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Conditions Treatable Through Acupuncture
The World Health Organization Interregional Seminar drew up the following provisional list of diseases that lend themselves to acupuncture treatment. The list is based on clinical experience, and not necessarily on controlled clinical research: furthermore, the inclusion of specific diseases are not meant to indicate the extent of acupuncture's efficacy in treating them.
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What Does Acupuncture Feel Like?
When the needle is inserted, most people report minimal discomfort (Manitobans say that its like a mosquito bite, sometimes you feel it, sometimes you don't.) After the needle is put into the skin, it is pushed down into the acupuncture point. When it hits the point, clients report various sensations including an electrical shock feeling, a distending feeling,a heavy feeling, an aching feeling and/or a burning feeling. This is the feeling that acupuncturists call "deqi" or the arrival of qi. This is a sensation that we want to happen, as it means that the needle is having the most therapeutic effect.
Is Acupuncture Safe?
When applied by a trained practitioner, acupuncture is very safe. We use disposable, single-use acupuncture needles, and the same alcohol disinfectant you would find in hospitals. Complications do occur and an internet search on acupuncture complications yields a list of possible problems. These include nausea, fainting, bruising, worsening of symptoms, and more rarely, punctured organs and infections.
Before Your Acupuncture Treatment
A few things to get the most out of your acupuncture treatment:
- You should wear comfortable clothing that you can lay down in for 30 minutes without feeling restricted or uncomfortable. Also, you should be able to have your knees and elbows exposed easily. In some cases you will be asked to remove your clothes. In these cases, you will be draped as if you are getting a massage therapy treatment. That is, you will be covered with one or more towels or sheets, and the acupuncturist will expose only the areas around the acupuncture points that are being treated.
- You should eat a light meal 2 - 4 hours before your treatment. It is inadvisable to eat just before your treatment, or to come very hungry so eating 2 - 4 hours before would be appropriate.
- You should come to your treatment well rested. No heavy exercise, sexual activity (it is exercise after-all) or consumption of alcoholic beverages within 6 hours before of after treatment.
- Continue taking any prescription medicines as directed by your Physician. However, recreational drugs (including cigarettes and alcohol) can interfere with your acupuncture treatments.
- Take note of any and all changes in your condition between treatments so that the subsequent treatments can be tailored more specifically to you.
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