What is Acupuncture?
Do you suffer from chronic pain? Do you have a hard time sleeping? Are you living with anxiety? Do you want to achieve overall wellness? Acupuncture may be right for you. There are dozens of acupuncture benefits.
Acupuncture has been around for more than 3,000 years as an effective treatment for a wide range of acute or chronic conditions, including pain, sports injuries, digestive disorders, insomnia, anxiety and stress. In 2003, the World Health Organization recognized acupuncture as an effective treatment for 31 conditions including pain, digestive disorders, chronic conditions, emotional health, respiratory issues and more.
This non-invasive treatment is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is the oldest, continuous, cumulative documented medical practice. Other branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine include:
Herbal medicine
Cupping
Tui Na (massage)
Food Therapy
Quigong (movement and mediation)
What Happens During an Acupuncture Session?
Our bodies are made up of meridians, qi (which is our source of energy) and acupuncture points that are in a grid, much like our highways. Our energy systemically and methodically flows through our body like currents of the ocean or the flow of traffic (is this correct?). All throughout our body, there are informational points that tell our body what to do to heal and recover. Acupuncture taps into these points to help your body heal.
Practitioners expertly place special acupuncture needles in points on your body where nerves, muscles and connective tissue are densely bundled. The needle stimulates the fascia about these bundles to subtly shift and signals to the brain to correct itself.
As a result, your entire body experiences pain relief, a reduction in inflammation and is restored back to its homeostatic state. Acupuncture also stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system to improve digestion, ease constipation and promote general healing.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture treats the #1 cause of pain and disease – impaired blood flow. Acupuncture helps by:
Dilating your blood vessels to increase healthy blood flow that nourishes organs, tissues and nerves.
Stopping pain by releasing substance P, which is a neuropeptide that acts as a neurotransmitter to reduce pain. (is this correct?)
Reducing inflammation by releasing inflammatory cytokines, which are secreted by our immune system cells to impact our overall wellness. (is this correct?)
Stimulating the release of opioid peptides and endorphins for pain.
Acupuncture Benefits
The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture as an effective treatment for 31 conditions. Acupuncture helps relieve pain, reduce inflammation and restore your body to homeostasis. Acupuncture benefits include:
Decreased anxiety and depression
Calming of the mind
Improved sleep
Improved digestion
Decreased constipation
Decreased nausea and vomiting
Acupuncture is also an effective co-therapy for post-surgical recovery and chemotherapy.
How Often to Get Acupuncture Treatments
Acupuncture treatment plans vary based on your individual needs. At TCM Wellness and Acupuncture, we start each new patient visit with a detailed intake to understand your specific health concerns and wellness goals. We’ll schedule two treatments on two different days so we can better understand how your body reacts.
After this, we’ll conduct a clinical assessment and create a treatment plan. Similar to physical therapy, your treatment plan may include acupuncture treatments multiple times per week over a period of several weeks. Remember, the longer the patient has the condition, the longer it may take to recover.
Is Acupuncture Covered by My Insurance?
Some insurance plans cover acupuncture. TCM Wellness and Acupuncture is an out-of-network clinic, but we are currently applying for in-network coverage.
However, we work with our patients with out-of-network billing by offering packages, payment plans and pay-as-you-go options. Patients are also welcome to use their Health Savings Accounts for acupuncture treatment.
Ready to Get Started with Acupuncture?
Traditional Chinese Medicine has been around for more than 3,000 years as a proven medical practice that treats the entire body and mind. Are you ready to get started?
TCM Wellness Acupuncture Clinic is located in the West Metro of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. We serve Excelsior, Mound, Spring Park, Minnetonka, Minnetrista, Orono, Shorewood, Tonka Bay, Long Lake, Deephaven, Chanhassen, Maple Plain, and the greater Twin Cities area.
We offer a complimentary health assessment to help you better understand how acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine practices can address your health and well-being. Contact us to learn more.