Acupuncture has been in use for thousands of years in Asia to encourage the body’s energy to move towards a balanced state.
The best known form of acupuncture is the practice of stimulating anatomical points on the body using needles that are then manipulated by the hands or electrical energy. Other types of therapy include auriculotherapy and cupping.
Your practitioner will start by opening a fresh set of sterilized, disposable needles and will swab the area with alcohol before inserting the needles. As they are inserted, you may feel a sensation called deqi (da-chee). It should not be painful.
Auriculotherapy or ear acupuncture is a method of diagnosis and treatment that recognizes the ear as a map to the body’s organs (much like reflexology of the foot). Stimulating points in the ear helps reach corresponding points within the organs. Auriculotherapy is used for treating stress, addictions, joint pain, and more.
Cupping brings fresh blood to an area and improves circulation. It is often used to open the chest and benefit the lungs, in the relief of menstrual tension and digestive problems. Cupping entails placing the cup on the area to be treated and suctioning out the air forcing the skin to draw up around and underneath.