5 Ways Acupuncture Will Not Work For You

As we stash away our Summer flip flops, take out our scarves (FYI, we acupuncturists are a bit neurotic about scarves!), and contemplate recipes that incorporate squash and pumpkins, so too do we have the opportunity to evaluate what we’ve been harvesting in our life, including what does, and what doesn’t, work for us in our lives.

That includes how we cultivate our self-care!

With that in mind, I have a helpful list of 5 Ways Acupuncture Will Not Work For You:

1. Acupuncture does not work for those who want to hold on to stress and anxiety. Why? According to the British Acupuncture Council, “[R]esearch has shown that acupuncture treatment may specifically benefit anxiety disorders and symptoms of anxiety by: Acting on areas of the brain known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress, as well as promoting relaxation and deactivating the ‘analytical’ brain, which is responsible for anxiety and worry (Hui 2010; Hui 2009); Regulating levels of neurotransmitters (or their modulators) and hormones such as serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine, GABA, neuropeptide Y and ACTH; hence altering the brain’s mood chemistry to help to combat negative affective states (Lee 2009; Cheng 2009; Zhou 2008); and, Reversing stress-induced changes in behavior and biochemistry (Kim 2009).” So, steer clear of your friendly neighborhood Licensed Acupuncturist if you’d like to hold onto that sinking feeling!
2. Acupuncture is of absolutely no help if you prefer to stay in physical pain. Is it a farce that so many football, basketball, olympic, and CrossFit athletes have resorted to acupuncture to help them rehabilitate from injuries, sprains, and to speed up their healing post-surgery? It just may be. Even Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant tweeted a photo of his acupuncture treatment to his knee and ankle, just last year, saying, “Acupuncture therapy. Whatever it takes.” It bears mentioning that the military also partakes in administering acupuncture treatments to its soldiers, now known as “battlefield acupuncture”. It’s used to treat the physical pain of their soldiers, and to lessen their reliance on painkillers, which can reduce their effectiveness while on duty.
3. Acupuncture is not for you if you want to stay disconnected from yourself. For those who don’t want to get in touch with their feelings, and the impact their actions have on their lives, acupuncture is a total waste of time. When the acupuncture points activate the meridians, or energetic pathways, in the body, it taps straight into the interconnectedness of our being, promoting homeostasis, and creating balance and reconnection within Chinese Medicine organ systems. This can result in becoming more in touch with your life purpose, your heart, your passion(s), and realigning with your highest self.
4. Acupuncture is not recommended if you enjoy pharmaceutical side effects. Depending on the health issue you may represent, acupuncture can actually help you release your dependence on certain medications, or reduce their usage. By supporting the whole health of a person, systems can work more optimally. And, one thing that many people don’t realize is that, due to many acupuncturists’ knowledge of Chinese Herbs and/or homeopathic supplements, we can often recommend safer alternatives that can help serve the purpose towards your greatest health. Some of them are great for easing the stagnation of the liver, a common ailment in people living in big cities, or who live a fast-paced lifestyle. All medications, Western and Chinese, have their place. But, for those who may be concerned that their livers may not have nothing better to do, the side effects of certain pharmaceuticals will surely keep them busy!
5. Ladies, acupuncture is no good for you if you dig your irregular menses and menstrual cramps. When Aunt Flo comes to visit, is it on the regular? Some ladies would like it that way, depending. But, for those of you who like everything working optimally in Ladyville, acupuncture can help you regulate your flow. This is especially important for women who are experiencing PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), a symptom of which is irregular periods. Or, for women who are trying to get pregnant, and need to start regulating their cycle, so that they can start tracking their ovulation. And, for those who simply don’t have regular periods due to certain stressors in their lives, who have cramps during their cycle, or who experience lots of stress when trying to conceive, acupuncture works wonders, too. But, if you love your unpredictable cycles, acupuncture will disappoint you. And, so will our herbal remedies and castor oil packs!

Ok, I had a little fun writing this blog post!
But, seriously, what have you experienced in acupuncture treatments, when including it in a self-care regimen?
I’d love to know (please share your comments, below)!

Sending you Fall Equinox love,

 

 

 

 

 

FALL DETOX WELLNESS WORKSHOP:
Heal & Release With Yoga, Acupuncture, & Reiki

With: Chia-Ti Chiu and Margarita Alcantara
When: Sunday, October 5, 2014
Time: 2pm-5pm
Where: Alphabet City Sanctuary, 638 East 6th Street, 3rd Floor, NYC
Cost: $45, please RSVP to chiati@onelovewellness.com to reserve your space

Do you find transitions between seasons difficult? Curious about how different wellness practices complement each other? Treat yourself to a Fall Cleanse with a combination of yoga, acupuncture, and reiki to balance the Metal (air) element of the body, in this Fall Detox Workshop facilitated by Chia-Ti Chiu and Margarita Alcantara. 

The air quality in Ayurveda (Indian medicine) is called Vata, which is predominant as summer turns to autumn. Excess of Vata can increase irritation, cause us to feel anxiety, and bring about mental and physical imbalances.

In Chinese Medicine, autumn heralds in the start of the Yin cycle. This is the time for us to harvest the energies of the past few months, take inventory of what needs to be released, and allow the Metal element organs of the Lung and Large Intestine to release what no longer serves us, so that we may receive our blessings more fully.

Learn yogic techniques to ground this Vata energy, receive an acupuncture treatment to honor your Lung and Large Intestine flow, and feel the soothing benefits of a group reiki session; ensuring a smooth, harmonious transition into fall. Reiki-infused filtered water will be available for you during the workshop, so that you may ingest the healing, as well.

Alphabet City Sanctuary is located on the third floor (walkup) of the Sixth Street Community Center on 6th Street, between Avenues B & C.

Payment: PayPal, ChaseQuickPay, check or cash. You must pre-pay for the workshop.

Heal and release what no longer serves you!

Contact chiati@onelovewellness.com to make your reservation.

www.onelovewellness.com | www.AlcantaraAcupuncture.com

 

 

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