Acupuncture or Accupuncture
As Preventive Medicine

Acupuncture or accupuncture is often associated with pain control. We can visit an acupuncturist or traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner for regular health maintenance. It is similar to we bring our cars for maintenance before the parts break down.

Stress could strain our body and mind. And each of our emotions affects a particular organ. Organ strain can also result from seasonal changes, and an individual’s weak season is determined by signs in the body’s energy rhythms. Acupuncture or accupuncture is traditionally used in the warmer months and herbal treatment is used in winter.

Regular visits to acupuncturist could improve our general well-being, vitality and stamina. We could become sick less often and might recover faster from both illness and injury.

That will be depending upon the duration, severity, and nature of your complaint. You may need only one single treatment for an acute condition. A series of five to fifteen treatments may be needed for chronic problems. Two to three treatments per week may be needed the first few weeks. And follow by weekly treatment once there is significant improvement.

Depending on the patient’s condition and treatment plan, usually the needles remain in the patient’s body for 30 minutes.

Before the Treatment

In order to get the maximum benefits from the acupuncture or accupuncture treatment, one should:

• Maintain good personal hygiene to reduce the possibility of bacterial infection.

• Wear loose clothing and avoid wearing tight stockings.

• Avoid treatment when excessively fatigued, hungry, full, or emotionally upset.

• Relax, ask you practitioner any questions you have alone the way so you can get the most benefit possible from the treatment.

• If you are uncomfortable, tell your practitioner, do not change position or move suddenly.

• If you feel an increasing amount of pain, burning sensation, dizziness, nausea, or cold sweat, tell your practitioner immediately so he or she can readjust or remove the needles.

You may note a spot of blood and/or small bruise at one or more of the needles sites. These should not be harmful, but talk to your practitioner if you are concerned.

Some people experience a total or partial relief of their pain or symptoms right away. This relief may last or some pain may return after a few days. In some cases, there may be no immediate relief. But patients notice the diminishment of pain over the next couple of days.

In general, you should expect to feel better. But in some cases, the treatment provokes a ‘healing crisis’ which results in the increase of the pain. This is a positive sign and usually indicates that relief will happen in subsequent treatments.