When someone mentions “acupuncture treatments”, the most common association is “ouch, needles”. But what exactly happens during an acupuncture treatment, and is it actually as scary as it sounds?
Acupuncture is one aspect of a rich and comprehensive type of healthcare called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This historic method of treatment was developed in Asia, and was used to treat and cure ailments and illnesses before western medicine became readily available on a global scale. Through the immense multiculturalism that BC is proud to provide a home for, acupuncture treatments are now TCM uses a holistic approach to diagnose and treat the mind and body through a variety of scientifically proven methods that can be combined in a variety of ways to customize a treatment specific to the patient’s exact needs. One of these methods, acupuncture, offers many benefits to the body through the insertion of stainless steel needles, just below the surface of the skin. These needles are precisely applied to specific areas of the body to increase the flow of bodily energy (qi), which can promote pain relief and healing. These needles are not painful; they simply feel like a small pinch, and the sensation disappears within seconds of insertion. The needles may feel more intense during your first couple acupuncture sessions, but will become less noticeable as you attend more treatments.
While acupuncture does mainly deal with needles, a registered acupuncturist or TCM doctor can also use a variety of other tools and techniques to help with physical and mental ailments, pain management, chronic fatigue, weight management, addictions, and various types of short-term or chronic conditions. One crucial aspect of an acupuncture treatment is communication. Allowing your practitioner to ask you questions about your symptoms, routines, diet, and overall health and answering with as much detail and honesty as possible can allow for your practitioner to get a better understanding of your overall health from a holistic lens, one that TCM relies on for diagnostics and treatments. Another crucial aspect of acupuncture is trust. While western medicines and practices are most widely used and accepted here in Canada, it can be difficult to trust the process of healing from a completely different type of health care practice. It is important to be mindful that the way acupuncture and TCM affects the body may be different than the way you expect western medicine to work. However, trusting in the process of acupuncture and trusting your body to respond and heal is a core part of TCM and its effectiveness as a treatment.
If you have doubts, worries, or concerns, please ask questions!
Along with communication and trust, here are some of the tools and techniques that can be used in an acupuncture treatment.
Scrapping
Gua Sha, also known as “scrapping” in western terminology, is the practice of using an instrument with a smooth and rounded edge to apply pressure and friction to specific areas of the body to increase blood and energy flow to initiate healing. It is a non-invasive and useful method for pain relief. For example, for an acute shoulder injury, an acupuncturist may “scrape” the shoulder blade and surrounding areas with the smooth instrument to increase circulation, relieve tension, and provide relief to the connective tissue membranes that surround muscular structures in and around the shoulder. Scrapping can be intense, but it is not intended to be painful. It can be equated to the sensation of a massage therapist pressing down on a tight muscle knot; the initial feeling can be described as pain, but the more that the area is worked on, the more relief and relaxation will be experienced. Scrapping can result in bruise-like purple and red discolorations to appear along the areas being scrapped, which are completely normal and resolve within a few days.
Cupping
Like scrapping, cupping is a non-invasive practice that involves the use of suction cups to facilitate energy flow, circulation, and healing. While cupping and scrapping can achieve the same purpose, they are used for different body types, parts of the body, and conditions depending on the patient’s unique needs. During cupping, a number of suction cups will be applied to the area of the body that is injured or painful, and a small air pump will remove the oxygen between the skin and the cups. These cups will be left on the body for a period of time, allowing it to draw blood towards the surface of the skin. This blood will not break the skin barrier, so there is no need to worry about open wounds or pain. However, cupping can also leave bruise-like red and purple discolorations around the areas where the suctions are applied, and like scrapping, they too will resolve in a few days of your appointment. Cupping is not painful, and has a sensation similar to applying light to moderate constant pressure on a sore muscle.
Heat Therapy
A third non-invasive type of TCM practice is heat therapy, which involves the use of a heat lamp, heat pad, or an electric blanket to target specific areas of the body with warm temperatures. According to TCM, an individual’s circulation and energy are connected. If a person is at rest for long periods of time, their circulation and energy will slow down, and the individual will feel more sluggish or tired. If a person is continuously active, their circulation and energy will ramp up, leading the person to feel more awake or energetic. To increase balance in circulation and energy, an acupuncturist will use heat therapy to certain areas of the body. Heat therapy is a comfortable and enjoyable experience for most. It mimics the experience of having a warm blanket wrapped around you, or a heat pack soothing a sore or painful area of the body.
Acupressure Massage
Unlike Registered Massage Therapy, acupressure massage uses the same pressure points as acupuncture to stimulate the flow of bodily energy using a holistic lens, rather than focusing the pressure specifically on the area that is in pain. By understanding not only the symptoms you are experiencing, but also the underlying reasons for these symptoms, your practitioner can use acupressure massage to apply pressure to the necessary points related to your diagnosis. These pressure points are mapped using a TCM practice of following the body’s meridians, or pathways of energy. Accessing certain meridians through acupressure massage can redistribute and restore energy to the correct areas, which can promote healing and pain relief. Like Registered Massage Therapy, acupressure massage feels like gentle to moderate manual pressure applied to sore or painful areas of the body.
Herbal Remedies
Before brands like Tylenol and Robitussin were around, advances in Eastern medicine had developed herbal remedies to treat a variety of illnesses and conditions. These remedies focused on the use of different plant parts, minerals, or animal products in calculated combinations to create herbal based medications targeting specific functions in the body. Herbal remedies can come in a variety of forms; some can be found in the form of small pills, others come in the form of powders that need to be mixed with hot water and taken with food, and others come in the form of pastes that are applied to different areas of the body. Some Chinese Medicines are pre-made and pre-packaged, while others are specifically formulated for your individual needs by a practitioner. Like western medicine, many herbal remedies need to be taken consistently for a designated period of time in order to see and feel the effects of the herbs. Your practitioner will be able to prescribe or formulate herbal remedies after assessing your condition and specific needs.
Let Us Help You!
If you are looking for acupuncture in Richmond, BC, Our team at Evolve Therapeutic is ready to help you achieve your best self by working with you to decide which TCM treatments best suit you and your needs. Our team of skilled and qualified acupuncturists are willing to answer any questions you may have about you and your health and get you started on working towards managing and treating any health concerns you may have. Located in central Richmond, Evolve Therapeutic is conveniently accessible by bus, train, or car. We have appointments available throughout the week, and can work with you to find an appointment that works best for you.
