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What I wish everyone knew about Acupuncture

1/28/2019

Can Acupuncture benefit you?

In the current era, we are witnessing a huge shift of people going back to traditional medicine for their health and fitness using natural approaches such as massage, acupuncture, and herbs to heal their bodies. These modalities bear no side effects and have been proving their effective benefits for hundreds of years. Acupuncture is top of the list among all these alternative methods of healing. It involves the insertion of tiny needles at specific body points at varying levels of depth. It was started about 3000 years ago in China and became popular in the West during the early 70s. It is the safest, strongest and most researched technique to maintain an optimum level of wellness.

Despite many studies and growing popularity, there are still a lot of myths and questions about acupuncture.  Here, I am going to debunk some of the common myths about acupuncture; presenting you a clear picture about acupuncture benefits.

Can Acupuncture benefit you?

The needles used for Acupuncture are so tiny that it would take 40 Acupuncture needles to make one syringe needle. They are inserted with a meticulous technique in such a manner that is completely painless. You may have some sensation during your session due to the activation of certain body points which indicates successful therapy. This sensation is not pain, but rather a feeling of light dullness. Often, people fall asleep during a therapy session due to the acupuncture benefit of stress relief. So stop avoiding acupuncture therapy due to fear of pain, book your session right away!

Acupuncture benefits are well-researched

Acupuncture is not a blind method to give people a placebo effect. Acupuncture is a time-tested technique that has been in use for centuries in different parts of the world. It has been passed through extensive modern studies and its benefits are scientifically proven. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has published Acupuncture’s safety and efficacy for preventing and treating a large number of diseases. In addition, acupuncture therapy is now covered by major insurance companies.

Acupuncture is not limited to pain relief

In the Western world, acupuncture is most commonly used for pain relief. This is the proof of its effective healing of both acute and chronic pain disorders. But acupuncture benefits are not limited to just pain relief. Since acupuncture works by balancing the bodies energy, it can heal a wide variety of diseases including emotional disorders, digestive complaints, chronic inflammation, sexual disorders, degenerative diseases and rehabilitation therapy. There are hundreds of studies on each disorder regarding treatment using acupuncture techniques. In addition to treating existing problems, prevention is the biggest benefit of acupuncture. It helps to maintain smooth energy flow and maintain a good level of energy, libido and sense of wellness.

Acupuncture is completely safe

This is the biggest plus of acupuncture treatment as it completely safe and harmless. No major side effect has been reported during many years of research.  The instruments used in acupuncture (like needles) have been regulated by FDA (federal drug authority) as medical devices and are screened thoroughly. Acupuncturists are properly trained and licensed to practice by province. We are all familiar with documented side effects of drugs like painkillers if taken for a longer period. These drugs increase the risk of developing stomach ulcers, compromised liver or diseases kidneys after some time.  A person with chronic pain disorder like arthralgia is left with no choice to use these drugs lifelong. However, acupuncture treatments can replace drugs and relieve the person of his/her agonizing pain without producing any side effects.

In a nutshell, this ancient time-tested modality has a long list of health benefits. Book a session today to experience common acupuncture benefits such as maintaining healthy living and attaining peak performance in your everyday life.

Still Have Questions About Acupuncture Benefits?

Call us to book a free 15min consult in our Calgary clinic to learn more about acupuncture and how they can benefit you.

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Massage and Acupuncture, Which Is More Effective?

1/21/2019

Are you tired of body aches? Do you have to miss work due to pain? Are you tired of visiting doctors? Do you want to prevent the recurrence of back pain? How can you get relief naturally?  You are not alone in this matter. Millions of people have similar conditions. Natural therapies like acupuncture and massage are time-tested and proved to be very comforting and effective in such cases. Save time and irritation from traditional medicines by using natural ways to get relief from sports injuries and back pain.

Before comparing acupuncture and massage; we’ll briefly introduce these two amazing techniques.

Acupuncture

In acupuncture, small needles are inserted in the specified areas of the body in accordance with meridians points with varying levels of depth. Acupuncture is often a more effective option to relieve back pain naturally as compared to medication and physiotherapy. If your body pain is uncomplicated with no prominent causes, acupuncture could be a right fit for you. However, studies have also suggested that if pain becomes complicated, involving multiple areas of the body, then acupuncture may not prove to be useful in providing the required relief.

Acupuncture as a natural treatment to provide pain relief has been studied widely and research data is suggestive of its effective results. Acupuncture is best to employ in acute pain. It has been found that acupuncture provides a long term and sustained relief from pain as compared to certain pain killers with a short-term effect.

Massage

​Massage, according to recent studies, should be taken as an effective treatment when it comes to relieving the contracted muscles and lower back pain.  This is a generally accepted method by most people as it provides instant relief. It relaxes the muscles and helps the joints to remain at an optimum level.

Although massage is not a primary way to get rid of severe pain, it is a great mean to relieve mild pain. In addition to relieve pain, massage can also help to improve any associated symptoms. It improves sleep, reduces anxiety and speeds up recovery time. The benefits of massage for pain relief are the result of improved body circulation and relaxation of groups of muscles. All of these combined effects lead to a wider range of motion, decreased pain and quick recovery.

Is Massage Better Than Acupuncture?

Now, you might be wondering about making a choice between massage and acupuncture?  Which one is superior to the other? Is it better to visit a massage therapist to get your tense muscles to relax or visit a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine? Both of these methods have their own pros and cons. This verdict can’t be declared in a clear Yes or No. The choice of adapting any of these two options depends on the chief body complaint and personal choice. There is no need to take a hard line between these two natural methods.

If you are having a sharp and stabbing pain, it means that nerves are over activated due to an injury or muscle injury. Such type of pain needs to be abolished as soon as possible and acupuncture is the recommended choice here. The acupuncturist will use the needles to rectify the blood and energy area of the affected area and you will get prompt relief. ​

In case of dull and chronic mild body pains, massage is your friend here. It will relax the tensed muscle and increase the blood flow to an optimum level. A massage session of 30 minutes will take away your dull tiredness and will make you feel fresh, restoring your natural energy.

Can I Have a Massage After Acupuncture?

​The answer is Yes; without any hesitation. There is no harm at all! In fact, we’d recommend booking a massage after acupuncture. These two methods can be used as an integrated therapy to enhance their benefits. Acupuncture and massage work at different body levels and combining the two therapies will bring maximum and long-term relief to body aches. The blood and lymph flow will get channelized and you will feel much energetic and lighter.  

Still Have Questions About Massage and Acupuncture?

​Call us to book a free 15min consult in our Calgary clinic to learn more about acupuncture and massage and how we can help you.

REFERENCES:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/after-acupuncture_b_1593866

https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20010629/acupuncture-may-be-best-to-ease-neck-pain

https://www.health.harvard.edu/alternative-and-complementary-medicine/acupuncture-for-pain-relief

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/322/7302/1574

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