Are you familiar with acupuncture? You may immediately envision needles being stuck in you in lots of areas. The fact is that the rewards which come from this treatment are plentiful. Keep reading to find out more about this wonderful therapy.
Before an acupuncture appointment, do not eat a heavy meal. You will be lying down on your stomach most of the time during your session. This may cause you stomach discomfort if your belly is full. Instead, eat a light, easily digestible meal, or just nibble on a few snacks.
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.
When determining which acupuncturist to use, make sure you find out whether the person is NCCAOM certified. This certification indicates that the doctor took an exam and finished a comprehensive program. While it is not a guarantee that the acupuncturist will be the right fit for you, it is a good start.
Be careful about what you eat or drink before an acupuncture session. If you consume something that stains your tongue, such as a piece of candy or colored drink, it’ll be difficult for your acupuncturist to get an accurate reading from your tongue. If you slip up and have something you shouldn’t have, be sure to let them know.
An acupuncturist might not be a medical doctor, but you should still be sure that they’re aware of your medical history. Fill them in on your family’s health issues, and make sure they know about any medications you’ve been taking. The more information they have, the better picture they’ll have of your health and the more they’ll be able to do to help you.
Always ask to see credentials for your acupuncture practitioner before a session. In some areas, there are specific regulations for practicing this alternative therapy, and in others, no regulations exist. Make sure that you only visit with someone reputable in order to keep yourself safe and comfortable during your treatment process.
If you are nervous about acupuncture, schedule a time to meet with a practitioner and just talk before you begin treatment. Oftentimes, you can get a lot of questions answered and some clarification about your concerns from an initial consultation. This can help to ease your mind, making your treatment process that much more effective.
Do not go to your acupuncture appointment hungry or full. Make sure to have a healthy snack about an hour before your appointment. Do not go with an empty stomach or after a large meal. Being to full or hungry way makes it much more difficult to relax during your acupuncture appointment.
Do some research online when searching for a reputable acupuncturist. You can do a simple search via local area. There are also specific acupuncture directories that may be of assistance, such as www.acufinder.com. NCCAOM is the acronym for the licensing body of acupuncturists in the United States, which can assist you in finding a qualified practitioner.
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.
While acupuncture is considered a very safe procedure, there can be some minor side effects following treatment. It may cause a worsening of the original symptoms in some cases. This is usually temporary. The treatment may also bring on headaches, fatigue, lightheadedness or nausea. These side effects usually disappear quickly.
There is quite a bit of mystery surrounding the benefits of acupuncture. Medically speaking acupuncture may help your body produce natural pain-killing chemicals and possibly help your body release them when needed. Traditionally, acupuncture will help balance the way energy flows through your body. This energy flow is called your qi.
Educate yourself on acupuncture before you go for a session. Read up on both Oriental acupuncture and modern practices. You may also want to speak to practitioners. When it comes to acupuncture, many people are skeptical. It’ll be easier to avoid that skepticism and trust in your acupuncturist when you know more about its history.
You should not drink coffee before an acupuncture treatment. Coffee has stimulation properties and will make it hard for you to relax during your treatment. Your acupuncturist will have a hard time measuring your pulse if you drink coffee. If possible, wait until after your appointment to have some coffee.
While it doesn’t happen often, you may experience bruising as a result of your acupuncture treatment. It is nothing to worry about, and there is no way to tell ahead of time if you are prone to bruising or not. It will happen to some patients regardless of how gentle the doctor is or how good their methods are.
If you have been suffering from strong migraines, give acupuncture a chance. There are different treatments acupuncturists can use to relieve your pain. Let your acupuncturist know about your migraine and try describing the pain as best as you can. Meet with your acupuncturist regularly for a few months to treat your problem.
In most areas, an acupuncturist has to have a license. Ask to see this as you are interviewing your potential choices. These licenses often call for thousands of hours of training along with being recertified from time to time. Actual medical doctors don’t need a licence to practice acupuncture, though.
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