If you suffer from chronic pain and would like to try a new treatment option, acupuncture may be something you should consider. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese healing practice to promote healing of the body. The practice uses stimulation to certain areas of the body to treat a variety of health issues. If you are considering acupuncture, here are some things you need to know:

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Acupuncture is performed by a licensed professional therapist. The therapist will use acupuncture by inserting small sterile needles. The stainless steel needles are individually packaged to ensure they are fully sterile. The needles are flexible and inserted just beneath the surface of the skin. The therapist will insert the needles in certain areas of the body based on your symptoms. You might feel a slight prick as the needles are inserted but many patients will not feel anything at all. The procedure should be relaxing and calm. In addition to acupuncture, the therapist may use light, pressure, or heat to help stimulate the pressure points on your body. A session of acupuncture typically lasts less than an hour.

What Does Acupuncture Do?

Acupuncture needles help to change the flow of blood to the brain and release endorphins. Endorphins are natural painkillers in the body to relieve pain, inflammation, or any other symptoms you may be experiencing.

How Many Acupuncture Sessions Can You Have?

At first, you may have more frequent acupuncture sessions multiple times a week. After that point, your therapist will evaluate your symptoms and decide how many sessions you should have going forward. You may have fewer treatments per week or have a week off in between treatments as your body begins to heal.

What Can You Expect After Acupuncture?

After your acupuncture is complete, you should notice some results. Your results will vary based on the condition you are healing from and your personal response to the treatment. You might notice relief right away. Other times, you might not notice any difference for a few days. Overall, you should begin to feel better after you have several treatments.

Acupuncture is a great way to complement other forms of medical therapy you need to heal your body. If you are interested in acupuncture as another way to help augment your current treatment, or if you want to try acupuncture as a stand-alone treatment, be sure to speak to a licensed practitioner for more information.