Acupuncture in Edmonton

Are you looking for acupuncture in Edmonton? Can you imagine how effective a health care discipline must be to stand the test of time for hundreds of generations? With acupuncture being practiced as a treatment system for over thousands of years, its safety and effectiveness has been shown time and time again. Forest Heights Chiropractic Centre would like to use this short article to provide you with some basic information about acupuncture and to see if you could be one of the millions of people to benefit from its application.

Understanding Acupuncture in Edmonton AB

As mentioned earlier, acupuncture has been practiced as a system of medicine for over 2400 years, but its philosophy and roots predate recorded history. In fact, it is believed that acupuncture was first performed using needles that were actually formed from grinding stones into fine points. As time progressed, one the first text describing acupuncture as a system of medicine was produced around 300 B.C. (The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine). Soon after its introduction, finely crafted metal needles replaced the stone variety and it has been recorded that royalty routinely used gold and silver needles. While this original text has been revised, edited, and added too for thousands of years, it still serves as the foundation for the contemporary system. Today, acupuncture has been incorporated into many western paradigms and is practiced in health care clinics across the world.

What should I expect during my acupuncture treatment?

The first thing to understand prior to an acupuncture session is that the needles used are much different than those that you would typically encounter at a hospital. Most patients describe their acupuncture treatment as a calm and relaxing experience. In fact, some patients report feeling little to nothing at all.

On your first visit to our clinic in Edmonton, we will begin by performing a thorough history and examination. After the results are analyzed, we will identify the problematic areas and develop an individualized treatment plan. After the sterile needles are positioned, patients typically rest for 30-45 minutes as the treatment takes its course. Depending on the individual case, pressure points, moist heat, or cold packs may be combined with the therapy.

As with many conditions, the treatment effect can vary depending on the severity of the problem. Many patients report feeling immediate relief, while others describe noticing changes up to two days following the therapy. Depending on the patient and the number of visits, relief may last anywhere from a few hours to several weeks. It will be important to monitor this so that your treatment schedule can be altered appropriately.

While side effects are minimal, some patients have reported minor bouts of nausea, bruising, muscle pain, and difficulty sleeping following their initial treatment. If this occurs don't be alarmed and notify your treating health care professional prior to your next visit.

If you would like to learn more about acupuncture in Edmonton or see if you could benefit from its incorporation into your current care, please contact our team at Forest Heights Chiropractic Centre today for help.