for the body to naturally heal itself. Though not everyone reacts the same way to acupuncture therapy.

In some cases, patients will see a noticeable change in a single session, while the majority of patients will take 2-4 days afterward to feel the therapeutic benefits. It’s rare for a single session of acupuncture to be enough to treat the majority of patients. Usually, major results will begin to be felt after about 3 treatment sessions while more severe cases may take as many as 6 treatment sessions. The normal treatment for the majority of patients is a single treatment session per week. Though 2 times per week may be recommended for patients with a great deal of pain.

Is Acupuncture Therapy for You?

Almost everyone can take part in acupuncture therapy. In modern days acupuncture treatment has become an exceptionally safe and reliable treatment. It has become standard practice to dispose of all needles after treatment, reducing the risk of infection to near zero. Currently, there is no indication that acupuncture can cause any issues during pregnancy, though it is generally recommended to avoid acupuncture during the first trimester, and you should consult your primary care provider to ensure it is safe for you to have acupuncture treatment done.

You should avoid acupuncture therapy if you suffer from bleeding disorders or are taking blood thinners or have a pacemaker. Blood thinners and bleeding disorders pose a higher risk of bleeding from the needles. Some acupuncture therapy involves small electrical pulses applied to the needles which can cause complications with a pacemaker.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

5 Questions to Ask Your Medical Professional About Acupuncture

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Acupuncture has been known to help people manage discomfort and pain. Though many people are unsure of whether or not they should go through with treatment out of fear of needles. Or perhaps are generally unsure of how acupuncture works.

Many people know about Acupuncture as the traditional Chinese method that uses needles throughout the body but feel like they need a little bit more information. Today we are going to go through 5 questions you should ask a medical professional about acupuncture if you are unsure about receiving treatment.

What Conditions are Treated Using Acupuncture?

Acupuncture has been used primarily to relieve pain and irritation caused by a variety of diseases and conditions. As an example acupuncture can help with reducing nausea caused by chemotherapy or surgical anesthesia. Acupuncture has also been used in treating the following:

  • Oral/Dental Pain
  • Headaches and Migraines
  • Neck Pain
  • Lower Back Pain
  • Arthritis
  • Injuries
  • Tendonitis

Many people know how painful these ailments can be. Identifying if your condition can be treated by acupuncture  is an important question to ask, as a proper diagnosis is necessary in order to mitigate discomfort.

Do The Needles Hurt?

This may be the #1 concern of every patient prior to their first acupuncture appointment. People ask about the pain involved with having Acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture needles are extremely thin. The needles are no thicker than a human hair. Most people report feeling little to no pain when the needles are placed. Once the treatment session is over, patients tend to feel energized or relaxed. However, the needles can cause temporary soreness.

How Long Before I See Results?

This question has a varied answer depending on each individual patient. Usually it takes about 2-4 days to feel the therapeutic benefits. Though often a single session is not enough as a treatment and the majority of patients begin to feel long term results after about 3 treatment sessions while others may require as many as 6. 

Normally a single treatment session per week is advised for most people in order to manage their symptoms and lessen their pain. Though depending on the amount of pain being dealt with 2 sessions per week can be managed. Based on the progression of the condition, treatment can be reduced to a single session per week. After the patient’s condition has been cleared they could decide to end acupuncture treatment.

Is Acupuncture Safe?

Acupuncture treatment in modern days has become an extremely safe and reliable treatment. With the use of single-use disposable needles being standard practice, the risk of infection is minimal. 

There are a few exceptions, for example if you are suffering from a bleeding disorder or are taking blood thinners, this can increase the risk of bleeding from the needles. Having a pacemaker can also cause complications as some acupuncture therapy involves applying a small electrical pulse through the needles which can hinder the operations of a pacemaker. Most common side effects are:

  • Soreness
  • Minor Bleeding
  • Bruising

While current information indicates that acupuncture is safe for most pregnancies, it is generally  recommended to avoid the practice during the first trimester of pregnancy.

How Should I Prepare for Acupuncture

The first thing you should do is find a reliable Acupuncture practitioner. At SOHMA Integrative Medicine in Long Beach CA an experienced and licensed Acupuncture practitioner will be performing the treatments that last 20 minutes on average.

Avoid drinking coffee, sodas, or energy drinks containing caffeine for at least 2 hours prior to treatment. As caffeine can cause your body to increase its fight or flight response which can make inserting the needles difficult.

Wear comfortable loose fitting clothes so the practitioner can have easy access to your arms, legs and back.

Acupuncture on its own is a natural way for the body to begin recovery, though combining Acupuncture with other treatment options can increase results.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.