Acupuncture or Massage
Acupuncture? Or massage? Acupuncture and massage?
Sometimes people ask these questions from the concern of their insurance coverage . Apart from that, how to make your healing choices, acupuncture or massage?
Most people have personal experience receiving massage. Massage is the working of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue using various techniques, to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well-being.
Acupuncture is one part of the complete medical system that is Traditional Chinese Medicine and involves inserting hair-thin needles in certain points on the body. Acupuncture has been used effectively for centuries to treat a variety of internal medical issues ranging from circulatory, digestive to menstrual and reproductive etc. In China, acupuncture is widely-used in facial paralysis and sequela of a stroke. In the West acupuncture is best-known for effect on pain and injury.
Ever been asked if your pain is dull and achy or sharp and stabbing? Sharp, pricking or stabbing feeling there is most likely nerves involved. Dull and achy pain is more likely to be muscular. Acupuncture is great for pain that involves nerves. The acupuncture needles do not insert into nerves, rather they stimulate the acupuncture channels and points to elicit a neurological and/or hormonal response to facilitate healing. Then you may inquire about the details how acupuncture works... this question is simply too large to answer. Usually I use the easy concept of "circulation" to explain that acupuncture stimulation brings fresh blood flow to create healing.
Acupuncture and massage both are great choices for dull achy muscular pain. And they both are great to help with stress.
In clinic quite often people come to acupuncture as the last resort, because acupuncture, the name itself , sounds quite a bit pain; whereas massage sounds much more enjoyable. An experienced acupuncturist would adjust the treatment plan to make your acupuncture experience, especially first acupuncture experience, approachable and more pleasant.
