Acupuncture 101

"Will it hurt?"

That was the first question I asked Steph when I decided to have my first acupuncture treatment. This was a new area of healing/recovery that I have not explored. I have a PT and a massage guru who have helped me through many niggles. But one can not have too many tools to choose from when trying to maintain a balanced and healthy life. I was eager to gain this experience. To see what it was all about. And I had a trusted person to guide me through it.

Acupuncture is one of the oldest form of healing. It stems from the Chinese health tradition with the goal of maintaining a harmonious balance of your life forces. Illness results in the life forces becoming out of balance. But working with more the 350 points of the body, the aim of acupuncture is to maintain this chi. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (http://www.nccam.nih.gov) "... the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, which included a comprehensive survey of CAM use by Americans, an estimated 3.1 million U.S. adults and 150,000 children had used acupuncture in the previous year. Between the 2002 and 2007 NHIS, acupuncture use among adults increased by three-tenths of 1 percent (approximately 1 million people)." Additionally, acupuncture can be used to help heal injuries or niggles but stimulating blood flow to the areas of the muscles.

I walked into Steph's office a week ago for my first treatment. I was nervous. I am not sure why. My lovely PT inflicts more pain on me then most humans should tolerate, so pain was not something new to me. Maybe it was the needles and have ALOT of them in me at once. Maybe it was the fear of getting "stuck" incorrectly and it hit a nerve or deep muscle. Or maybe it is that I am a borderline hypochondriac and I was afraid of what she would find. Would I be so far out of balance that there would be no hope for me?

I sat down with Steph and filled out some paper work. She asked me some questions. Some of the questions where strange. My normal doctor would not even ask me these, but Steph said that these questions help give her a picture of my constitution-what makes me up. She showed me how the needles worked but inserting one in her hand. I got to see and touch what was going to be in me. She walked me through what she was going to do and that if anything was bothering me to let her know and she would remove the needle. Ok. I feel safe. Lets get the needles in.

I undressed into a smart looking hospital gown and laid of the table anxiously awaiting the first stick. Steph walked in and got down to business. She did some measurement stuff and feeling around for tightness and then "tap" the needle when in. I don't know what I was expecting. Some grand entrance of the needle? A feel of getting a shot? A mosquito bite hurts more. She told me she was going to insert the needle farther in and let me know when I felt a heavy dull feeling. That is the feeling I was looking for as each needle went in. 15-20 minutes go by as Steph puts more needle in me. As each one goes in, I relax a bit more. Who knew the more needles you have in your skin, the more you relax?!Steph left me with my thoughts and the needles for about 20 minutes-long enough to work their magic. As Steph was putting each needle into my skin, I felt myself become more and more aware of my body. I could tell you where each needle was even if I didn't see it go it. As I laid on the table (careful of not to move in cause I messed something up), I began to feel a sense of opening. It was strange. Little tingles were oscillating throughout my body. I could feel something that I could not see or touch, yet it was there. I though about where each needle was and why they were put there (Steph told me why she was putting needles at certain places). I had needle to help my "battery recharge". To help open my chest and lungs, to help me relax and release my worry. I found an interactive acupuncture chart to help me learn about the points-I got overwhelmed looking at all the dots. I felt like I was looking at one of those connect the dot puzzles.

On my second session, Steph performed cupping on me. "Cupping is an ancient Chinese method of causing local congestion. A partial vacuum is created in cups placed on the skin either by means of heat or suction. This draws up the underlying tissues. When the cup is left in place on the skin for a few minutes, blood stasis is formed and localized healing takes place." Cupping brings fresh blood to the area and improves circulation and is widely used for aches and pain relief for reasons described above but is also believed to be used to treat respiratory problems, coughs, wheezing and digestive problems.

After have 2 sessions, I am looking forward to experience the power and healing that acupuncture can provide my body. I admit, I throw my body out of balance often without giving it the slightest thought. And only paying attention when my body is demanding that I pay attention. My hope and goal with this new tool is to become more aware of myself-as a whole person. Not just the physical aspects. It is also my intention to educate myself on new ideas and philosophies of healing/recovery/balance-there is not a one size fits all program out there. Each person and their needs are unique. Live in the idea of Einstein (interesting I chose a western scientist to end this):

The only source of knowledge is experience.

Rock On
JK

PS-No comments on the tan lines or tattoos.