Acupuncture: a therapeutic practice as old as the hills, steeped in the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
For decades, it’s been gaining acceptance and even praise in the Western world as an effective complementary therapy for pain alleviation. But did you know that acupuncture can aid treatment for a variety of health conditions?
Acupuncture involves inserting thin, sterile metal needles into the body at specific points. This stimulates the flow of energy along the body’s energy pathways (meridians) to restore balance over time. Acupuncture enhances the body’s self-healing process, treating your pain and discomfort in a natural and ongoing way.
At BodyViva, we’re passionate about making your life easy and pain-free. That’s why we offer both western acupuncture and dry needling as featured services. Let’s explore how acupuncture treatment may benefit you, and what you can expect from our treatment approach.
A natural and effective approach to pain treatment
If you’ve experienced persistent pain at some point in your working life, you’re not alone. Office workers commonly report frequent lower back pain from sitting in uncomfortable chairs 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Manual labourers often develop muscular strain sustained from long periods of lifting and using heavy objects. The list goes on.
Pain seems to be an inherent part of our busy working lives, and taking painkillers often fails to adequately alleviate that pain. The good news is, acupuncture treatment may offer a longer-lasting and much more effective way to treat pain and discomfort. And the best part? It’s all natural (and can be incredibly relaxing).
What conditions can be treated by acupuncture?
Acupuncture can be an effective treatment to alleviate various acute and chronic pain conditions, including neck, lower back, labour and dental pain, as well as headaches and migraines. Those suffering from longer-term disorders such as osteoarthritis, can also undertake acupuncture treatment to improve their condition.
So how does acupuncture actually work, and how can it alleviate pain?
BodyViva practices Western acupuncture, which involves applying relevant neurophysiology and anatomy to locate the acupuncture points, or acupoints. The needle is then inserted into each acupoint to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue, creating an inflammatory response that encourages a self-healing response. The process also helps to modulate pain at the spinal cord level and trigger the brain to create descending pain inhibitions.
After the needles are inserted, you can lie still and relax while they are left in place for a certain period of time to stimulate the nerves and work their magic.
The aim is to improve your body’s ability to self-heal, and to build up your overall resilience to pain, with every acupuncture appointment you attend. The number and frequency of treatments that you need will depend upon the condition you want to treat.
What to expect from your Acupuncture Consultation
If you’re considering acupuncture treatment for a condition that is troubling you, BodyViva are here to help. At your first consultation, your therapist will be focused on gathering as much information as possible, to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate design of your treatment plan. They will examine the parts of your body where you feel pain to ascertain the focus areas for treatment. However, depending on where the painful areas are located, the appropriate acupuncture points may actually be far removed. Your therapist will utilise their expertise to identify the most effective areas for treatment and the duration required for your treatment plan. Your therapist may also require you to provide information on your lifestyle, diet and medical history before beginning treatment to further tailor your treatment plan and maximise its effectiveness.
BodyViva in Springwood is a multidisciplinary clinic with a range of health practitioners ready to ease your pain through physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, acupuncture, podiatry and pilates. Visit BodyViva today!
