Acupuncture is based on the belief that an energy known as QI circulates through the body. Pain, muscle tension, and other symptoms can occur when energy flow is disrupted. An acupuncturist uses techniques like moxibustion, dry needling, and electro-acupuncture to balance the energy, which relieves pain and discomfort caused by injury and disease.

The acupuncturist inserts pressure or needles into various body points to achieve energy balance. You can undergo acupuncture treatment to treat an illness or injury and enhance your health.

A healthcare practitioner may recommend acupuncture for different physical and psychological disorders, including arthritis, neck injuries, anxiety, stress, and fertility issues. You must consult a competent acupuncturist for safe and effective acupuncture treatment in Los Angeles, CA.

At the Art of Chinese Healing, we offer our clients safe and reliable acupuncture services. Our skilled acupuncturists create customized treatment plans to meet each patient’s needs.

Overview of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a treatment strategy that involves inserting thin needles into the body and manipulating them to stimulate the body's healing mechanisms. It is a component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which has been adopted into Western medicine. Western medicine views acupuncture as a way to stimulate the body's natural painkillers.

Each acupuncturist has their unique style and technique of performing acupuncture. The acupuncturist will ask about your symptoms, lifestyle, and behaviors to determine the proper acupuncture technique. Other factors that the acupuncturist considers include:

  • The location of your pain or muscle tightness
  • The color of your face
  • The coating, shape, and color of your tongue
  • The quality and strength of your pulse

An acupuncture session can take up to sixty minutes or shorter. Depending on the severity of your problem, you can require up to eight sessions, even though you might see a reduction in your symptoms after a single session.

Methods of Acupuncture

Acupuncture provides a multitude of therapeutic advantages for those suffering from various types of pain. Depending on your underlying health conditions and the intensity of your symptoms, acupuncturists can select from a range of acupuncture procedures. These techniques include:

Dry Needling

The most used method of acupuncture is needling. It stimulates your nervous system by passing tiny needles through your skin and various acupoints. The acupuncturist then works with the needles to activate your nervous system, which aids in restoring equilibrium to the energy in your body. Patients who use the needling procedure report feeling less discomfort and having more relaxed muscles.

Electro-acupuncture

In electro-acupuncture, standard acupuncture needles are inserted into the skin and stimulated with an electric current. This method helps to balance Qi and targets acupoints related to symptoms. It works well for patients with paralysis.

Cupping

The accumulation of toxins in the joints and muscles could cause energy obstruction and discomfort. Cupping is an acupuncture technique that helps the body eliminate toxins. This technique involves suctioning through the skin to eliminate the toxins and muscular waste from the tissues.

The acupuncturist can use between three and five cups for a single cupping therapy session, depending on the location and extent of your symptoms. Although you could experience discomfort and muscle tightness, cupping does not cause pain.

Moxibustion

Moxibustion is an acupuncture technique that involves burning mugwort leaves. Mugwort is a sponge herb known for its healing components. An acupuncturist will burn these leaves close to the skin. The purpose of moxibustion is to stimulate energy flow and strengthen the blood. Increasing energy circulation will help the body deal with chronic pain and other disorders.

Hand Therapy

Hand therapy is a form of Korean acupuncture that uses a similar technique to acupressure. The acupuncturist will identify pressure points depending on the nature of your symptoms and use their hands to stimulate the pressure points in your body.

Auricular Acupuncture

This is an acupuncture technique in which thin needles are inserted into specific parts of the ear to control pain. This type of acupuncture works on the belief that the earth is a map of the whole body. Stimulation around the ear is believed to help with energy balance.

Conditions Treated Using Acupuncture

There are no studies that clearly show acupuncture helps to heal your body. However, research shows that the treatment significantly impacts your nervous system. When the acupuncturist inserts and manipulates the needles used in the procedure, you can experience relief from pain caused by different physical and neurological conditions.

Whether used as a stand-alone treatment or in combination with other therapies, acupuncture is beneficial. Many conditions may benefit from this treatment, such as:

  • This is a degenerative condition characterized by pain and joint inflammation. It is common among older adults and can affect all joints. Acupuncture helps manage the system by relaxing muscles and joints.
  • Anxiety is an anticipation of future concerns and is associated with muscle tension. Studies show that acupuncture is an effective solution for stress and anxiety.
  • Insomnia is commonly characterized by difficulty sleeping. Acupuncture stimulates the body to produce chemical components that make you sleepy.
  • Infertility may be a result of hormonal imbalance or poor function of your reproductive system. Acupuncture stimulates your body and balances these hormones, which can solve your infertility problem.
  • A migraine is a severe headache that is challenging to eliminate with over-the-counter pain medication. Acupuncture stimulates your body to produce natural painkillers. Studies show that up to 50% of individuals who have undergone acupuncture report reliance on painkillers for their headaches.
  • Sinus Congestion. Sinus congestion is an uncomfortable feeling you experience when the lining of your sinuses is inflamed. When you have sinus congestion, you experience pain, stiffness, and tension in the areas around your sinus. Acupuncture stimulates your systems and can help with the symptoms of sinus congestion.
  • Skin Appearance. Acupuncture speeds up the healing of skin disorders by promoting blood circulation. Facial acupuncture involves inserting needles at different points of the face. Additionally, the stimulation from acupuncture stimulates collagen synthesis, which improves skin appearance.
  • Acupuncture can help alleviate the condition if you suffer from high blood pressure. When the needles are inserted in acupoints, your body is stimulated, causing the blood vessels to dilate and the blood pressure to be reduced.

Acupuncture Benefits

 An adaptable approach to health and well-being is provided by acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture offers the following advantages:

Reduces Pain

Millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Pain and discomfort brought on by various illnesses and injuries can be reduced with acupuncture.

If you experience back pain, tooth discomfort, lung issues, or menstruation pain, this treatment might help. Acupuncture focuses on particular body locations. Its stimulation increases the release of endorphins and other neurotransmitters, which function as analgesics without the harmful effects of drugs.

Decrease Tension

The body is stimulated to relieve tension when needles are inserted and moved around in various acupuncture areas. This results in the release of dopamine and serotonin, which improve mood.

Enhance Immune Function

A strong immune system is necessary for general health and well-being. Research has indicated that acupuncture enhances immunity by inducing the production of white blood cells, which play a critical role in combating infections and illnesses. Undergoing multiple acupuncture sessions will treat your symptoms and reduce your risk of future illnesses.

Improved Quality of Sleep

The pain and discomfort associated with physical and neurological conditions can reduce your sleep quality. You will always be fatigued without enough sleep, impacting your productivity. Acupuncture will regulate the body's circulation, which can help you achieve longer and deeper sleep for ultimate rest.

Studies show that acupuncture can increase melatonin production, which makes you sleepy. Therefore, if you have insomnia or poor sleep patterns, acupuncture treatment may be a good solution.

Increase Vitality

Acupuncture might give you more energy if you're really exhausted and lethargic. Needle insertions enhance blood circulation and assist in restoring energy balance. An acupuncture therapy session can revitalize both your body and mind.

Restores Hormonal Balance

Hormonal imbalance is a complex issue that could result in further complications like infertility. Acupuncture is beneficial, especially for women who experience hormonal imbalances during pregnancy, menstruation, and menopause. Acupuncture can help eliminate symptoms like mood swings and hot flashes by regulating your hormone levels.

Boosts your Emotional Wellbeing

In this era, when maintaining mental clarity and well-being is a priority, acupuncture is a holistic way to enhance cognitive function, sharpen your mind, and improve concentration. The stimulation from needling or applying pressure on different body parts impacts the nervous system and brain function.

Quick Healing

Acupuncture, according to the National Institutes of Health, boosts the body's own healing processes. As a result, your healthcare physician may suggest acupuncture if you have had surgery for ailments like a herniated disc. This will hasten your healing process and relieve your discomfort.

Acupuncture Complications

Acupuncture is a relatively safe treatment option with numerous benefits, including pain relief and boosting overall health. However, like other treatment procedures, there are complications that you must watch out for before you undergo the procedure. They include:

Pain and Tissue Damage

During an acupuncture treatment, tiny needles are placed into your skin at specific acupoints. Although the needles used in this treatment are minimally intrusive, tissue damage could still occur, causing pain and discomfort. Dealing with the pain from the procedure, in addition to the pain caused by your condition, can impact your quality of life.

The chances of suffering an injury increase when you visit an inexperienced acupuncturist. Therefore, you must be careful when selecting an acupuncturist.

Fatigue

The goal of acupuncture is to relax your body and mind. However, the procedure is physically and emotionally demanding, and you may experience fatigue after it. Fatigue is your body's way of showing you the energy you behold, and when you give yourself time to rest, the energy is balanced, and you can repeat the benefits of this procedure.

Dizziness

After an acupuncture session, you may experience dizziness and sometimes fainting. This could be a result of anxiety and a blood pressure drop. When needles are inserted into your body and stimulate relaxation, the blood vessels dilate and cause a lowered blood pressure. After your treatment, you could experience lightheadedness, which improves when you rest. Additionally, you must stay hydrated.

Bruising and Bleeding

Most acupuncture points are close to blood vessels. For this reason, you may experience mild bruising and bleeding at the acupuncture points when the acupuncturist inserts the needles. Although the bleeding is mild and stops when the procedure ends, you can experience severe bleeding when you have underlying conditions like blood clotting problems.

Before an acupuncture treatment, your acupuncturist will assess your medical history to determine your suitability.

Emotional Release

Acupuncture treatment can result in emotional release. This will occur when the emotions you have suppressed resurface. Some acupoints are linked to emotional centers, and acupuncture stimulates emotions.

Although emotional stimulation is a desired outcome of acupuncture, you could experience episodes of sadness and crying if you have been harboring emotions. However, healing from your emotional distress begins by acknowledging them.

Infection

You could suffer an infection on the site where the needles are inserted during acupuncture. An infection could result from unsanitary conditions at the acupuncture clinic or an underlying immune disorder. If you are prone to infection, you may need to take antibiotics after the procedure.

You can reduce your risk of this infection by informing the acupuncturist about your health and immune conditions. Additionally, you must visit an acupuncturist with a proven track record of efficiency.

Factors to Consider Before Undergoing Acupuncture Treatment

Acupuncture is a component of traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for many years to relieve the symptoms of different conditions. However, it is unclear how this type of treatment works in the framework of Western medicine. Some people decide to seek acupuncture treatment due to their symptoms, while others do so on the recommendation of their healthcare provider.

Although acupuncture has many benefits, you may be prone to complications after the procedure. Therefore, you must consider the following factors before seeking this type of alternative treatment:

  • Insight from your Healthcare Provider

Sometimes, acupuncture is recommended to supplement other forms of treatment. Therefore, you may undergo the treatment after taking medications or undergoing a surgical procedure for your condition. Acupuncture promotes healing by addressing the root cause of your problem. However, this alternative treatment is not for everyone.

Acupuncture causes complications like bleeding, bruising, and infection. Therefore, you must discuss your suitability for the procedure with your healthcare provider beforehand. If you have blood clotting issues or have a lowered immunity, your healthcare provider could discourage you from undergoing this treatment.

Before giving their insight, the healthcare professionals will assess your overall health and the medications you may be taking to determine how well they could interact with acupuncture.

  • Do not Rely on Disease Diagnosis by an Acupuncturist

Acupuncture is an alternative treatment. Therefore, you must consult your healthcare provider for a diagnosis and treatment if you are undergoing health complications. Your healthcare provider will assess your condition and can advise you on whether acupuncture is right for you.

  • Speak with a Certified Acupuncturist

Acupuncture is invaluable for treating chronic pain and the symptoms of various medical issues. The procedure must be carried out carefully to optimize its advantages and minimize potential negative effects. The results of your acupuncture treatment may depend on the acupuncturist's experience and skill.

Therefore, you must choose a licensed professional. Acupuncturists receive a professional license after completing the necessary training and passing the licensing examination. With a licensed acupuncturist, you will be sure of high standards of care and a desirable outcome.

  • Budget and Insurance

For mild pain, your symptoms could improve after one session. However, more sessions may be necessary in complex cases. Before you undergo the treatment, you must ask your acupuncturist about the frequency of your treatments and the cost of the procedure.

This helps ensure that the treatment falls within your budget and that you can attend all the sessions. Additionally, you can consult with your health insurance company to determine whether they will cover your treatment.

Find a Competent Acupuncturist Near Me

Acupuncture is one of the best forms of treatment for pain management, reducing muscle tension, and enhancing general health. This treatment can improve different health conditions by decreasing pressure and correcting energy imbalance throughout the body. Several acupuncture methods include moxibustion, electric stimulation, and needling.

Acupuncture offers numerous benefits to your health and can be used for the treatment of a wide range of conditions, including chronic back pain, infertility, arthritis, breathing complications, and anxiety. However, the procedure can have complications like skin irritation, bleeding, and infection. Therefore, you must consult a healthcare provider before undergoing acupuncture treatment for your condition.

Acupuncture can be used as the only treatment for your condition or as a supplement to medication, surgery, and therapy. Having a knowledgeable acupuncturist perform the acupuncture procedures could dictate the outcome of your treatment. If you seek acupuncture treatment in Los Angeles, CA, you will benefit from our top-notch service at the Art of Chinese Healing. Call us at 310-405-1610 to book an appointment.