TL;DR
- Acupuncture helped me recover from a number of health conditions.
- Research has found that it’s effective for a wide range of health complaints, particularly for chronic pain, neck and back pain, fibromyalgia pain, allergy symptoms, and more.
- Acupuncture works by stimulating the central nervous system, promoting healing in tissues where needles are placed, and potentially through the placebo effect.
- Acupuncturists also take a holistic approach to healing that is incredibly insightful.
- Even if you don’t like needles, acupuncture could be a good option. Practitioners will design sessions around you and your concerns. There are even needle-free versions of acupuncture you can explore.
- It’s important to consult with a medical professional before starting and to find an acupuncturist who is a good fit for you.
This blog makes it pretty obvious that I am obsessed with health and wellness. I write frequently about exercising and have touched on healthy eating and various topics related to mental health (for more health-related posts, check out this link). However, there is one health practice that I love, highly recommend, and have never mentioned: acupuncture. It has aided my recovery from injuries, soothed my insomnia, and unknotted my tense shoulders.
If you are afraid of needles or think acupuncture is not for you, I encourage you to read on because acupuncture is way less scary and more beneficial than you might think. Plus, many insurances cover acupuncture. And, in Washington state, you don’t need a referral to start. So it’s easier than ever to give it a shot.
My Acupuncture Experience
I started getting acupuncture 4 years ago. After a trip to New Zealand in September 2018, I got very sick with a mysterious illness that doctors couldn’t pinpoint. Finally, in January 2019, I was diagnosed with a rare form of strep throat. My tonsils were so decimated by the infection that they had to be removed or my body wouldn’t be able to kick the infection. Luckily the surgery (and medication) mostly cured the problem.
However, a weird side effect remained: my left eye wouldn’t stop twitching. It started in December (prior to the surgery). By April, it was still going strong. The twitch wasn’t constant or dramatic. But it happened every day and was super annoying. I was dating at the time, and it was awkward to strategically turn my head to make the twitching less apparent.
My doctor hypothesized that my jaw was causing the problem and recommended surgery. However, after spending thousands of dollars on medical bills (on a grad student salary), I balked at another surgery, let alone one that might not be covered by insurance. So I tried acupuncture. Acupuncture helped my sister recover from chronic sinus infections. And I’d heard of a number of other people who had benefitted.
After 2 sessions, the twitching stopped and I was a convert. Since then, I have regularly gotten acupuncture and have found it helpful for my parade of running and climbing injuries (Achilles, hamstring, knee, hip, finger), my persistently tight neck and shoulders, and even my bouts of insomnia.
What the Research Shows On Acupuncture
This might all sound too good to be true. And, to be fair, not every person finds acupuncture effective. Nor has acupuncture been found to be effective for every health condition. It can be a helpful aid, but is certainly not a cure all. However, there is considerable research to suggest that it is a valuable tool in our health arsenal.
For example, a meta analysis (a study compiling the results of a bunch of different studies) found that people who used acupuncture to help with osteoarthritis, back pain, and headaches experienced beneficial effects from acupuncture a year later. Another study found that it was helpful for people with chronic pain. Other studies have found that acupuncture can improve allergy symptoms, post-stroke aphasia, fibromyalgia pain, and even dementia. Tons of other health conditions have been studied as well, with some (though less conclusive) evidence to suggest it’s helpful for a much wider range of conditions.
How Acupuncture Works
It’s a bit of a mystery exactly how acupuncture works. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. However, recent research suggests that it works, in part, by stimulating the central nervous system. In particular, acupuncture stimulates neurons, which in turn release chemicals that can help reduce the inflammation we experience after infections, diseases, or injuries and promote feelings of wellbeing.
Acupuncture can also affect healing in the tissues where needles are placed. This may happen as a result of increased bloodflow, promoting healing.
Finally, there’s likely a placebo effect, as with almost any health treatment. Our brains are powerful. The placebo effect can cause our bodies to release chemicals that promote healing and feelings of wellbeing. So if we believe we’re receiving a health-promoting treatment, there’s a good chance we’ll feel better. As Dumbledore told Harry, “Of course it’s happening inside your head! Why should that mean it’s not real?”
Acupuncture Takes a Holistic Approach to Healing
I often call my acupuncturists witches (not to their face and I mean it in a complementary way) because their holistic approach to observing and treating the body is so helpful… and it’s sometimes mind-blowingly insightful.
For example, one time I was walking to acupuncture when, all of a sudden, my left ankle started bothering me. The pain was faint and it was the first time I had noticed it so I didn’t mention it to the acupuncturist. Before our session, she put her hand on my head and asked me, “Is your left ankle bothering you?” Like what!? Crazy, right!? Another time an acupuncturist looked at my tongue and asked if any stressful events happened recently. Sure enough, I’d just gone through a breakup. I have a bunch more examples that I will not overburden you with.
The point is, good acupuncturists know their stuff. They take a holistic approach to healing and have an incredible sense of how things in the body and mind connect. This is also likely an important reason that acupuncture works for many people.
What the Experience Is Like
As mentioned above, even if you are afraid of needles, I recommend giving it a try. The needles are so tiny that you barely feel them. There are even needle-free versions of acupuncture that some practitioners offer. Plus, the sessions are designed around you and your preferences.
Specifically, the session starts with the acupuncturist asking about any health concerns you’d like to attend to. They then apply the needles and leave you to relax. Sessions usually last from 30-45 minutes. Depending on the length of your session and your concerns, they may move the needles partway through the session. They use new needles each time!
I’ve only found a needle slightly painful on 2 occasions. Both happened when I had an incredibly tight shoulder muscle that the needle was going into. I’ve gotten acupunctures dozens of times and experienced hundreds of acupuncture needles in total, so only 2 slightly painful experiences is pretty impressive.
Moreover, every acupuncturist I’ve been to is considerate of your preferences. If you prefer to avoid needles in areas that might be sore or sensitive, they’ll listen to you.
How to Find an Acupuncturist
If you are interested in trying out acupuncture, I recommend checking your insurance to see if it’s covered and, if so, which providers are in-network. Then, search the names of covered providers (if your insurance covers it) or acupuncturists in your area (if your insurance does not cover it).
You may have the most luck looking for acupuncturists who specialize in the issues you are especially concerned about. While most acupuncturists will be helpful for a wide variety of health concerns, many specialize in things like injury, mental health, fertility, or chronic pain. They will therefore tend be especially informed on those issues.
If possible, I also recommend trying a couple of acupuncturists to see if you have a preferred style. For example, I went to a highly-rated acupuncturist who was very effective, but not very personal. She would quickly put the needles in, I’d lie there for half an hour, and that was it. While this acupuncturist is incredibly helpful for many people, I found that I prefer my current acupuncturists. They listen carefully to my concerns, often place the needles a couple of times, and will sometimes add a little ointment, massage, or even cupping to help with the particular issue I’m having.
If you want the deets, I go to Rainbow Acupuncture in Fremont and highly recommend Summer and Emma (their massage therapist Eiona is also great).
Caveats
Before you take the leap and try acupuncture, I recommend doing your own research to make sure you find someone great for you.
I hope you give it a try and, if you do (or if you already get acupuncture), let me know what you think of it!
And remember, I am not a medical professional (as a Doctor of Sociology, I can talk to you about societal problems that might have contributed to your problem, not how to cure it). Nor is acupuncture a replacement for any current or necessary medical treatments. You should therefore consult a medical professional before making any changes or additions to your health plan.
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