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Have You Heard About Ear Acupuncture?
Most people are familiar with acupuncture – a therapy treatment utilizing dozens of tiny strategically placed needles even if they have never received treatment. But have you ever heard of auricular acupoint therapy in Delta?
Auricular acupoint therapy, also known as ear acupuncture, combines traditional Chinese acupuncture and modern medicine. This form of acupuncture originated in France in the 1950s and focuses exclusively on the ears. Its purported benefits range from chronic pain relief to weight loss. Here’s more on what you need to know about auricular acupoint therapy in Delta.
Acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine. The therapy is based on the belief that the body possesses a natural flow of energy – the qi, which travels along invisible pathways known as meridians delivering essential nutrients and supporting physical and mental wellbeing. Blockages in these pathways can prevent energy from flowing correctly and are thought to be responsible for many common ailments and illnesses.
Acupuncture aims to rebalance and restore the correct flow of energy. The body contains hundreds of acupoints along 14 principal meridians, each connected to a specific body landmark.
Your acupuncturist will begin your session by evaluating your symptoms to determine which meridians are affected and then choose targeted acupoints along those pathways. Once selected, acupoint therapy proceeds with the insertion of tiny needles at the targeted points.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes when placed in the right combination, these needles help to restore proper energy flow. Medically, these needles trigger a response from the body thereby increasing blood flow and stimulating the central nervous system into releasing natural chemicals like painkilling endorphins stimuli.
The ear is a highly complex microsystem irretrievably tied to our internal organs and the rest of the body. Following the introduction of auricular acupoint therapy in France, over 200 acupoints were discovered in the ear. Like traditional acupuncture allows the qi to travel unobstructed by removing blockages, auricular acupoint therapy stimulates the nervous system promoting increased blood flow and the body’s natural pain-relieving neurotransmitters.
Most people experience no pain with an acupuncture treatment only while finding it mildly uncomfortable. Some people even report feeling relaxed during the treatment. The needles used in acupuncture treatment are very thin and very sharp, so much so that you may not even feel them being inserted. Sensations from acupoints like throbbing or tingling are often experienced after the needles are placed and are a sign the acupoint has been ‘activated.’
Certain acupoints can be more sensitive than others and often the first treatment is the most uncomfortable as acupoints are being triggered for the first time. Subsequent treatments feel generally to be easier. After an acupuncture session, you may feel a bit of lingering soreness but generally, any discomfort usually ends when the session is finished.
When performed well by an experienced professional acupuncturist, there are very few potential side effects to acupuncture therapy. Some patients also report feeling nauseous, sore, or dizzy following an acupuncture session, but these symptoms are generally mild and short-lived.
It is essential, however, to only receive treatment from a licensed and reputable facility by a trained professional. Non-sterile needles or incorrect techniques could cause serious side effects or infection.