What To Know For Your First Acupuncture Treatment
By Dr. Adam Broder
Acupuncture has been around for a long, long time, dating back to ancient China, and while our world is a lot different than it was then, human bodies haven’t changed much. The theories and ideas that were responsible for developing this medicine are still relevant today.
Acupuncture works by treating patterns which are diagnosed through questioning the patient about their symptoms, lifestyle and health history, palpating the pulse and abdomen, and observing the tongue, complexion, arms and legs. Treatments are administered to help bring these patterns back into balance. While there are no points in particular for migraines, menopause or stress, there are point combinations to treat patterns. From an acupuncturist’s perspective, these patterns are what lead to and sustain whatever health concerns the patient may be experiencing. Some examples of patterns are Kidney Yin Deficiency, Liver Qi Stagnation and Damp Heat.
Some people ask if needles are used to stimulate nerves. Most likely this is the case, but it only tells part of the story. Acupuncture needles are placed in points that fall on channels or meridians which make up the acupuncture channel system. This system runs up and down the entire body and transports an energetic substance known as Qi (“chi”). Qi is invisible and cannot be measured with a machine or device, but acupuncturists know it exists because it behaves in certain reliable ways. This system is separate from other systems of the body as defined by anatomy (respiratory, endocrine, etc) but it is not independent of these systems. The needle tells the body “pay attention here”, which stimulates the immune system, the nervous system, the circulatory system, and others, to work in conjunction to adjust the Qi based on the treatment approach taken by the acupuncturist.
Needles should not be painful. When the needle is inserted there may be a brief pinch but there should not be any sharpness felt after that. While you rest with the needles you may feel a dull ache, soreness, heaviness or pressure. These sensations are normal, and should be mild and comfortable if present. Less common but also normal would be itching, numbness or tingling. Overall throughout your body you should feel peaceful and relaxed. You may fall asleep, or reach a half-awake, half-asleep state. This is a result of the treatment bringing balance and calm which is helpful for healing. It isn’t necessary to be stiff as a board during the treatment. Small movements will not disturb the needles.
For the rest of the day after a treatment you’ll want to stay hydrated and nourished, and to listen to your body. It’s not uncommon to feel a little tired. If you’re doing something physical and your body is telling you to scale back or take a break, it’s important to do that. Acupuncture creates a change in your body, and sometimes your body needs to take things slow so that it can make sense of that change. It’s also helpful to pay close attention to your body over the next two days so that you can report back to the acupuncturist about how you felt after the treatment.
Because acupuncture treatments work with all different body systems at once, they can be effective for many different things. Results are not immediate though, and may be slow and subtle at first, but the treatments are cumulative and build on themselves over time. The more frequently you come in for treatment, especially at the beginning, the quicker you will see compounding results. Acupuncture creates new neural networks in the brain which takes time. Humans are creatures of habit and our bodies are no different. The body needs frequent repetition to create lasting change. Once you are feeling better it is important to consider coming in once every few weeks for a “tune up” so that your patterning doesn’t go back to how it was prior to beginning treatment.
Getting acupuncture is a great way to advocate for your health, and to try something new when other things don’t work or have stopped helping. It can also work well with whatever else you may be using to address problems such as massage or chiropractic, or lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise or meditation. Hopefully this introductory article has given you a foundational understanding of what to know and expect when beginning acupuncture treatments. Please feel free to ask additional questions so that you feel comfortable and confident with your choices. Thank you for reading.
