A Powerful Healing Modality with Ancient Roots
Acupuncture is a powerful healing modality with ancient roots, originating more than 5000 years ago, but with significant contemporary relevance. Strictly speaking, acupuncture is the insertion of fine metal needles into specific places on the body for relieving pain, restoring health, or preventing disease. But it’s a lot more than that. Fine metal needles are used, to be sure, but we might also use acupressure, medical laser, electrical stimulation, herbal therapies, and diet and exercise recommendations.
The style of acupuncture we perform at Wellspring is Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM), based on the original 3500-year-old Chinese medical classics. Other more recent schools of Chinese medicine include TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), Five Element Theory, Japanese acupuncture, Korean acupuncture, or dry needling.
What Is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a primary health care modality that has flourished in China for over 3,500 years and is widely used throughout Asia, Europe, Australia, and the Americas. It is considered one of the newest and most promising primary health care provisions in this country. Acupuncture has grown as both western and oriental health care providers, medical researchers, and the public experience it, integrate it in their health care and spread its benefits. Acupuncture is far more than a pain relief technique of inserting tiny threadlike needles certain points of the body. Acupuncture’s complex system of diagnostic procedures takes into consideration you as a whole, not just an isolated symptom. Acupuncture is practiced based on discerning the “root and branch” or the cause and the cause and symptoms, and treating accordingly. Modern acupuncturists may use a number of modalities to treat; certain physical therapies and equipment, herbal medicine, moxibustion and nutrition, as well as the fine needles. Acupuncture treats to strengthen your physical body, prevent disease, control pain, and achieve longevity. You will find the aim, as practiced in oriental medicine in general, is not limited to ridding symptoms or relieving pain. The larger picture is to increase both the quality of your life and your ability to function.
How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture is a therapy which uses natural laws and energetics with the application of needles, heat, electric stimulation or pressure to specific “points” on the body. These points are grouped along specific pathways or channels that cross the body. These pathways are similar to the electromagnetic lines of force of a magnet. As long as the energy flows freely through these pathways, health is maintained. When the flow of energy is either absent, deficient, interrupted, excessive or blocked in an area, health is disrupted, resulting in illness or pain. By stimulating appropriate acupuncture points along these channels, the energy is released and regulated, and health is restored. Studies indicate that acupuncture influences the central and peripheral nervous system. Evidence shows it releases endorphins from the brain which make acupuncture particularly effective in pain control. Among a host of factors, acupuncture affects blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in the blood, the functioning of the gastrointestinal system and the activity of the endocrine and reproductive systems. Acupuncture works with the body, harmonizing and balancing energy. It improves circulation of blood and energy and allows the body to heal itself more quickly and more completely.
What should you expect during treatment?
Most patients find the treatment very relaxing, which brings on a feeling of well-being. Most are surprised at how comfortable they are during treatment and how easily the needles are placed. Some people even go to sleep during treatment. A patient may feel a slight sensation upon entry and then pressure or a “dull” or “surging” reaction when the needle reaches the “chi” or correct point. The tiny thin needles are specifically designed to be virtually painless. Rest assured, the needles are far different from the hypodermic needles used in injections.
Is acupuncture safe?
One of the great advantages of acupuncture is the absence of serious side effects. Needles generally do not cause bleeding on entry or removal, and are one time disposable needles.
What if you absolutely hate needles?
We will use one of several other methods that do not require the use of needles, such as finger pressure, laser, or electric microcurrent stimulation.
How many treatments are necessary?
Each person is unique with an individualized treatment plan. No two conditions or people respond exactly the same. The length of treatment depends on the type, severity and duration of the condition, and your physical and emotional state at the time of treatment. Both the examination and your response can give us an idea. In all cases Dr Walker will do an evaluation with you to assess your progress. In order to get the best therapeutic results, it is important to follow the treatment plan and recommendations carefully. It is important to complete the course of therapy to restore health. Once your condition is stabilized, we recommend you maintain that state of balance by coming in for treatment four times a year, around the change of seasons.
If you have any questions…..
About whether or not acupuncture is for you or about any of our programs, Dr Walker is available for a free 10 minute consultation in person or by phone as time permits. Also, about your response to treatment: If you have any problems, concerns, questions, or emergencies, please call me at (828) 265-0001. When my answering service or machine responds to your call, please leave a message. I call in for messages or they are relayed to me. Your call will be returned in a timely manner during business hours.
Find out more about Acupuncture in our Frequently Asked Questions section.