Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice that involves the stimulation of certain body points for the purpose of restoring the flow of inner life energy, which is called “qui” (pronounced “chee”). According to the Chinese, when energy is not in balance, negative health issues occur. Once acupuncture restores this energy flow, the natural healing abilities of the body is restored.
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Before the first acupuncture session, you will meet with one our Venturis practitioners who will take a complete medical/health history of you. During the visit, the practitioner will ask you about your health, lifestyle, habits, menstrual cycle, stress, emotions, and pain. The acupuncturist evaluates your skin color, voice, tongue color, and tongue coating. Because there are three pulse points of each wrist, the acupuncturist will assess these to determine the health of your 12 meridians.
After the initial consultation and interview, the therapist either schedules you an appointment, or proceeds with treatment. Acupuncture is usually performed with tiny needles that are used to stimulate specified acupoints. Tiny, fine needles are inserted into the fat and muscle tissue, which stimulates a healing response. The number of needles used does not correspond with the type of treatment. Rather, the precise placement of the needles is more important. Additional acupuncture methods involve tapping the needle, applying pressure (acupressure), stimulating the needles with heat (moxibustion), or zapping them with an electric current.
Acupuncture restores flow of energy and balance throughout your body’s energy meridians. The acupuncture will provide long-lasting relief from pain when an imbalance of energy is treated. Energy-based treatments work well for people who have anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, and myofascial pain syndrome.
The acupuncture needle insertion process produces minor discomfort. If you feel any pain, just tell the practitioner and he/she can make necessary adjustments of the needle insertion to reduce or eliminate discomfort. Several needles are used (10-30), and this varies, depending on your problem areas. After the needles are removed, you may experience some minor tenderness at the insertion sites.
There are millions of people who have used acupuncture and reported emotional and physical healing. The benefits include:
Conditions commonly treated with acupuncture include:
Acupuncture prices vary from $60 to $120 a session. Many practitioners offer multi-treatment packages for a reduced price. Some sessions also involve massage and aromatherapy. There is no set price for acupuncture, as each medical facility sets their own prices. Some insurance health plans do cover acupuncture. You will have to check on this with your specific plan.
In a recent study to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture for sciatica pain and symptoms, researchers found 12 randomized controlled trials involving around 1,850 people. The results showed that acupuncture was more successful than conventional Western medicine regarding decreased pain and efficacy outcomes.
Mei J, Wang X, Chem M, et al. (2015). The Efficacy of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Sciatica: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Article ID 192808