Why acupuncture?

Personal health care is becoming a greater concern as our population

ages, but also more difficult to obtain as services are overburdened and

providers are hard to access. For this reason many people are seeking

alternatives to the western medical system and opting for other more

holistic treatment methods. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese

Medicine (TCM) are one such option.

The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies 300 different conditions

that can be treated using acupuncture. These conditions range from

allergies to acne, heartburn to hot flashes, and fertility to fibromyalgia.

Acupuncture is most commonly sought out for pain of any origin. Joint

pain, back pain, and headaches are top contenders. However, it is

estimated that only 3% of the population have tried acupuncture. For this

reason I will offer a simple case study for your consideration.

In Edmonton, I treat a lot of clients with back pain. Industrial trades,

office workers, and over active sport enthusiasts tend to be prone to this

problem. Back pain can range from dull achy tight muscles to sharp,

stabbing, shooting pain caused by an injury. After diagnosing all the

related symptoms a proper treatment plan can be administered. Needles

are used to reduce pain and inflammation. Cupping and massage can

help release tight muscles. Spinal compression or bulging discs leading

to sciatica can be soothed with electro-acupuncture. The treatments

always vary depending on the needs of the client, the severity of pain,

and duration of the condition. These considerations also affect the

number of treatments and frequency required. As a general rule five

treatments should make the pain much more manageable allowing for

the body to rest and heal properly for long term relief. Because we can’t

change our jobs, maintenance treatments are often recommended to

prevent repeated injury. These treatments should be part of your

wellness plan.

Let me give you an example of a personal case. A 50 something female

office worker sits at her desk 9 to 5. One day she bends over to pick up

a pencil and something gives out in her back. She sees her physician

and he prescribes pain medication and a muscle relaxant. Weeks pass

and she is left with chronic shooting pain from her hip down to her calf

on the left leg. It hurts to stand and walk and wakes her at night

preventing good sleep. The doctor administers several cortisone shots

over the next 12 months but without lasting pain relief. She was referred

to our clinic by a family member and started coming for weekly

treatments. Over the next few months, the pain went from constant

shooting to more mild and controlled over the course of ten treatments.

She is now able to sleep without waking in pain and is on a maintenance

schedule of stretching and acupuncture when she has a flare up. She

has also incorporated massage therapy offered at our clinic as a

complementary treatment to work with the acupuncture for long term

pain relief.

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