In a nutshell, acupuncture is the ancient art of inserting thin needles into specific areas of the body. While the practice stems mostly from Traditional Chinese Medicine, it can be found in different Asian cultures as well.
The ancient Chinese cracked the body’s health code. They devised one of the best methods for improving physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being, and they did it 1000’s of years ago. Amazing, right?!
What was once not accepted by the mainstream medical industry is now being recognized as one of the most effective practices for achieving optimal health and improving quality of life.
Common Acupuncture Specialties
When one thinks of acupuncture, needles for back pain often come to mind. And that isn’t wrong, however, there are many unique methods of acupuncture and for many areas of the body.
Neuro Enhancing Acupuncture
Specific acupoints have connections to different regions of the brain. Stimulating specific acupoints can change the neuroplasticity of the brain. Positively hitting the right acupoints can reduce pain, improve sleep, lessen migraines, improve mental health, and much more.
Electro-Acupuncture
Electroacupuncture is a modern-day variation of the ancient practice. The practice is a souped up version of acupuncture with the addition of electricity.
How does it work? Needles are placed in the same spots as traditional acupuncture. An electrode lead is attached to the needles, the result is a vibration or gentle hum as the electric current runs between the needles at a similar frequency to what the body uses to heal.
Further, the controlled amount of electricity simulates a similar experience to which an acupuncturist would give. You could think of electricity as the acupuncturist’s little helper that helps them hit an exact amount of stimulation.
Dry needling
With this method, thin needles are inserted in or close to trigger points. The needles trigger contractions within the muscles, helping them to relieve pain and restore range of motion.
Dry needling works well as both a standalone treatment and as part of a greater health program that focuses on other elements of a healthy lifestyle. Make sure and see a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac). L.Ac’s have far more training, understanding, and passion for the power of the needle and trigger point release than other providers.
Orthopedic Acupuncture
This type of acupuncture combines Traditional Chinese medicine with musculoskeletal manipulation. It’s used to help heal soft tissue damage, restore postural imbalances, and help heal other musculoskeletal ailments.
A Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner creates an orthopedic TCM plan of action after evaluating orthopedic conditions. They then use trigger points and motor points to communicate with the body to help heal it.
Scalp Acupuncture
Yes, acupuncture has the ability to revitalize your brain cells! A safe and effective treatment, this type of acupuncture focuses on treating certain brain conditions amongst many other concerns.
In clinical and animal-based research, acupuncture can disengage toxic proteins that are associated with neurological diseases. Because neurological diseases are disorders of the nervous system (including the brain), scalp acupuncture can help to restore balance in neurological areas.
Scalp acupuncture offers promising neuroprotective benefits that can help to combat the worldwide epidemic of neurological disorders and concussions..
What To Know Before You Start
As with any profession, there are good apples and bad apples. Doing your homework to find a good acupuncturist is necessary to avoid doing more harm than good.
Verify Credentials
Make sure that your potential acupuncturist is a licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac). A licensed and/or board-certified acupuncturist has proven that they are knowledgeable and are capable of helping you on your healing journey. Check out their website, look at their LinkedIn profile, and make sure that they have stellar credentials and reviews.
Social Proof
You want to make sure that other people have benefited from your potential acupuncturist. It’s probably not a good sign if you Google the acupuncturist and find that they have a million 1-Star ratings.
Successful acupuncturists, unless they are brand new, have left behind a trail of happy clients that have benefited from their services. A lot of positive social proof gives you the certainty that you need to walk in without any fear or doubts. You will be in good hands!
Find One That Meets Your Needs
Acupuncture itself is a big animal that breaks up into different areas. Some acupuncturists may focus on dry needling/anatomical acupuncture and others may offer a variety of different acupuncture types.
What are you struggling with? Back pain? Emotional issues? Sports recovery?
Whatever your goal is, find an acupuncturist that meets your specific needs.
Evaluate Their Communication Style
If you find an acupuncturist that has an abundance of experience and credentials, perfect. However, ensure that the acupuncturist’s communication style resonates with you.
Ask them questions and see how they respond. Do they respect you? Do they value your say in the decision-making process?
If they have the credentials and experience, and they value you as a person; you’ve found a great acupuncturist, a powerful teammate!
Recap
Acupuncture is a timeless practice that benefits people today just as it did thousands of years ago. With the intervention of technology, there are even more possibilities than ever before.
If you’re ready to book your very first acupuncture appointment, you can get started today by booking with Dr. Hilary Patzer or Roisin Thompson at JADA Studios. Along with acupuncture, they also specialize in massage and Success Coaching.