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 From
arthritis and headaches to digestive and emotional problems, for some, acupuncture is the antidote to any health woe. And, while acupuncture has been widely used and accepted in Asian cultures for thousands of years, it
is still considered an alternative treatment to the rest of the world.
Celebs
and Plain Janes alike swear by the Asian-inspired treatment. While we won’t
make up your mind for you on the treatment, we will fill you in on the basics
of acupuncture and, if you decide it’s for you, tell you the best places to find treatment
in your area.
What it is:
Historically, acupuncture has been a fix-all remedy in China and other Asian countries for thousands of
years. Predicated on the belief that stimulating certain areas on the body can
relieve pain and ease symptoms of illness, practitioners administer the treatment
by inserting thin metallic needles to stimulate pressure points.
Acupuncture is now readily available in the US and is growing in popularity. But before going
under the needle, it’s important to make sure the practitioner you choose
to administer treatment is qualified and certified, as an inexperienced or uneducated
application can leave you with more aches and pains than you started with.
What
to expect:
Any good practitioner will make sure they are in the
know when it comes to your expectations for treatment. Be sure to inform your
practitioner of what problems are experiencing, including sources of pain and
discomfort, and how long you’ve experienced the problems. From there, your
practitioner will formulate a treatment plan, sometimes setting up a series of
sessions to treat your every ache.
As for the actual treatment, patients
often have a wide range of reactions and experiences. Due to the extreme thinness
of the acupuncture needles, most people report no pain or discomfort during treatment. And much like
another widely practiced Asian wellness routine, yoga, the after effects of treatment
are variable with each patient. Some are energized after treatment while others
are relaxed and exhausted after treatment.
You can expect your treatment
to be completely customized to your needs and produce equally customized results.
And, if the idea of needles isn’t your cup of tea, be assured that under
normal circumstances, no external evidence of your treatment will remain (so don’t
worry about stocking up on band-aids for your pin pricks, as the pins do not penetrate
far below the skin’s surface).
So whether you are needle shy, or
an old pro, visit these beauty destinations for a certified treatment:
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