What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient health science which is used to successfully treat both pain and dysfunction in the body. Authorities agree that the science is over 5000 years old.
Early Asian physicians discovered that there is an energy network that's spans over through and around the surface of the skin and the collagen matrix of the body which communicates from the outside to the internal organs at over 1000 “acupoints” on the body. This energy works in harmony with the bodies circulations, nerves, muscles, digestion, elimination and all the other systems of the body. When this vital energy becomes blocked or weakened, it's effect on any body system or anatomic location becomes evident. Stimulation of one or a combination of key acupoints on the body can restore harmony to the affected area and improve health or well-being.
How does it work?
The Asians have reported over thousands of years and now modern science is verifying the fact, that not only does the human body have an electromagnetic energy system, it courses over defined channels referred to as “meridians”. In normal health, this energy field flows unimpeded and is in a balanced state. If a disruption occurs, the altered energy flow can produce conditions and symptoms affecting certain organs, and in some cases, the entire body.
In the practice of Acupuncture, the goal is to restore normalcy to the body’s energy field by stimulating a combination of specific acupoints, through a number of different applications, the needle is just one of them.
Here at Silcox Acupuncture & Chiropractic, Laser light, Electrical therapy, Mechanical stimulation and needles, are used to restore the flow of energy along the meridian lines.
Laser Light
Electrical Therapy
Mechanical Stimulation
Needles
Is Treatment Painful?
One would think that sticking needles into the skin would be painful. However, 4-5 acupuncture needles can be put into the hole of a hypodermic needle that is used to give an injection or to take fluid out. Because of the slenderness of the needles, most people compare it to less than a mosquito bite if anything.
How many treatments are usually needed?
Obviously, the number of treatments vary with each patient, however, usually chronic conditions require more treatment than acute ones. Some patients begin responding right away, while others may not begin to report improvement until their 7th or 8th visit. It has been shown that a small percentage of patients receive maximum benefit up to three months following a course of therapy.
Occasionally, a small number of patients may feel a worsening of their symptoms initially as the energy flows are returning to normal. There is no need for alarm and it is usually followed by rapid improvement. Researchers internationally often agree, that the usual number of treatments is between six and twelve with eight being the most common. The usual frequency is one to two times per week.
How do you determine what points to stimulate?
At Silcox Acupuncture & Chiropractic, the AcuGraph Digital Meridian System is frequently used as a computerized diagnostic tool to analyze and document the energetic status of the acupuncture meridians. Dr. Silcox will use this system in a short examination by touching a moistened probe to acupuncture points on your hands and feet to get an indication as to where to best begin treatment.
The AcuGraph system allows Dr. Silcox to analyze the energy balance of each acupuncture meridian. Armed with this information, Dr. Silcox can make better informed decisions about your condition, and provide the best possible treatment to balance the flow of energy along the meridian channels, and target the painful condition.