Acupuncture is a highly effective treatment, regardless of the fact that there isn’t always a scientific explanation for why that is. Chinese acupuncture is far different from any practicesused in Western medicine and relies on the location of meridians, which are energetic areas of the body that correspond to the organs. Needles are inserted in certain points of the body in order to replenish energy where it is lacking, drain energy where it is in excess, and promote the free flow of energy where it is stagnated.
Acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of health problems including depression, hormonal imbalance, obesity, arthritis, and injuries. An acupuncturist will come up with a highly individualized acupuncture treatment plan after meeting you and examining you carefully. An acupuncturist will look at your tongue, check your pulse, and ask you many questions prior to deciding on the points on your body where needles will be inserted.
The tongue and pulse are very important diagnostic tools in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Your acupuncturist will examine the color of your tongue as well as its coating. Different parts of the tongue correspond to different meridians and parts of the body. Pulse diagnosis is more difficult to use but it is more meridian-specific than tongue diagnosis.
Typically an acupuncture treatment plan will consist of a series of needle treatments and herbal therapy. However, not all licensed acupuncturists work with herbs and some herbalists do not work with acupuncture. Generally the best acupuncture treatment plan will use both herbal therapy and needles because the herbs enhance the effectiveness of the needle work. Furthermore, since acupuncture is not covered by most people’s insurance plans it can be expensive to get treated very frequently. The herbs can be very helpful in maintaining the positive results between treatments.
Frequency and Duration of Acupuncture Treatment Plan
Most acupuncture treatment plans will last 8 to 10 weeks depending on the condition being treated. The more treatments you get the better but it is typical to go in about once or twice a week. In between visits you will probably take herbs as a complementary therapy. One acupuncture session will last around thirty minutes but probably amount to about an hour when you count how long it takes to have the consultation each time.
Needles will be inserted into different parts of your body and perhaps combined with massage and moxibustion. Moxibustion consists of burning the herb mugwort on the skin so the heat penetrates the area. There is indirect and direct moxibustion. The latter is far less common because it can be painful and burn the skin. Indirect moxibustion is very effective but the herb is removed prior to it burning the skin so it is a better option.
In conclusion, acupuncture treatment plans will vary from person to person and condition to condition but the general process is the same no matter what. Acupuncture is a very effective treatment that is also very relaxing. It can serve as a primary treatment or complementary treatment for many health conditions. Talk to an acupuncturist to find out how you too can benefit from acupuncture and design an acupuncture treatment plan that is just right for you.
