Author: Kristina Brewer

Is Acupuncture The Right Treatment For You?

Understanding Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a unique health care system that began in China well over 2500 years ago. The basic premise of the practice is that there is a force of energy that flows through the body known as Qi, that is essential for our health and well being. When this natural force is disrupted, our health begins to deteriorate. Acupuncture is believed to be able to correct the imbalance in the force at point closest to the skin.

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Acupuncture was a rather rare element of medicine until President Nixon went on his famous visit to China in 1972. After his visit, there was an explosion of interest in much of China including the ancient art of acupuncture in regards to Western medicine.

Acupuncture in its simplest form is the process of stimulating locations on the body through multiple techniques on or in the skin. There have been several procedures developed over the years that have incorporated several various elements of acupuncture from Korea, Japan, and China. While there are several methods, the most widely known is the use of metallic needles to puncture the skin that are manually or electrically manipulated.

Understanding The Standards For Acupuncture Needles

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After much research, the U.S. FDA removed acupuncture needles from the category of experimental medical devices. They are now seen in the same sense as a scalpel or hypodermic needle, and the same single use and sterility procedures pertain to them.

What Is Cupping Therapy?

Cupping is a type of therapy that is used in conjunction with body work treatments and acupuncture.

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Cupping involves heating the air inside of a glass cup which helps to remove the air from the cup. The cup is then placed on the skin which creates a vacuum which will envelop part of the skin into the cup. The cup may be left on the skin for several minutes and when it is removed it will leave behind a red, circular welt. The thought process behind this method is the fact that it helps to stimulate the energy that is found within the body or its Qi.

Are There Any Side Effects Due To Acupuncture?

The of the major injuries that have been reported due to acupuncture is pneumothorax, which is the accidental puncture of the lung. In addition, acupuncture treatments can lead to viral hepatitis, which is a serious liver infection. It is also possible to get a bacteria infection from the needle being inserted into the skin. Typically, any side effects from acupuncture are due to poor training and hygiene.

6 Myths About Chiropractic Care

Many people continuously ask how chiropractors contribute to overall healthcare and how they can improve their health.

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It’s likely you will find a chiropractor in your area so here are some common myths and misconceptions about chiropractors that you should know.

1. Once You Make A Visit You Need To Keep Going Back

It’s completely false. Once you contact a chiropractor, he/she will do an assessment which includes your medical history and a physical examination to find out the cause of dysfunction or pain. Next, he/she will come up with a diagnosis and develop a good treatment plan with your own contribution to meet your goals and needs as the patient. You will make a few initial visits to the chiropractor so that he/she can see if you’re responding to the treatment plan.

If necessary, then re-evaluations will be scheduled for later. Depending on your condition and your medical history, the recommended course of action might vary but you’re the one to decide if you want to continue with care. However, if you have any concerns or questions about the chiropractic care being offered to you, ask the chiropractor about it. As mentioned, the treatment plan should be a mutual decision between you and the chiropractor.

2. Chiropractors Are Not Real Doctors

Chiropractors have been regulated in the 10 Canadian provinces. They can use the title doctor just like optometrists, physicians and dentists once they complete their degree program, Doctor Of Chiropractic, an extensive program. Note that, any medical practitioner authorized to use the designation ‘doctor’ has had extensive training in their specific area of expertise allowing them to provide a proper diagnosis of different conditions.

3. A Medical Doctor Has To Refer A Chiropractor

Everywhere in Canada, chiropractors are viewed as primary contact providers meaning you can access them on your own without referrals. Remember, they have had extensive training as diagnosticians thus they can perform a good assessment to determine what’s ailing you. Upon receiving the results, the chiropractor will recommended a good treatment plan or refer you to another healthcare professional. There are some cases where you need to get a medical doctors referral to access coverage which is highly dependent on your benefits provider.

4. No Evidence To Support The Effectiveness Of Chiropractic Care

Many people often question whether or not chiropractic care is effective. Remember, in the chiropractic care niche, many notable bodies have used a lot of resources to create a robust body to study the effects of manual therapies on musculoskeletal conditions. For instance, joint and spinal manipulations have been proven to be the best treatment for chronic musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain. Spinal manipulative therapy is the first type of chiropractic treatment for any back pain proposed by numerous boards in this niche.

5. Chiropractors Can Only Treat Back Pain

Chiropractors are experts in musculoskeletal conditions and can assess, diagnose and treat various disorders as well as prevent those originating from the skeletal, muscular and nervous system. Besides the evidence supporting the benefits of chiropractic care with MSK conditions in the spine, it has also been proven to be successful in managing the extremities, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and headaches.

In their profession, chiropractors can provide counseling about fitness, nutrition and ergonomics and many other issues that can manage or prevent numerous health conditions. The health of your body doesn’t start and stop at the spine, you need to be aware of your entire body’s wellness and lead a proper lifestyle for the best results.

6. Adjustments Are Painful

In general, joint manipulations or adjustments are not painful. Actually, many people have said they received immediate relief from pain. At first, you might be nervous about the popping or cracking sound that happens after an adjustment but it actually comes from the gas bubbles in your joint, it’s actually simple to cracking your own knuckles.

You need to ask the right questions about your treatment options and your overall health. You need to be an active partner in your healthcare and your participation is actually required if you want the best care to meet your goal. Chiropractors always strive to understand anything you need to know so that you can get the best care. If you have any more questions about chiropractic care, you can make an appointment with a chiropractor in your area. You can also do your own research online to learn what you can expect when you go in for your first chiropractic treatment.

It’s also prudent to do your research to make sure you’re visiting the best chiropractor for your needs.