Acupuncture is a natural approach for individuals’ overall health, but people may choose to receive acupuncture treatment for a specific condition. If you live in the Salt Lake City region and are looking for “acupuncture near me,” Integrated Pain Specialists can assist you.
Acupuncture is a popular treatment that people seek because it is a natural solution to chronic symptoms by optimizing our bodies’ natural resources. It can help strengthen your immune system, increase nerve conduction, increase blood flow, reduce inflammation, and release powerful endorphins for pain.
How does acupuncture work?
Traditional Chinese acupuncture consists of as many as 2,000 acupuncture points on the human body. The specialist inserts needles in specific combinations at these points to interact with the fascial network to alter brain chemistry.
For example, to reduce pain, acupuncture points will tell your brain to increase endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers.
The practitioner may gently move or twirl the needles once they’ve placed the needles in place or apply heat or mild electrical pulses to the needles. The needles typically remain in place for 10 to 15 minutes while you lie still and relax. Patients usually do not feel discomfort when the needles are removed.
Who qualifies for acupuncture treatment?
Everyone is typically eligible for being treated by acupuncture, except for those with hemophilia or contagious skin diseases due to the blood-thinning medication they typically take.
At Integrated Pain Specialists, the acupuncturist will meet with the patient before scheduling an acupuncture appointment to ensure they are eligible for the treatment.
Is it safe?
If you are unfamiliar with acupuncture treatment, you may wonder if it is safe and if the needles hurt. This treatment is considered to be safe when performed by trained professionals. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires acupuncture needles to be sterile, nontoxic and labeled for single use. The FDA also regulates acupuncture needles and restricts their use to licensed practitioners.
The needles used for acupuncture are extremely thin, and most people feel no pain or very little pain when they are inserted. Patients of acupuncture have said they feel energized or relaxed after the treatment; however, the needles can cause temporary soreness.
One patient stated: “I have gained quite a bit of relief from my injections and the acupuncture is superb. I like their supplements and their knowledge and ability to help me problem solve my gut, hormone and inflammation issues. The staff are so personable and friendly and really care!”
What training do acupuncturists receive?
Integrated Pain Specialists hire highly trained, expert healers who are licensed with a master’s or doctorate degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.
Benefits
The benefits of acupuncture will vary depending on the individual and why they are receiving the acupuncture treatment. It may take several sessions before you notice the benefits.
Acupuncture can benefit individuals in the following ways:
- Back pain
If you suffer from chronic back pain and other methods have failed you, acupuncture may be your solution. Although it is unknown whether acupuncture is the best long-term option for decreasing back pain, the treatment does help relieve the back pain someone may be feeling.
- Migraines
Over a six-month period, acupuncture was able to reduce the frequency of migraine symptoms by half in 41% of those in the study compared to those not receiving acupuncture treatment. The treatment was also noted to be as preventative as migraine medications.
- Tension headaches
If you are known to have frequent head pain or pressure, which is commonly known as tension headaches, you can benefit from acupuncture. Research shows that an individual suffering from tension headaches can feel relief in six acupuncture sessions. The study also noted that individuals felt less frequent headaches when taking medication along with acupuncture treatment, as opposed to just taking medication.
- Knee pain
Multiple studies suggest that acupuncture can improve the physical function of the knee in the short or long term in individuals who have knee osteoarthritis, which is a condition that causes the knee tissue to break down.
If you are experiencing aches and pains, you can search for acupuncture near me to speak with a professional about how acupuncture can benefit you.
- Promotes relaxation and better sleep
It is common for people to feel stressed out about their everyday tasks, demands at work, family life and self-care. Acupuncture is one way to relax the nervous system and promote a state of calmness.
It can also be beneficial for your quality of sleep. If you struggle with insomnia, and you haven’t found anything that quite works for you, it’s time to find a clinic that performs “acupuncture near me” like Integrated Pain Specialists. People who have trouble sleeping may turn to sleeping pills, but they can have serious adverse effects and are not recommended long-term because it can lead to a bad habit that causes abnormal sleep behaviors and possible addiction. Acupuncture is a safe alternative because it treats the root cause of your insomnia and benefits your overall health.
Side effects
Acupuncture may cause side effects just as any treatment, including:
- Pain and bleeding from the needle insertion
- Infections
- Nausea
- Allergic reaction
- Bruising around the area the needles were placed
- Dizziness
Less common but serious side effects may be blood vessel and nerve injury, complications from the needle breaking during treatment, organ injuries, and brain and spinal cord injuries.
To decrease the risk of experiencing side effects or any other complications from acupuncture treatment, you should always receive it from a licensed and properly trained healthcare provider using a clean, disposable needle.
Patients may use acupuncture for:
- Joint pain
- Sports-related injuries
- Fatigue
- Arthritis
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Headaches and migraines
- Leg, ankle, and foot pain
- Back pain or sciatica
- Osteoarthritis
- Chronic indigestion
- nausea/morning sickness
- Anti-aging
- Decreasing leaky gut
- Weight loss
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Anxiety and depression
- Stress
For those seeking treatment using acupuncture, visit Integrated Pain Specialists’ website to learn more about their treatment. They also offer chiropractic care, massage therapy, diagnostic assessment, physical therapy, spinal decompression, medical pain management, PRP injections, trigger point injections, and laser wave therapy.
Based on its specialized treatment and the various treatment options available to its patients, Integrated Pain Specialists is a superb choice for those who want to receive acupuncture.