Acupuncture at
Gravenhurst Chiropractic & Acupuncture Centre
Acupuncture, as a healing technique, has been studied and used for more than 2500 years. Using ancient scientific principles, acupuncture treats illness by bringing a person’s body back into harmony, balance and health.
What happens during an acupuncture treatment?
Acupuncture therapy at Gravenhurst Chiropractic & Acupuncture Centre usually involves a series of weekly or biweekly treatments in a clinical setting. Each visit typically includes an examination and assessment of your current condition, the insertion of needles, and a discussion about self-care tips.
During acupuncture treatment, sterilized individually wrapped stainless steel needles are used once and then thrown away. You may feel a brief, sharp sensation when the needle is inserted, but generally the procedure isn’t painful. It is common to feel a deep aching sensation when the needle reaches the correct spot.
How does acupuncture work?
In traditional Chinese medicine, imbalances in the basic energetic flow of life — known as qi or chi (chee) — are thought to cause illness. Qi is believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. These meridians and the energy flow are accessible through approximately 400 different acupuncture points. By inserting extremely fine needles into these points in various combinations, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will rebalance. This will allow your body’s natural healing mechanisms to take over.
According to the National Institutes of Health, researchers are studying at least three possible explanations for how acupuncture works:
- Opioid release. During acupuncture, endorphins that are part of your body’s natural pain-control system may be released into your central nervous system — your brain and spinal cord. This reduces pain much like taking a pain medication.
- Spinal cord stimulation. Acupuncture may stimulate the nerves in your spinal cord to release pain-suppressing chemicals.
- Blood flow changes. Acupuncture needles may increase the amount of blood flow in the area around the needle. The increased blood flow may supply additional nutrients or remove toxic substances, or both, promoting healing.
Conditions it can help
Low back pain, nausea, neck disorders, recurrent headaches & migraines, shingles nerve pain, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis of the knee & hip, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.
It can also help with numerous internal disorders, including infertility and menopausal symptoms.
Pros and Cons
As with most therapies, acupuncture has both benefits and risks. Consider the benefits:
- Acupuncture is safe when performed properly
- It has few side effects
- It can be useful as a complement to other treatment methods
- It helps control certain types of pain
- It is an excellent alternative if you don’t respond to or don’t want to take pain medication
The most common side effects of acupuncture are soreness, bleeding or bruising at the needle sites. However, these risks are low in the hands of a competent, certified acupuncture practitioner.
Should you have any questions regarding this or any other information please feel free to discuss them with either Dr. Mekis or Dr. McIntosh.
Schedule an Appointment
We look forward to meeting you in person and learning how we can help you take your first steps towards better health.
CONTACT US
