Let’s talk about my personal experience with acupuncture.
Along my healing journey, I have experimented with a lot of different healing modalities. Acupuncture has been one of them and will forever be a tool in my toolbox. I actually went to an appointment yesterday!
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture has been treating many different health conditions for over 3,000 years.
It involves the insertion of very thin needles all over your body at strategic points. In Eastern medicine, where they focus on the whole person not the symptoms, believes it balances your Qi (your life force). If there is any disruption in this energy flow, it causes disease.
In Western medicine the system with doctors and healthcare practitioners, see it as points that stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissues. Therefore, stimulating endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers, and neurotransmitters, the chemicals that control nerve impulses.
There are many different styles of acupuncture. Ranging from Traditional Chinese Medicine, Japanese Acupuncture, Korean Hand Therapy, Auricular Acupuncture, Scalp Acupuncture, Cupping Therapy, Electroacupuncture, and Moxibustion Acupuncture to name a few.
Here are some of the health conditions studies have shown that acupuncture can treat:
- Nausea
- Addiction
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Menstrual cramps
- Low back pain
- Sciatica
- Asthma
- Fibromyalgia
- Osteoarthritis
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- IBS
- Hemorrhoids
- Sinusitis
- Infertility
- Stroke rehabilitation
- And so much more. The list is endless.
Back in the day, when I finally decided I needed to change my life for the better because I would wake up depressed and anxious all of the time, I stumbled across acupuncture. I did some research and after reading that it could help with anxiety, depression and PTSD, I made my first appointment.
So here is a closer look at what my experience with Acupuncture has been like.
The first appointment is usually 1.5-2 hours. Follow up appointments are usually 1 hour. They do a thorough health inventory and ask a lot of questions about how you are currently feeling.
The places I have been to have an intentionally peaceful environment. Think of waterfalls, soothing music, calming scents. It is so important to feel safe in a healing environment. That way your guard comes down and your parasympathetic nervous system is activated (rest and digest).
Afterwards, you are asked to lay down on the table, fully clothed. Then the practitioner will start to place these very tiny needles all over your body. From your head to your toes, literally.
Some of these needles are even placed on your fingers, in between your fingers, your collarbone, your ears. When the needle is being place on your skin it feels uncomfortable at first, but immediately goes away. There is no blood involved. After the first few you do not feel a thing.
The practitioners places these needles in various points in your body in what is called a meridian. A meridian is an energy channel representing certain parts and organs of the body. Traditional Chinese Medicine have studied and compiled these meridians through thousands of years of learning.
They will make sure you are comfortable once all of the needles are placed, dim the lights, leave soft calming music, cover your eyes and then they will leave the room.
For about 45 minutes you get to lay down with a bunch of needles all over your body that you cannot feel. I always fall asleep. These needles placed all over your body bring almost an immediate sense of calm.
I went to acupuncture weekly when I got pregnant. I had so much nausea and all day sickness that I really started to feel blue. It really helped me manage these unwanted symptoms.
The reason I went to an appointment yesterday, is because lately I have been feeling this inner heat inside of my chest. Inner rage would be a way to describe it.
Recently, I get irritated over small things when I usually have so much patience. It could be due to a lack of sleep, busyness, and hormones since I recently got my menstrual cycle for the first time since I got pregnant is my best guess.
My acupuncturist exactly what I described above. She stated she needed to work on my liver. The heat that I explained and the lack of sleep is causing my liver to work on overdrive, causing me to have all of the symptoms above.
Apparently, it is very common with women especially when they are just getting their menstrual cycle back after pregnancy.
Immediate results is what I was looking for, and I got just that. When I say that I did not wake up once last night, I am not exaggerating. My lack of sleep is due to my children waking me up, the dog, my husband, or even the slightest noise. I even wake up before my alarm at 5:45 AM goes off because of the inconsistency in my sleep.
Today, the alarm woke me up for the first time in months!!!
I cherish sleep. I honestly think it is one of the best kept secrets that people take for granted when it comes to their health.
I am on a mission to help others heal holistically, especially parents, because we are raising the next generation. What we do now, is what will become them as adults.
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I hope you have a wonderful holiday!
P.S. Don’t forget to chew your food and go on walks to help you digest your food better this weekend.
Please let me know how I can help.
With deep appreciation,
Alejandra at Living Well Co.
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I partnered up with Amazon to create a list of products that I specifically use, have used, or will used, that are clean and safe for you and your children. If you are looking for healthier alternatives for food, beauty, and wellness products to make you feel good – then come check this out.