Is Acupuncture Scary?
I’m assuming the idea of needles being poked into your body is scary. I can’t remember what I thought before my first time trying acupuncture – but I can imagine the hesitation.
I’ve always had my eye on Acupuncture because I’ve heard it can help with allergies. You know I’m bound to sign up for that! It wasn’t even the needles that freaked me out, I was scared of the “quiet” time after the needles are placed on your body. I’ll take the poking, but the sitting? W needles in my body? No thanks.
I found this definition of Chinese Medicine that I think best describes the goal of acupuncture, in the easiest words: “The basic foundation for TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) is that Qi (pronounced “Chee”), or the life energy, flows through the body. This energy flows in channels known as meridians that connect all of our major organs. According to Chinese medical theory, illness arises when the cyclical flow of Qi in the meridians becomes unbalanced or is blocked.” (via) In theory, acupuncture assists to unblock or balance your Qi.
These days there’s a lot of different places to get acupuncture done. The list of potential benefits is long so I can see why almost anyone has a reason to try it. I go to a School of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in Austin. I see Dr. Tan, who is a Licensed Medical Doctor in China & has had 11 years of schooling before being allowed to practice Acupuncture. She explained you can get certified in the US to do acupuncture in as little as 3 years. In China, they have to go through regular medical school first.
I’m saying this not to knock anyone that does acupuncture w 3 years of schooling, but to illustrate my experience. I walked into her office thinking I was at a Spa & quickly realized I wasn’t in a sound bath. Dr. Tan walked me into her office, that looked very much like a doctors office, had me fill out similar paperwork, & asked me the same questions my primary care physician would ask. So I answered! You want problems, I’ll give you problems.
Anxiety
Stress
Backpain
Idiopathic (we don’t know) Anaphylaxis
Nasal Allergies
Muscle Pain
I threw it all out there & asked her to pick her preference. If she could help with any one of them, I would consider my experience a success. But she looked at ALL of the things. Eventually, she came up with a healing plan to fix everything. She talked to me for over an hour!! You guys, go to a primary care physician, to no fault of their own – they ain’t got that time!
I felt heard for the first time in 3 fucking years.
Ok, then the poking.
I was scared. I brought Wafiq to hold my hand like a 5 year old visiting the dentist for the first time. Lucky me, Doc didn’t mind.
Is Acupuncture Scary?
No, because the needles are as tiny as a piece of hair:
When I saw her pull out the needles & then noticed they looked like little pieces of hair, all my fear immediately went away. How can I be afraid of that? I felt nothing as she started poking me. If you do feel something, as I once did a few appointments later, tell the person doing the Acupuncture & they’ll quickly adjust the needle.
No, because you’ll get on a healing plan:
Depending on what you’re going to acupuncture for, it may not be a one-stop-shop. Like anything that you want to change or get better – it takes time. But that should give you comfort, people go back to acupuncture all the time, because it doesn’t hurt. For women, you’ll likely get on a healing plan in between your cycle. Chinese medicine is big about a woman’s period, as all doctors should be. [The last time I tried to get someone to pay attention to my period, the {3} moron Allergists looked at me & said it’s irrelevant. Which, on what planet were they talking about exactly?] Unless you’re working on something specifically related to your period (hemorrhoids, cramping, acne, ect), you skip the Chinese Herbs & Acupuncture during your flow. Because, this is a precious time that the female body is working like a mother fucking machine – cleansing, eliminating, being a fierce beast. Aren’t females the coolest?
No, because you won’t need 139 needles:
With my list of problems? I thought I’d surely have 139 needles puncturing my body, little to my surprise she only used about 6 my first time. A few on my arms, waist & feet. I rarely have an appointment where more than 15 needles are in my body at one time. Even 15 is a stretch. This is because each needle serves a purpose. Every time I ask her what each needle is doing. Somehow it’s always something like “the one in your foot is connected to your liver & kidneys.” (that’s probably not accurate as my memory sucks but you get the idea)
No, because acupuncture is only one piece of Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Tongue reading? Yep. Dr. told me “it’s like a CT scan for your body”. Every appointment she reads my tongue in .3 seconds & knows everything. I ask her, she gives me the deets. I also didn’t expect to get a prescribed medication bottle with Chinese Herbs inside. I was hesitant at first because I’m terrified to ingest anything new thinking it could lead to anaphylaxis, but this doctor made me a risk-taker. A sip or 2 of what tastes like Earth, 2 times a day? I’m into it for now. I asked her what’s more important, the herbs or needles? She said it depends on the health issue. For physical pain, the needles might show a better result, for something internal it might be the herbs – but for anything, they work best together. The point here is, acupuncture is only a piece of the practice.
No, because you’ll practice meditation:
Once the needles are poked, you sit with them for at least 30 minutes while your body relaxes. That’s right, relaxes. I’ve been wanting to set aside time to practice meditating & this is it! I have absolutely no idea how to meditate, I’ve tried a few things, but I keep working at it. I can share my strategies sometime? The needles are supposed to shift your body from a ‘fight or flight’ response to a ‘rest & digest’ state, therefore meditating should come easily. I can tell you, I cried a few minutes after Doc poked me in the first appointment. An overwhelmingly loving, relieving, small cry that I can’t exactly explain. I remember thinking “i love you so much”, to my body. & I cried.
You might be wondering, did it work? Acupuncture? Well, I’ve been going now for almost 3 months, 2 times a week. I can tell you I feel significantly better. But I can’t say the acupuncture was for sure the only reason for my improvement. That would be a lie. I’ve been doing Yoga, changing my diet (again), stretching, meditating, therapist, exercise – you know? All the things – I’m doing it.
BUT, I will say this. I’ll continue going to this doctor for as long as she’ll have me. Why? Because she listens to me. I give her “out” after “out” when I’m in her office & she doesn’t take them. She’s focused on helping me live my happiest, healthiest life. The mental benefits I’ve received from her are immeasurable. I take my bloodwork, x-rays, allergy results to HER. I go to my appointment w a “regular” doctor, leave disappointed w no answers, go to my acupuncture doc & she explains everything to me thoroughly. With possibilities, what to try next, & how I should feel.
And the best part? She’s more affordable than all the other bullshit I’ve had to pay as far as doctors are concerned, even with insurance involved!
Now, I know not everyone has these weird idiopathic health problems so you might not feel the need for Acupuncture. However, if you’re taking any medication, if you’re dealing with mental health issues, stress, or annoying health-related problems – I would recommend trying it. It’s affordable & it can’t hurt (literally & figuratively).
I can’t explain the enormous amount of education I’ve received from my appointments, I feel more knowledgable about my health than I ever have before. I’ll share as I continue to go, but I wanted to at least get this conversation started in the case that anyone else needs to be heard.
That’s all I got for now, because this was a long one! Shiiiiiiiiiii. I’m not trying to kill your Thursday, hopefully I can enlighten it.
I hope you all have a great weekend!
If anyone has tried acupuncture, let us know below 🙂
Love you, be thoughtful always
Xx
I like the way that you approached non-traditional medicine and it worked for you. My son got hit in the jaw during one of his basketball games at school recently. We will try to use this method so he can cope. However, If ever things get troublesome, we will get an acupuncture expert to help us out.