Finding Relief With Acupuncture Boca Raton

By Barbara Jones


In modern society, stress is a recognized health hazard. Pain management is a priority, too, as people live longer and strive to enjoy their golden years in comfort. For those who want to avoid dependence on pharmaceutical drugs or over-the-counter chemicals, acupuncture Boca Raton is a resource that is worth checking out.

Located in the southern part of Florida, the sprawling metropolitan area of Boca Raton is one of the state's richest. Upper-income people are generally more inclined to try alternative therapies. Many clinics, often headed by a medical doctor, and individual practitioners of this ancient discipline are near-by.

Managing stress is important for continued well-being. Although adrenaline is known as the 'fight or flight' hormone, it is also released when the mind is stressed. Over-stimulation of the adrenal glands can lead to adrenal exhaustion, cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, and digestive upset. Too much tension can cause neck, shoulder, and back pain, as well as migraine headaches. Therapists may combine acupuncture with other treatments including massage and the use of traditional Chinese herbs.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) makes regular use of acupuncture is its total body healing program. You may find a Japanese, Korean, or other ethnic variation. Most practitioners in the US are trained in the TCM methodology. Training is important, not only for technical skills but also for understanding the need for sterility of the needles employed in the therapy. Infection from dirty needles is the most common negative side effect, but this is rare.

Make sure to engage a trained and certified practitioner. This therapy has a stellar safety record as long as it is done properly and surgical cleanliness is maintained. Practitioners use thin, solid metal needles; these should be disposable, to be discarded after every use. Problems with the treatments are rare and almost always due to infection from non-sterile needles. Since these implements are inserted into the skin, cleanliness is a must.

The thin needles are inserted into the skin at the points that will stimulate the flow of energy, the qi, in the body. The concept of qi is not western medicine, but most of us do understand the concept of the circulatory systems of blood and lymph. There is not a lot of difference from the layman's point of view. It is accepted that increased circulation can speed up healing. In the skillful hands of a trained practitioner, the procedure is usually painless.

Acupuncturists speak of meridians, which are the points and pathways of the energy flow. Stimulation increases this flow, which enhances the body's own healing processes. Sceptics deride the idea that this practice can relieve pain and tension and promote healing, but thousands of people who have tried the therapy disagree. Even medical doctors admit that a session with an acupuncturist can lessen nausea and vomiting following chemotherapy. The use of properly-placed needles also seems to reduce pain after dental surgery.

Many conditions are treated with this method. Chronic lower back pain is one of the most common complaints that practitioners see, but people also come for seasonal 'adjustments' to prepare for the long hours of darkness in winter or get ready for more activity as springtime arrives. Migraine sufferers are another group that has many fans of the therapy.




About the Author: