If you’ve been dealing with pain lately or are recovering from certain types of accidents like car accidents, you may have thought about booking an acupuncture session to get relief. Unlike other types of pain treatments, acupuncture takes a holistic approach to health and uses very thin needles on specific parts of your body to help you feel better. This may help stimulate blood flow and aid your body’s built-in painkillers to soothe you. If you’ve never had a treatment before, though, it can seem scary or intimidating at first. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be that way! Simply being prepared with a few key facts can help you decide whether acupuncture is right for you.
1. It Can Help a Variety of Conditions
Acupuncture is sometimes associated with other holistic treatments like massages and their benefits, such as stress relief and relaxation. While the treatment can help you relieve stress, there’s also evidence it may help improve a variety of other conditions. These conditions vary widely and can include everything from arthritis to chronic fatigue to insomnia to depression and anxiety. Common health issues like back pain, migraines, asthma, high blood pressure and digestive problems could also potentially be ameliorated through regular acupuncture therapy.
2. It Shouldn’t Be Painful
If you’ve ever seen photos of acupuncture before and are worried that it might be painful, you may be relieved to know that if done properly, it shouldn’t hurt. In fact, many people report feeling release instead of pain when the needles are inserted. The insertion might cause slight momentary discomfort, but be sure to tell your practitioner if it hurts more than a little. After about ten to twenty minutes, your practitioner will remove the needles, which should be a painless process as well.
3. Eat Before Your Treatment
While you might think that it’s not a good idea to go into a treatment session with a full stomach, it can actually help you feel better to eat something a few hours beforehand. Even if you don’t eat a full meal, just a snack can give you the energy you need to make the most of your treatment. If you go without having eaten, you could risk lightheadedness or fainting.
4. Everyone’s Body Responds Differently
Finally, keep in mind that because acupuncture is a holistic treatment, everyone’s body is likely to respond to it in different ways. Your practitioner will likely ask you a series of questions before your first appointment to gauge your overall health and individual needs, but be aware that you may not have the same results others you know may have had. Some people feel more alert and energized than usual after a treatment, for example, whereas others may feel more calm and relaxed. In either case, you may want more than one treatment to maximize your results.
If you’ve been needing pain or stress relief lately, consider booking an acupuncture treatment. Whether you’re suffering from physical pain, chronic conditions like arthritis or emotional issues like anxiety and depression, acupuncture could help you feel better. Keep these facts in mind before you book an appointment and you can decide whether getting acupuncture is right for you.