Acupuncture treatment

Equinox

New Member
What exactly does Acupuncture do for you? I've heard theories, but have never actually talked to someone that went under the needles. Don't they get the pins really hot before putting them in you? I'm not a fan of needles in the first place so I don't get how putting a ton of them in me would make me feel good. I want some insight from someone that has actually done it.
 

SoftRain

Member
Well I haven't gone for a full treatment, but I had an acupuncture needle stuck in my arm during a demonstration once. It wasn't hot and I couldn't even feel it, which was hard for me to believe before I tried it.
 

Asturian

New Member
SoftRain, we share the similar experience. An acupuncturist friend of mine tried to let me know how it feels like by doing it on my elbow. It felt terrible!
 

Novembre

New Member
I'm not a fan of needles in the first place so I don't get how putting a ton of them in me would make me feel good. I want some insight from someone that has actually done it.
I hate needles (but I love noodles :)), so it's not something I would want to try. Though, I love to get massaged and I can bear the pain of getting acupressure massage.
 

dkramarczyk

New Member
An acupressure massage sounds like it could be really nice. I haven't ever tried acupuncture, but we were showed the basics of it in my Human Biology class in high school. We actually got to insert the needles into other students. A few of them couldn't feel it at all while others could. So I really think it just depends on the person, whether acupuncture is right for them or not. I'm willing to try it out though if there's the potential that it will help.
 

SifuPhil

Member
What exactly does Acupuncture do for you? I've heard theories, but have never actually talked to someone that went under the needles. Don't they get the pins really hot before putting them in you? I'm not a fan of needles in the first place so I don't get how putting a ton of them in me would make me feel good. I want some insight from someone that has actually done it.
No, the pins are not heated, unless you're referring to electroacupuncture, which because of the current you may experience a slight warmth.

Acupuncture's benefits are numerous; successful treatments have been made for everything from smoking cessation to back pain.
 

Parker

Member
Several years ago, I developed carpal tunnel from working on computers at work. The doctors recommended surgery. Some type of nerve release surgery. I knew many people who had that surgery and I knew the results didn't last longer than a few years. I also knew that once the nerves where cut, other alternatives were limited.

I wanted to try acupuncture first. Treatment was declined Workers' Comp. So I paid for the treatment. I am so glad I did. I experienced great relief without surgery. As a person who doesn't like needles, it was a bit scary. The needles were long and thin. I had to remain still. I had to do a meditative exercise before the acupuncturist would proceed because I was so tense. I am so glad I was brave enough to try it. I never needed surgery and the Workers' Comp doctor was even impressed with the results.
 
My husband underwent acupuncture for his back injury. He actually ended up breaking his back as a firefighter. The pain he was experiencing was unfathomable. However, he went under the needles and said the pain he experienced was drastically decreased on his back. Now this was not immediate, but did take time. As far as needle pain, he said the only time he experienced any type of pain was if the doctor doing the treatments hit a nerve on accident.
 

emerald

New Member
My mom and two of my friends have done it. Both my mom and my friends underwent acupunture for different reasons. My mom had it done because her doctor wanted to find out what was causing her allergies and my friend because she had some physical pain for a very long time. She claims that it fixed her problems. My mom told me it didnt hurt and that they eventually figured out what was causing her allergies. It's a very old technique and many people go through it for various reasons.
 

Waynefire

Member
This adjust the bodies energy patterns. When you have these patterns adjusted it allows for you to feel more natural. Then you can start to have the relax feelings of the pain going away.
 

dziomek

Member
What exactly does Acupuncture do for you? I've heard theories, but have never actually talked to someone that went under the needles. Don't they get the pins really hot before putting them in you? I'm not a fan of needles in the first place so I don't get how putting a ton of them in me would make me feel good. I want some insight from someone that has actually done it.
I had it done once, and I am NOT a fan of needles. I actually tend to get very dizzy when having blood taken so I don't even watch the needle go in. I did have acupuncture done on my upper back a few months ago, and I didn't feel a thing. I laid on my stomach and they went into my back; "out of sight, out of mind" as the saying goes. I didn't feel them going in or out. It did help with the pain a bit, and I am contemplating going on a more regular basis.
 

Jesi

New Member
What exactly does Acupuncture do for you? I've heard theories, but have never actually talked to someone that went under the needles. Don't they get the pins really hot before putting them in you? I'm not a fan of needles in the first place so I don't get how putting a ton of them in me would make me feel good. I want some insight from someone that has actually done it.
Generally the pins aren't heat or messed with in that way but as mentioned there are variations of the practice. However you may notice the pins heat up slightly from being connected to you depicting on just how good the practitioner is. ;)

Both acupressure and acupuncture work by manipulating the subtle energy flowing though the various meridians and other pathways of what is known as the "energetic body" which has several other, much better names depending on tradition. It is a form of inner alchemy that uses exterior mediums of influence.

As to whether or not most commercial acupuncturists hold the traditional beliefs however is another story entirely.
 

Jatelo2

Member
Thanks forum members for the info on acupuncture since I'm currently writing a paper on it. This post has been helpful. I would also ask for links with further or detailed information on the topic. Thanks for the Thread and the post they have been helpful so far!
 

gina121

Member
I'd be interested to know whether acupuncture has helped cure/or relieve symptoms of skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Anyone have any stories to share?
 

SifuPhil

Member
I'd be interested to know whether acupuncture has helped cure/or relieve symptoms of skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Anyone have any stories to share?
My student had a skin condition that presented on his arms and backs of his hands. It stumped the regular doctors and specialists because they were looking only at alleviating the symptoms, not discovering the cause. One of the benefits of acupuncture (practiced traditionally) is that there is an extensive intake process that a new patient undergoes that includes not only medical histories but tongue reading, pulse taking (18 of them), color and odor analysis, range-of-motion measurements etc.

Only after all of these parameters are checked is the first needle brought out.

Well, my student asked me to do a treatment, so we went through the process, I saw that it wasn't diet or any pre-existing condition and began treatment. Over the course of three treatments per week for three weeks the skin condition was terminated and has not as of this date returned.

So yes, acupuncture can work on skin conditions - in my student's case it was treatment for "wind", "heat" and "dampness". These are TCM names for both environmental and internal conditions; the goal of acupuncture is to remove these "toxins" by stimulating the body's natural energy flow.

Depending upon the practitioner you see, however, your results may vary. Some acupuncturists, known as "medical acupuncturists", are licensed MDs who have taken a bare-minimum course in acupuncture - essentially learning the dozen or so most common points to stimulate through courses that are 1/10th the duration of an OMDs (Doctor of Oriental Medicine). They do not study diagnostic methods or any of the remaining 365 points in the body, so if you present with anything out of the ordinary they will likely not be successful in their treatment.
 

iampeebs

Member
Reading the descriptions here is giving me the creeps. I am a huge fan of natural healthcare, but personally can't get back to needle thing. It here's something I just get creep out about and can't imagine ever doing.
 

meowcow

Member
I wonder about this as well. I've seen a lot of shows where the host tries it out and the usual comment afterwards is that it does feel relaxing and therapeutic in a way, but I've never heard anyone say it cured their ailments. I guess it would be a good supplement to any therapy you are currently taking part in, but it probably won't work as the main one. I would like to try it out myself someday.
 

gina121

Member
Thank you, SifuPhil. That explains quite a bit. I'll research some more. Again, it is about finding a suitably qualified and experienced acupuncturist. It's a hit and miss, I guess, like all other complementary treatments. I wonder if knowing the acupuncture points and using pressure on those meridien (?) points will in some way help! I'm going to be reading some more on this. Thanks again.
 

SifuPhil

Member
I wonder about this as well. I've seen a lot of shows where the host tries it out and the usual comment afterwards is that it does feel relaxing and therapeutic in a way, but I've never heard anyone say it cured their ailments. I guess it would be a good supplement to any therapy you are currently taking part in, but it probably won't work as the main one. I would like to try it out myself someday.
One wonders about the qualifications and abilities of the acupuncturists that appear on those shows - it's show business, remember: they're not going to bring in some dull little guy who gets results. They're going to bring in someone who looks good on camera and has a bubbly personality. Also, a one-time treatment is the exception, not the norm - it usually takes a series of treatments to achieve results.

Acupuncture has a long and established track record for treating and curing a wide variety of ailments, both as an adjunct to Western medical techniques and as a stand-alone modality.
 

iampeebs

Member
So, are these shows a responsible thing to do? I know with chiropractic that if you go in blind, there is the potential for exasperating an existing issue and really hurting someone.
 
Top