If you are suffering from a painful, irritating or chronic condition, perhaps you are curious about whether acupuncture can help. The best way to discover the potential of acupuncture to address your physical afflictions is to spend some serious time studying the topic. The information found below serves as a terrific starting point.
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.
Since acupuncture is a form of alternative treatment, the cost is not likely to be covered by traditional insurance. Sometimes it only takes one treatment to get symptomatic relief, so the cost is not prohibitive. If several treatments are needed the cost of treatment may become too expensive to continue.
Remember that acupuncture does not use needles. Many people think that they are being stuck with small needles that hurt, but this isn’t the case. Tiny, solid and sterile little pins that are about the thickness of a strand of hair are what are used for acupuncture. Many of them are flexible, and since they aren’t hollow, they rarely cause pain.
Check your health insurance before scheduling any visits at an acupuncture clinic. There might be programs or treatments that have coverage, and others which may not be covered. Prior to treatment, check out insurance issues with both your insurance company and the acupuncturist.
The needles used for acupuncture do not hurt. You might think that you are going to experience pain, but this is not true. These needles are nothing like the needles used for injections or blood draws. They are so tiny, you will barely feel them being inserted into your skin.
If on your first trip to receive acupuncture you don’t click well with the therapist, try not to dismiss acupuncture altogether! Sometimes it can take a while to find someone who you are completely comfortable with. Being fully relaxed can really help you to get the most from your acupuncture visit.
Familiarize yourself with the various acupuncture specialists in your area. Just like any health practitioner out there, there are good acupuncturists and there are bad ones too. Look for reviews written by clients and get in touch with your local Better Business Bureau for some useful information on different practitioners. The more research you do, the wiser choice you can make.
Acupuncture is based on the Chinese theory that stimulating specific nerve centers can relieve pain and some diseases. Very fine needles are inserted at these points and manipulated either manually or by electricity. The alternative practice of acupressure is sometimes as effective as acupuncture, but its success often depends of the type of ailment needing treatment.
If the health insurance offered by your employer does not cover acupuncture, consider writing a letter to human resources. If you have colleagues who wish to undergo acupuncture treatment, recruit them to speak to Human Resources officers. If lots of people write in and request coverage, it may be added.
When you schedule your session, mention any vitamins or supplements you’ve been taking. Your acupuncturist may want you to temporarily cease taking some of them. While providing your body with extra nutrients is always a good thing, some of the supplements may cause mild side effects when taken on the day of an acupuncture session.
Don’t rule acupunture out if you don’t feel a big difference after your first session. It can take time to really see the results of acupuncture, especially if your body is full of toxins. Commit to at least three sessions, and decide after that whether or not your treatments are working for you.
When you’re looking for an acupuncturist, make sure they’re NCCAOM certified. To get NCCAOM certification, a practitioner must receive a significant amount of training and pass a national exam. When you’re letting someone stick needles into your body, you want to be sure that they’re an expert on what they’re doing.
Always go to your acupuncture appointment early. You should not feel rushed when going to your appointment or relaxing will be difficult. Leave a few minutes early and take the time to walk slowly. Read a magazine in the waiting room for a few minutes or listen to some relaxing music.
If a frustrating health concern or other physical issue has been making your life difficult, you may have grown interested in the subject of acupuncture. The material above is intended to help you begin the learning process to see if relief may actually be close at hand. Use the advice liberally and do not be afraid to go outside your typical comfort zone.
