Reaping the Benefits of Massage

An acupuncture session can help you with a wide range of issues from headaches to back pain to muscle soreness, as well as address emotional things such as stress and even smoking addiction. If you're relatively new to this type of therapy, it may take a few treatments before you're completely comfortable with it — after all, acupuncture is unlike any other form of treatment that you've likely experienced. Your practitioner will explain the process to you and give you suggestions on what to do as you relax, but it's useful to learn a handful of things that you should avoid doing during this time. Here are three suggestions.

Moving Excessively

After the needles are positioned, you'll be asked to lie still for a stretch of time. Don't make the mistake of moving around during this time. Doing so can actually cause you some discomfort, and excessive moving can potentially cause the needles to fall out of your skin. It's a good idea to make sure that you're lying comfortably at the start of the session, as once the needles are pushed into your skin, it's in your best interest to remain as immobile as you can. 

Feeling Stressed

It's important to keep any feelings of stress at bay during your acupuncture appointment. When you're stressed, your muscles will often contract. This contraction can, in turn, inhibit the needles' ability to do their job. Your practitioner, in fact, will remind you to breathe deeply and try to relax, and this is to keep stress at bay so that you can get the most out of your appointment. Try to just focus on your breathing and keep stressful thoughts out of your mind. For example, if you aren't happy with your career, don't get thinking about it while you should be resting.

Thinking That It's Not Working

You might not feel immediate relief once the needles are in place. Don't lie on the table and doubt the efficacy of the treatment; the needles take time to work, and you may also need a few acupuncture sessions before you get the relief that you're looking for. In many cases, though, patients will feel a degree of relief after the appointment — but you just need to give the process some time. Thinking that your back is still sore five minutes after the needles have been in, for example, will only get you stressed and may hinder your body's ability to respond to the needles.