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I’ve had such positive health experiences with acupuncture over the years, that it makes me sad when I hear people dismiss the idea that this ancient Chinese practice actually has powerful healing properties. After all, you skeptics, Eastern medicine has been around a lot longer than Western medicine. (And I’ve been able to manage my genetic skin disease called Hailey-Hailey, thanks in large part to regular acupuncture treatments.) So I asked my acupuncturist, Anne Mok, Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and co-owner of Cornerstone Healing in New York City, to debunk these ten common myths about acupuncture and your health:
1. The needles are so damn long!
Actually, acupuncture needles have different thicknesses and lengths. Most needles are inserted into the skin less than half an inch. And the needles are as thin as a strand of hair.
2. Fine, but the needles hurt like hell.
Nope. Most people just feel a pinch. It’s nothing like any shot you get at a doctor’s office.
3. But the needles make you bleed.
There are capillaries all over the body, and yes, sometimes an acupuncture needle can nick them. But a cotton ball applied with slight pressure takes care of what is normally a drop of blood.
4. I have to “believe” in acupuncture in order for it to work.
Acupuncture has been scientifically proven to relax your nervous system and allow your body to release its own endorphins (feel-good hormones). So even if you don’t believe the process is working, there are physiological changes occurring in your body that are out of your control.
5. You have to stay perfectly still when the needles are in place.
It’s best not to move too much after the acupuncturist has inserted the needles, because movement can change the position of some of the needles, which may make you experience a slight pinching sensation. But there’s no problem if you need to adjust your body to be more comfortable.
6. You can catch a disease from the needles.
Not likely. Acupuncture needles are made of stainless steel filiform needles and are disposable.
7. Acupuncture is only useful for treating pain.
According to the World Health Organization, acupuncture can treat a variety of conditions including, but not limited to: Gastrointestinal disorders, insomnia, menopausal symptoms, infertility, and psycho-emotional disorders.
8. You have to do acupuncture every day in order for it to work.
Once the needles are in, there’s a already a shift of energy happening in the body. But whether or not you have an acute or chronic condition will dictate how long you’ll need acupuncture treatment.
9. You will never freak out or have a bad reaction to acupuncture.
Some of the more common side effects of acupuncture are bruising, minor soreness, and sometimes feeling a little tired after a treatment. But most people actually feel very relaxed and refreshed after a treatment.
10. Acupuncture is expensive and insurance doesn’t cover it.
Actually, more and more health insurance companies are now covering acupuncture, at least in part. For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Oxford, and UnitedHealthcare all cover acupuncture treatments to some degree. Definitely check with your insurance provider, so that you can be reimbursed for as many treatments as possible.
Post from: BlissTree
10 Facts About Acupuncture and Your Health