Acupuncture
Acupuncture to treat your ailments
Acupuncture is a branch of Chinese medicine which has been practiced for over four millennia. The treatments consist of inserting fine needles into highly specific points on the body (acupoints).
Acupuncture can ease and support individuals of all ages by relieving pain, enhancing overall health, or treating a specific ailment.
The most common and frequent clinic visits for this treatment are extremely diverse: pain, fatigue, stress, and insomnia to menopausal disorders, seasonal allergies, or respiratory problems.
What happens during an acupuncture session?
The session proceeds in a series of steps:
- Overview: the acupuncturist prepares an overview of the patient’s general health, including personal and family medical history, medication, nutrition, and overall lifestyle. If required, she/he also performs a joint assessment to identify any affected muscle(s), and refer the patient to a physiotherapist when appropriate.
- Choice of treatment: based on the patient’s clinical signs and symptoms, the acupuncturist selects a treatment approach and chooses the various acupoints, located along pathways known as Meridians. In the case of musculoskeletal pain, this selection is based on the acupuncturist’s anatomical knowledge (trigger points).
- Insertion of needles: the patient lies on a treatment table. When the needles are inserted, the patient may feel a sensation similar to an insect bite or minor numbness, which disappears after a few seconds. It should be noted that acupuncture needles are extremely fine (barely thicker than a hair).
- Relaxation: following needle insertion, the patient rests between 10 and 20 minutes. Most patients report feeling calm and relaxed.
Acupuncture provides a sedative and soothing effect because it acts to modulate brain activity. As a result, it can have a significant impact on conditions such as insomnia, stress, anxiety, and some mental health issues. It is also an effective analgesic.
This discipline promotes the body’s natural healing mechanisms. By stimulating the body’s acupoints and restoring a strong “energy flow”, acupuncture positively impacts local circulation, tissue regeneration, and cellular repair.