I went for acupuncture last week with Angela Aukofer-Parker, LAc, RMT of Towering Pines Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine in Slinger, Wisconsin. Here you see me with the needles in my face. Notice I am able to smile!
Many people have an aversion to acupuncture because of the needles. The thing to realize, though, is that the needles are
1. very sharp so they go in smoothly and easily, 2. solid and springy, not hollow like needles used to deliver medicines,
3. strategically placed to unblock energy flow in the body.
My sinus infection has gotten better since my treatment and my energy level is up. Acupuncture for me is the most relaxing thing I've ever done. I know it doesn't seem to make sense that having needles stuck in you would be relaxing, but it makes me, for just a time, be completely motionless and that is a rarity for me!
I would highly recommend Angela (262-549-2349 to schedule an appointment.) Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for many afflictions. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports:
Both the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health recognize that acupuncture can be a helpful part of a treatment plan for many illnesses. A partial list includes: addiction (such as alcoholism), asthma, bronchitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, facial tics, fibromyalgia, headaches, irregular periods, low back pain, menopausal symptoms, menstrual cramps, osteoarthritis, sinusitis, spastic colon (often called irritable bowel syndrome), stroke rehabilitation, tendonitis, tennis elbow, and urinary problems such as incontinence. You can safely combine acupuncture with prescription drugs and other conventional treatments, but it is important for your primary care physician to be aware of and monitor how your acupuncture treatment may be affecting your conventional therapies.The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture also lists a wide range of conditions for which acupuncture is appropriate. In addition to those listed above, they recommend acupuncture for sports injuries, sprains, strains, whiplash, neck pain, sciatica, nerve pain due to compression, overuse syndromes similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, pain resulting from spinal cord injuries, allergies, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), sore throat (called pharyngitis), high blood pressure, gastroesophageal reflux (felt as heartburn or indigestion), ulcers, chronic and recurrent bladder and kidney infections, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), infertility, endometriosis, memory problems, insomnia, multiple sclerosis, sensory disturbances, depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/acupuncture-000345.htm
Wow, that is quite a list! It's pretty amazing what this ancient and powerful form of medicine can treat.
