Acupuncture Outside of Pain

Photo 06_10_14Have you ever considered acupuncture for anything besides pain? People often equate acupuncture with pain relief, though there are many other problems that can be treated. I had a new patient for acupuncture many years ago. She was dealing with depression and low mood. There were a lot of life circumstances that were contributing. She had gone to see her MD for an anti-depressant prescription. Her MD had told her that he would consider giving it to her, only after she had tried 10 acupuncture sessions first. So, skeptical as she was, there she was in the office for treatment. You may wonder who this MD was since this is not a common occurrence (though I wish it were!). He was a formally trained MD who had also undergone acupuncture training, yet did not practice Chinese medicine at the time due to office circumstances. And he must have been convincing, since the skeptical patient came in for a treatment anyways! We did a constitutional intake and decided the best way to treat her. We did a treatment to move energy and help her be more grounded. She was very relaxed at the end, but mood changes can take time. She returned for a treatment later in the week, and said she had a huge emotional release, and asked jokingly, “What was on those needles anyways?”. We continued to treat her twice a week over the next month, and she never mentioned anti-depressant medications again. She reported better sleep, laughing more, and feeling more positive. Neurochemistry is complex, and not all cases are this simple. I recommend acupuncture frequently for:

  • More focus
  • Day-to-day stress
  • Better Sleep
  • Anxiety and Depression
  • Menstrual cycle irregularities

Even while doing more supplemental work and lab testing, I will employee acupuncture for maintenance and potential of treatments. I have watched headaches resolve and blood pressure drop during a treatment. Acupuncture can put you into an alpha brain wave pattern, which is only reached otherwise by deep meditation or a quality sleep. I even get acupuncture myself to help keep me grounded and focused. If I go too long without a session, I can definitely notice a shift in my body. What part of your life could acupuncture help support?