Acupuncture is a form of natural medicine originating in the East roughly 2,000 years ago. Qualified healthcare practitioners use acupuncture to treat many illnesses including insomnia, chronic pain, and related sleep disorders.
For some, acupuncture may seem intimidating at first. Once you realize how simple and comfortable an acupuncture session is however, you will soon relax and start realizing the many benefits acupuncture has to offer.
A professional and licensed acupuncturist inserts fine needles into various points in the body. Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches the body must be in balance to work properly. When the body is not in balance, people suffer from disorders or health conditions including insomnia. Working with the patient, a practitioner of acupuncture will attempt to create a balanced state in the body allowing energy to flow freely through the body. There are 2,000 or more acupuncture points in the body. Research suggests acupuncture is helpful for many chronic conditions including insomnia.
Your first visit to a CAM provider or acupuncturist is much like any trip to the doctor. Your healthcare professional will take a detailed medical history, including a review of your primary symptoms and any possible underlying causes for your insomnia. Once they do this, they will provide you a physical examination and recommend treatment. This usually involves the placement of fine needles along specific meridian or energy points in the body. Most people will receive treatments lasting from twenty to thirty minutes once every week or two for a short time, though may start noticing improvements immediately.
Many people wory acupuncture will cause pain. Most people experience a tiny prick, much like that of a mosquito bite when a practitioner inserts an acupuncture needle. If you feel pain, speak up. Your healthcare provider may adjust your treatment to ease your discomfort.