3 Ways An Acupuncturist Can Help You Without A Single Needle
If you've never seen an acupuncturist before because you're wary of needles, that's understandable. Needles can sometimes hurt, and puncturing your skin can potentially increase the risk of infection. However, if you're still interested in the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, you might be intrigued to know that acupuncturists can help you without using needles at all. Here are three ways acupuncturists can improve your health without needles.
Moxa
Moxibustion, or moxa for short, is the act of using a stick of Chinese mugwort to increase circulation and improve your innate healing ability. Acupuncturists can use moxa with or without acupuncture, so it's a great choice if you don't like needles.
To perform moxibustion, acupuncturists light a stick of condensed Chinese mugwort on fire, then blow it out, so it creates smoke like incense. They then hold it over specific acupuncture points, which creates a warm, comforting sensation. Moxa is said to bring heat and qi to the acupuncture points, creating stimulation, relaxing muscles, and improving your circulation.
Herbs
Most acupuncturists prescribe herbs to help their patients to get healthier. TCM makes use of a wide range of herbs in order to bring balance to a patient's qi.
For example, if an acupuncturist feels that your kidneys are weak, they may prescribe an herb formula to you that directs more energy to your kidneys. Acupuncturists can determine what herbs you need by performing a pulse diagnosis, so don't fret about needles.
Nutritional Advice
Herbs are beneficial to improving your qi because acupuncturists believe that all edibles align with certain elements. For example, milk products like cheese are considered to be a damp food in TCM, which may be harmful for people with weak digestive systems.
Acupuncturists can make suggestions on what foods are helpful and which aren't, reducing the harm you cause to yourself with the food you eat, and encouraging you to eat more foods that contain specific types of elements that can be beneficial to your health. As with the prior example, an acupuncturist might suggest you avoid damp and raw foods, and instead eat foods that have inherent warmth, like beef and meals with warming spices, like cinnamon and cumin.
It's entirely possible to get health support from an acupuncturist without being pierced by needles. Make an appointment with an acupuncturist and explain your feels about needles, and ask them what services they can offer you besides acupuncture treatment.
