What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the use of delicate needles on very specific points on the body. This treatment balances the systems of the body as it relates to our muscles, joints, organs & energy. Acu points are mapped out using meridian lines. These lines give clues on your nature for things like hot or cold, emotions, elements, high & low energy.

An acupuncture treatment at Sore Spots may also include; fire cupping, guasha, moxibustion, red light therapy as well as electro-acupuncture therapy.

Why get Acupuncture?

Acupuncture can help a variety of medical & muscle concerns. At a glance here are just a few, we recommend:

  • Digestive health

  • Weight loss support

  • Headaches / Migraines

  • Nerve pain

  • Pregnancy support

  • Stress & Anxiety

  • Focus issues

Benefits?

So many deep & subtle benefits to having Acupuncture be part of your pain-relieving, wellness plan. As a result of treatment, you may expect some of these features:

  • relieve muscle pains, especially if there is nerve involvement like sciatica or poor posture

  • balance hormonal health for women peri-menopausal or women looking to get pregnant

  • soothing to your nervous system & helps patients take ‘pause’

a gentle, non-invasive form of therapy for those who do not like deep tissue therapy

History

Acupuncture is part of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). TCM is thousands of years old & pre-dates our Western medicine model as far back as 6000BCE. As with many paramedical sciences, over the centuries, its practice experienced an evolution to other countries & continents.

Here at Sore Spots, we are in slight awe of the magic this modality has to enhance the work we do as massage therapists or as a stand alone treatment. We recommend taking a visit to this Oxford Academic article for further reading.

Frequently Asked Questions

Won’t an Acupuncture needle hurt me?

  • An acupuncture needle is most often, rarely even felt when it’s being placed on point during treatment. However, if your concerned about sensation with placement than let your Acupuncturist know as there are some sites that are more sensitive than others. Once set, a needle or series of needles is left to rest for about 20 minutes & during that time at our clinic, we’ll let a red light hover over the area for additional therapeutic affect & warmth.

What if I don’t like needles?

  • A well trained & caring Acupuncturist need not use any needles at all if that is the preference of the patient. Acupuncturists can use fire cupping, guasha & moxibustion. Another common tool used is ear seeds. Ear seeds are like tiny stickers used for auricular (ear) acupuncture. They are great for kids & as an emergency aid for mental health. As a side note, we should also say that Acupuncture needles are not like the needles most people have had during other medical experiences. They are almost hair-like in their thickness & more comparable to a pin than an actual needle.

Can I get an infection from a needle used during an Acupuncture treatment?

  • Absolutely not. Acupuncture needles are used one time only & completely sterile when used in treatment.

What should I know about my first Acupuncture appointment?

  • Keep in mind that Acupuncture treatments are based on a completely different understanding of the human body. Your Acupuncturist will likely want to assess your pulse & will want to also observe the constitution, shape & coloration of your tongue (heads up!).

  • They’ll also ask about your sore spots but will be equally keen to learn about your temperature regulation, sleep patterns, diet & activity level. In addition to your health history, these are normal questions during an Acupuncture assessment.