Acupuncture does not hurt, but you may feel a slight sensation at the points where the needles are inserted (Qi reaction). These sensations may vary from person to person depending on what is going on in the body and how the function of a particular point affects the body. There are a number of different sensations that a person may experience, most commonly felt are; a dull ache, a general numbness of the area, a slight pinch, a tingling or ”electric” feeling, or a sensation of heat. In some situations, this sensation may travel the length of a particular meridian. The sensations are generally very brief (only upon insertion or manipulation) and will lessen once the needles are left alone. If you have never had acupuncture before, you might be surprised at how relaxed you feel during and after the treatment. Very often people fall asleep on the table and leave feeling relaxed and refreshed.Does Acupuncture Hurt?You may think of Qi as your bodies energy which is responsible for things like our blood flow, digestion & sleep. Your Qi circulates throughout the body along specific pathways called meridians, which correspond to 12 internal organ systems. Good health is maintained as long as Qi continues to flow freely through the meridians. If the Qi becomes blocked somewhere then pain and disease can develop.
What is Qi?
You can think of Qi as your bodies life force, it can take many different forms and has many functions. The Nei Jing –The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine (c.500BC) says “There is no place that Qi is not.”
Krista George
Krista is a Women’s Health Expert. As an acupuncturist Krista is like a gardener. It is her job to help the garden (her patients) to thrive. She is able to help nature along by providing the necessary water and fertilizer (a.k.a acupuncture & TCM modalities). Krista makes sure that the plants receive the right amount of sun and remove any weeds. Gardening takes time and effort, but the reward is a beautiful healthy garden with abundant flowers and vegetables. When you work with Krista in clinic, on your initial visit you will complete a full health history evaluation. This looks at all body systems, in order to get a full picture of your health. Additionally, she will do a tongue, pulse and hara diagnosis, all of which provide another picture of what is going on in the body from a physical point of view. When the intake is complete she will determine your TCM diagnosis and treatment plan, followed by the treatment itself. Once the needles are in, they are retained for 20-30 minutes while you relax. The needles are then removed & once you are off the table she will discuss future treatment plans with you. You can think of an Acupuncture treatment like removing a kink in a hose. If your garden hose has a kink in it, water cannot flow and without adequate water the plants cannot thrive, grow and flower. As an Acupuncturist Krista detects and corrects where the kinks or blockages in the flow of Qi (energy) are. Once located, she can use specific points & TCM modalities to un-kink and restore the proper flow of Qi, so that your cells, muscles, tissues and organs can function correctly. Visit her website
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