Acupuncture can be a great experience for people that are informed about the process and the benefits that can result. Rather than assuming that acupuncture will be very uncomfortable or painful, keep reading on to find out the truth. The tips in this article should give you some clarity about the process!
You should not expect results immediately. While a lot of people have success with just a single appointment, a lot of others have to go a few times to get benefits. Don’t give up treatments because you assume it is not working after the first try. Changes will occur. Allow some time for the treatments to have an effect.
Although you may be very happy with the treatment you are receiving, you should not tip your acupuncturist. The service provided is like that of a medical professional and not like that of a service in a beauty salon. It is not expected to provide a tip for someone in the field of health care.
It may look like it hurts, but the eyes can be deceptive. The needles are very thin, unlike those at a regular doctor’s office. You cannot even see the needle when you stand a couple of feet from it. They involve nothing more than a small twinge of pain, but generally speaking, these treatments are actually relaxing.
Determine if and how your insurance plan covers acupuncture. Some plans cover acupuncture only if you are referred by your regular practitioner for a medical condition. Other plans cover acupuncture visits as wellness visits. Find out if your health insurance covers acupuncture so you can save some cash on the procedure.
Understand that acupuncture focus on the entire well being of you as a person. In Western culture, it’s often the norm to concentrate on symptoms, what’s ailing you immediately. That’s not true of acupuncture. It looks at the big picture and tries to help your entire body. It’s a major difference in thought.
If you feel pain during an acupuncture session, let your practitioner know. A small prick is normal when the needle is inserted, but you should not feel anything beyond that. More intense pain can mean that the practitioner hit a nerve, and this can cause you to experience adverse side effects if it is not immediately addressed.
Acupuncture pins are meant to target the chi in the body. Chi refers to your life force energy. There is an energy channel in the body and anytime there is an obstruction or anything that interferes with it, it takes the form of a physical issue in the body like pain. The pins in acupuncture can help redirect or balance the chi in your body.
If you want to get the most out of your acupuncture sessions, take steps to improve your diet. Eat more whole foods, and do your best to eliminate processed sugar. Replace coffee with tea, and drink plenty of water. Acupuncture releases toxins, and bad foods will only bring them back.
Try to have some food in your stomach to prevent nausea or possible dizziness. Eating a large meal is not a good idea though. You will want to feel comfortable during your session. This means eating a reasonable snack a couple of hours beforehand. When you finish, follow up with another light snack or meal when you feel comfortable eating.
If you feel very tired after an acupuncture treatment, you should get some rest. Acupuncture is supposed to give you some energy but you will not get this positive effect if you need some sleep. It is important to get eight hours of sleep a night until your next treatment.
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.
Oftentimes after your first acupuncture visit, you will feel some immediate pain relief. This is fairly common. Acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years and these practitioners know what they are doing. Although acupuncture is not recognized as a medical treatment, for some people it can actually cure their chronic pain.
Some patients experience a runny nose or slight flu like symptoms following an acupuncture treatment. In Chinese medicine, it is believed that colds and flus are at the root of many ailments within the body. These symptoms are just the body’s way of releasing toxins, and they typically do not last for long. Do your best to keep yourself comfortable during this time, and you will soon return to optimum health.
While you may not be an expert on acupuncture yet, you can still ask your potential practitioners questions to help you determine if they are the one for you. For example, ask them to tell you about a patient they have treated successfully and one they haven’t and then judge their answer for care and empathy.
Traditional Chinese medicine is a very interesting topic and you should learn more about different traditional home remedies. However, do not let an acupuncturist convince you to set up an appointment by referring to traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture is a science and you need to find someone who will use their medical degree to convince you they are a good acupuncturist.
On the phone, ask the practitioners you are considering how many treatments they think you will need. If you get an answer, hang up. No acupuncturist worth their weight in salt would ever give such an answer without seeing you! This is a great way to weed out the phonies.
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