I have dealt with different medical problems for years. To look at me, you wouldn’t think I was sick. But it has been a long road for me with countless doctor visits and medications. I was at my lowest point in March 2010. Pills that were supposed to make me feel better did so for a little while only to later give me terrible side effects. Without divulging my entire medical history, I will just say that things were not good. Frustrated with traditional western medicine and continued lack of bedside manner from most doctors, I turned to acupuncture.
Theory behind Acupuncture
Acupuncture (or needling as it is sometimes referred to) originated in China and has been practiced for over 2500 years. It takes advantage of fourteen meridians in the human body along which energy called Qi (pronounced chee) flows. When these energy channels are blocked and not flowing freely, the result is illness. By inserting very thin needles in strategic locations related to the illness, an acupuncturist can unblock and rebalance Qi. Wikipedia is a great site to learn about acupuncture in greater detail.
What to Expect with Acupuncture
Initial Consultation– My first acupuncture appointment was a consultation to discuss my symptoms and my lifestyle. I also told her what medications I was taking. At the end of the $35 consultation, I was informed that I would need 12 or more $65 weekly sessions to help get my issues under control. For chronic illnesses that have been going on for a long time, numerous sessions are always necessary. Lesser conditions are always easier to treat.
Tongue and Pulse Readings at Every Session– My acupuncturist checks my tongue and pulse at every session. In acupuncture, this is a routine part of every visit. The tongue is a great tool for seeing what organs in the body are afflicted. According to Acupuncture.com they will look for a ‘coating’ on the tongue, its color, thickness and overall appearance, as well as the shape of the tongue. For instance, my tongue had a thick white coating that covered much of it. And no, it can’t be brushed off with a toothbrush. I had always thought my tongue looked kind of white, but just thought that was the norm. Not surprisingly, I later investigated and found that my husband’s and daughter’s tongues were ‘healthy’ with a pink color and just a light coating.
Taking the pulse before acupuncture is just another way of ‘seeing’ inside the body. The pulse information is determined by the location on the wrist it’s taken and the ‘depth’ at which pressure is applied. The pulse, in Chinese medicine, is not simply a heart rate. If you are interested, Acupuncture.com has an article that goes into great detail about the significance of the pulse.
Needles and Herbs- Now comes the scary part. So many people are afraid of needles, and honestly, I don’t particularly care for them either. I was nervous. Would acupuncture feel like getting a shot over and over and over? It is quite the opposite actually. I lie down and listen to the soothing music playing softly in the background. The room is warm and comforting. After checking my pulse and tongue, my acupuncturist swiftly taps several thin needles in strategic points all over my body. Most of them I do not feel, but there are always a couple that give me an aching sensation. This is not at all unusual and is indicative of where my medical issues reside during that particular session. After getting needled, I then lay quietly for 30 minutes listening to music and really feeling completely relaxed. At the end, depending on my issue at that time, her assistant may use a slow burning herb (moxibustion) to even further stimulate the movement of Qi by heating the needles. Moxibustion LITERALLY takes the pain away in minutes. Even ibuprofen never relieves my pain that quickly and effectively. By the time my acupuncture sessions are over, I feel energized and refreshed.
Natural herbs are also many times a part of an acupuncture treatment plan. I was hesitant at first to take Chinese herbs that I knew nothing about. Although I have no problems with the pills, I still take smaller dosages as a precaution. However, herbs are intended to help the acupuncture work more effectively.
Present Day
I currently only do one acupuncture session a month as sort of a ‘maintenance’ plan. Every month I go through various stressors only to be revived once again by a session. Can I say that I am cured? No. But I haven’t felt this good in a long time and other than the occasional Chinese herb, I am off all synthetic pharmaceuticals and most of my symptoms are much more manageable. It is important to be careful and maintain a healthy lifestyle to reap the benefits of acupuncture. For those of you who think it is not real medicine, I challenge you to find out for yourself. Find a licensed acupuncturist with good reviews and sign up for a consultation. For many, as was in my case, medical insurance gives a discount for unlimited visits. Yes, it is a time commitment and expensive. And if you are one of the many Americans who expects instant gratification, then you will be disappointed. But I can tell you that acupuncture can help, if you give it time.