Acupuncture:

• Reduces inflammation

• Decreases cortisol (the body’s “stress hormone”)

• Increases production of the body’s natural painkillers such as opioids (for example, endorphins)

• Regulates the autonomic nervous system to alter the way the brain processes pain

• Increases circulation (blood flow) to the muscles, connective tissue, and organs

Acupuncture reduces inflammatory markers in the body such as inflammation-producing cytokines and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) [1,2].

It increases the body's naturally-occurring opioids (such as endorphins and dopamine) which decrease inflammation and downregulate the pain response [3,4].

Acupuncture regulates cortisol levels, which in turn lowers blood pressure, improves metabolism, and reduces high blood sugar [6,7].

Acupuncture modulates activity of the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X), which connects the brain stem to the rest of the body [8]. The vagus nerve sends signals to the brain to regulate essential bodily functions [9]. Acupuncture influences internal bodily functions and changes the way the brain perceives pain by regulating vagus nerve activity.

Acupuncture increases blood flow [10], which stimulates healing, because blood carries oxygen and essential nutrients to the tissues.

Check out this article from Bustle explaining several of the ways acupuncture impacts the brain and body: 7 Ways Acupuncture Changes Your Brain, According to Science.

1. Please complete your new patient forms online prior to arriving at your appointment, this will save time during your treatment. You will receive a confirmation email with a link to complete your forms when you make your first appointment. If you didn’t receive the link to your forms, let us know and we’ll resend it.

2. Eat a snack about an hour before your treatment. Try not to come on a completely empty stomach.

3. Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothes.

4. Get ready to relax and nap!

The effects of acupuncture are cumulative, each treatment builds on the progress of the previous treatments. Often people feel improvement after their first treatment. For sustained improvement, it is important to commit to a series of treatments.

In general we recommend one treatment per week for 6-8 weeks. After 6 weeks we re-assess progress and attempt to increase time between appointments, while maintaining positive results.

The frequency and number of treatments depends on the nature of your condition and how long you have been experiencing it. For example, backpain that you’ve had for 10 years may take more time to heal than backpain you’ve only had for a few weeks.

The goal of treatment is always to get you feeling better as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Acupuncture needles are very thin and only about the width of a human hair. With some acupuncture points you may feel a slight pinch, with others you may feel nothing at all.

Once all the needles have been placed, most patients feel so relaxed that they fall asleep on the table.