What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a medicine that originated in China over 2,000 years ago. Although a young profession in the United States, it is growing very popular in this country as an alternative medicine and a compliment to Western medicine.
Acupuncture harmonizes and balances Qi, which is the vital energy or life force that runs through your body. Qi travels through pathways or channels in your body. When Qi is blocked and causes a lack of smooth flow or balance, symptoms of pain or disease may result. Acupuncture works to release this energy and restore the balance and flow of Qi within your body.
Acupuncture reduces pain by unblocking the Qi and restoring balance to the body and it has helped many patients who suffer with painful conditions such as: arthritis, migraine headaches, allergies, back pain, premenstrual syndrome, addictions, depression, sleep disorders and many other maladies. It is also a useful method to maintain health and vitality.
What should I expect when I visit an acupuncturist?
Your first visit usually involves a lengthy examination that includes asking many questions and taking a complete history. The acupuncturist will be examining you by: Looking (which may include viewing skin colors, dryness of skin or hair, posture, redness of eyes, rashes, color of tongue etc.), Listening to voice and smell of bodily odors, and Palpation of the body which includes feeling of pulses. You may or may not receive an acupuncture treatment during your initial consultation.
The acupuncture needles are sterile and disposable and are very fine and are virtually painless. Herbal remedies, massage, electrical stimulation and moxibustion (an herb that is lighted and burned over an acupuncture point to initiate a sensation of warmth) may also be used during a treatment.
After your first visit, the acupuncturist will recommend a treatment plan and may ask you to return once or twice a week for six to ten treatments depending on your needs. Once stabilized, you may be asked to return every three to four weeks for treatment. A person in good health may return for health maintenance and preventive care.
Other modalities:
- Electro Acupuncture – Utilises electric stimulation of the needle to increase therapeutic benefits of treatment.
- Auricular (e ar) Acupuncture – mostly used for treating addictions like alcohol, drugs and smoking but this acupuncture is very effective for treating disease also.
- Fire needling – Hot acupuncture needles (heated in fire) are uses on points of pain and or various selected acupuncture points.
- Cupping – A technique of stimulating acupuncture points with the suction of a bamboo or glass cup.
- Blood Letting – Piercing a vein or small artery at the tip of the body-finger tips, toes, or top of the ears.
- Moxa – Often used in conjunction with acupuncture, consists of burning dried Chinese Mugwort on acupuncture points.
- Chinese herbs – Usually many herbs combined in a formula (raw herbs, pills or powder).
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| Sunday | Closed |
Rigpa Wellness 