Does Acupuncture work?

The simple answer to this question is of course yes acupuncture works. As a recent happy patient so eloquently put it, "duh! Its only been working for a couple thousand years!"

The longer answer still comes out to be yes, acupuncture works. If your real question is, is acupuncture a quick fix then the answer gets fuzzy. Think of a pendulum. When the pendulum swings to far to the right we are out of balance. If we move too quickly to bring the pendulum to the center it will only swing over to the left. Acupuncture is a subtle medicine that slowly moves the body back into harmony.

In the west we live in a fast paced, high stress, "I want it yesterday" mentality. Technology is training us that all things should be instantaneous. However your health doesn't work that way. As we get further and further from nature our bodies must scream louder and louder to be heard when they are trying to give us signals that something isn't working quite right or heaven forbid, please just slow down and take a break!

Traditional Chinese Medicine is looking for the root cause of an imbalance not a quick fix cover up. (to be dealt with later) Acupuncture is most effective (and western research proves this) when it is done consistently. In this way Eastern and Western medicine agree, much the same way you wouldn't take one antibiotic pill when you are sick and see if it works before committing to the doctor's prescribed dosage you wouldn't do one treatment and expect the issue to be resolved. Research studies conducted proving the effectiveness of acupuncture are usually done 2 times a week for anywhere from 2-4 weeks sometimes over a course of 1-3 months. This is a financial and time commitment for the patient and should be seen as an investment in one's health. Can you put a price on removing pain in the all consuming present and preventing chronic pain in the future or possibly a surgery? Can you put a price on living a life without depression or anxiety? Or having normal bowel movements? Or a full night's sleep that leaves you feeling rested in the morning? The Chinese consider a course of treatment to be anywhere from 5-10 treatments. Upon completion of this treatment course the patient is reevaluated and treatments are modified or discontinued accordingly. How quickly someone can recover from an imbalance using Chinese Medicine involves many factors. Some to be considered are: 

1. Consistency. Being consistent in the beginning stages of treatment ensures longer lasting effects in the long run.

2. Belief. The mind is a powerful thing. Patients who start acupuncture with an open mind usually report faster results then those who don't. 

3. Willingness to change. Many factors contribute to an imbalance. Acupuncture is one piece of the healing puzzle. Diet, herbal medicine, movement (exercise), and lifestyle habits are also discussed as part of treatment to heal holistically. Acupuncture can assist with breaking a cycle of negative habits. All the acupuncture in the world won't help if you are not willing to also see your role in your health.

4. Awareness. Many new patients have difficulty answering questions about their day to day habits on their first visit. This is often times a result of not paying attention. The more aware of your body you are the easier it becomes to recognize the progress you are making as well as where you might need improvement. Awareness is the first step in making a change to lasting health.   

5. Duration of imbalance. The longer an imbalance has been affecting your body the longer it will take to retrain the body to achieve balance. Gaining 50 pounds does not happen over night, losing 50 pounds doesn't either. However, through learning body awareness conditions that have been present for years don't need to take years to leave behind. Being consistent with treatments, being willing to make small changes and believing that healing can happen are the true keys to success.  

Acupuncture often times works as a catalyst jump starting the body to work most efficiently and jump starting the mind to feel greater ease and peace of thoughts. As another patient so happily put it, “Receiving acupuncture helps me be the best version of myself. My body feels energized, not weighed down, my mind doesn't feel so cluttered and things that used to bother me no longer do. I feel calm, relaxed and as cliché as it sounds, balanced."

Sarah Zender LAc LMT is co-founder of Whole Health Acupuncture in Elk Grove Village. For more information or to schedule an appointment call 847.357.3929 or visit us on the web www.wholehealthprograms.com

Whole Health Acupuncture
50 Turner Ave Suite 101
Elk Grove Village IL 60007
847.357.3929
visit us at www.wholehealthprograms.com