Acupuncture

What is it?
Acupuncture is an ancient medicine technique that has been used to treat illnesses for thousands of years. Now, Licensed Acupuncturists use sealed, sterilized needles, and follow strict Clean Needle Technique guidelines in order to provide clean and safe practicing of acupuncture. Every second of the day, the body tries to bring itself into homeostasis  (or a state of balance and harmony), and acupuncture has been known to bring the body to that state with continuous treatments and appropriate diagnosis. With many factors at play (stress, environment, diet, lifestyle, emotions, etc) the body has a difficult time doing that on its own, and that’s why it is so important to get acupuncture regularly! 

How Does it Work?
To alleviate pain, acupuncture needles promote proper blood-flow and circulation to occur, causing the body to heal faster with more efficiency and longevity. Acupuncture is also used to eliminate excesses (heat/inflammation, dampness/phlegm) and nourish deficiencies (energy, blood). At The Healing Nest in San Diego, the goal is to provide a gentle approach, while still creating long lasting results. Your overall experience should be pain-free and leave you feeling relaxed.

What to Expect?
An initial acupuncture treatment requires the completion of an extensive, online intake form – allowing the practitioner details on the patient’s medical history and background. During the session there will be discussion of this medical history form, as well as a generalized intake form to further assess the conditions and overall constitution of the patient. We will go into detail of the patient’s number one complaint / reason for visit. From there the practitioner will feel the pulses and observe the tongue to finish the assessment. During the second session, the patient will then receive acupuncture and rest with the needles retained for 25-30 minutes depending entirely on the patient and their condition. Once the needles are removed, it is important to continue nourishing the body following the treatment: stay covered up with layers if the weather is chilly, enjoy warm and healthy meals, drink lots of water to stay hydrated, get adequate rest. 

How Often?
Ideally, receiving acupuncture once to twice per week is an excellent start. In some cases, such as chronic conditions, it may be advised that the patient comes in twice per week, until results begin to show. Receiving a higher number of acupuncture treatments in a shorter period of time will have a positive impact on the patient’s healing, leaving them with the results they are striving to achieve, faster. 

Before Your Treatment:
– Please avoid caffeine (coffee, herbal teas, matcha, energy drinks or stimulating supplements)
– Eat a light meal with plenty of water
– Wear loose, comfortable clothing (allowing access to points along the body)
– Come in with an open mind, ready for your healing journey to begin!