What is Acupuncture and How Does it Work? 

Acupuncture is a safe, effective, drug- free approach to healthcare and has helped millions of people over the past 3,000 years.  It is a whole-body approach to healing and is done by inserting very thin sterile needles into the body to stimulate important acupuncture points.  Qi (pronounced Chee) flows through our body and can become blocked, excessive or weak.  Think of Qi as blood and oxygen.  We all know how important proper blood and oxygen flow in our body is.  An acupuncturists job is to reestablish proper Qi flow in the body. Cells, tissues, muscles, organs and glands will function optimally once Qi is flowing correctly.  In 1997 the National Institutes of Health (NIH) acknowledged acupuncture as an effective therapy for a wide range of health conditions.

What Conditions Can Acupuncture Help? 

Acupuncture can help manage the symptoms of most medical problems including:

Pain 

Injuries 

Headaches and Migraines

Digestive Problems such as Nausea, Acid Reflux, Bloating, Diarrhea and Constipation

Mental Health Concerns such as Anxiety, Depression and PTSD

Allergies - Food and Environmental

Sinus Problems, Asthma, COPD, Shortness of Breath

Sleep Issues

Autoimmune Diseases

Meniere's Disease, Dizziness, Vertigo

Heart Palpitations, Atrial Fibrillation, High Blood Pressure

Female Concerns such as PMS, Cramps, Irregular Menstrual Cycle.  

Please call/text 251-767-5230 or email info@glowwellnessstudio.com if you have a medical condition/symptom that you are wondering if Acupuncture can help with. 

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

Some needles may not be felt at all and some you might feel for a second or two as the needle is inserted. Once the needles are inserted, most people find acupuncture to be very relaxing and often fall asleep. It is not true that incorrect insertion causes the needles to hurt.  Some areas are more sensitive than other areas and some people are more sensitive than others.  Often a point you really need is the one that you feel the most.  Once all of the needles are in and I leave the room then you should not be feeling pain from the needles.  Awareness that the needles are there is fine, but if any are painful please let me know. 

How long do the needles stay in?

Usually around 20 minutes. I leave the room while you relax and go to Acupuncture land.  You are given a doorbell to ring in case you need me while the needles are working their magic.  

How many needles do you use?

10 - 20 needles is most common.

Do you reuse the needles?

Needles are NEVER reused.  Each needle is sterile and individually packaged.  They are disposed of in a Sharps container just like needles at your doctors office are disposed of.

What is Cupping Therapy?

Did you see the Olympics when Michael Phelps had those round purple marks on his shoulder?  Or when Gwyneth Pathrow or Jennifer Anniston walked the red carpet with marks on their back?  Those are cupping marks.  Cupping Therapy involves putting suction cups on areas of pain.  It is excellent for pain relief because it helps move stagnant Qi and Blood and decreases inflammation. Cupping dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures. One of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, the Ebers Papyrus, describes how the ancient Egyptians used cupping therapy in 1,550 B.C.

Why does Cupping leave marks on the skin and how long does it take to go away?

Cupping leaves marks because it is moving the stagnant Qi and Blood.  The more stagnation you have, the darker the marks will be and the longer they will last.  The cupping marks go away from 1 - 10 days after treatment.  

What is Gua Sha Therapy?

Gua Sha is another ancient Chinese healing technique which involves scraping the skin to improve circulation and flow of qi.  Gua Sha means "scrape away illness" in Chinese.  Gua Sha Therapy is usually done in combination with Acupuncture for pain relief or to release a cold or flu from the body.  

Why does Gua Sha leave marks on the skin and how long does it take to go away?

Gua Sha also moves qi and blood and can leave marks on the skin that looks like a rash. This goes away within 1 - 7 days.  

More About the History of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient system of healing that predates recorded history. According to the history of acupuncture, acupuncture practice began during the Stone Age when sharp-edged tools and stones were used to puncture and drain abscesses. Acupuncture was first recorded in the ancient Chinese medical text Huang Di Nei Jing, The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine.

The basis of modern acupuncture was established during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) with the publication of The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Previously, during the sixth century, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture were introduced into Japan via improved transportation. Acupuncture has been used in the West since the 17th century, recorded first in Europe in 1810.  While Chinese acupuncture history dates back centuries, it expanded to the United States after President Nixon’s visit to China in 1972 when he learned about acupuncture. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified acupuncture needles as medical instruments in 1995.