Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body along paths known as meridians. Multiple needles are typically used, and they are left in position usually for 10 to 30 minutes. At times the practitioner will twirl the needles to enhance a stimulatory effect on the nerves and tissues. A key component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain. Increasingly, it is being used for overall wellness, including stress management.
Traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture aims to rebalance this flow. In contrast, many Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. Some believe that this stimulation boosts your body’s natural painkillers.
While they both use needles, dry needling and acupuncture are different practices. Dry needling treatment is a relatively new treatment based on modern Western medicine. During treatment, needles are inserted briefly into trigger points, or tender bands of muscle located within larger muscles.When needles are inserted into trigger points, they elicit a response that releases the trigger point, helping to restore motion and relieve pain.
