Acupuncture

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient health science which is used to successfully treat both pain and dysfunction in the body. Authorities agree the science is over 5000 years old. It’s primary application is the utilization of very slender painless needles placed in the skin at various locations to relieve pain or affect a body function.

Early Asian physicians discovered there is an energy network traversing on or just below the surface of the skin which communicates from the exterior to the internal organs and structures at over 1,000 “acupoints” on the body. This  energy works in harmony with the body’s circulatory, nervous, muscular, digestive, genitourinary and all other systems of the body. When this vital energy becomes blocked or weakened, an effect in a body system or anatomic location becomes evident. Stimulation of one or a combination of key acupoints on the body may restore harmony to the affected area.

Historians have stated, more people have benefited from acupuncture over the course of fifty centuries than the combined total of all other healing sciences, both ancient and modern.

How can Acupuncture help me?

Acupuncture has its primary effect on all physiologic functions of the body, therefore it has shown incredible success in a multitude of conditions. Presently, Dr. Bahr treats musculoskeletal related issues.

This includes: Tennis Elbow, Arthritis, Knee Pain, Hip Pain, Neck Pain, Back Pain, Shoulder Pain, Acute and Chronic Pain Relief, Migraine, Tension, Cluster and Sinus Headaches.

This is only a partial list of the numerous conditions Acupuncture has been credited with helping. Contact us for a full list of the conditions we treat.

Are Results Permanent?

For acute problems where there has been little or no organ system or tissue damage, results can often be permanent. For chronic conditions symptoms may recur from time to time. Generally a few additional treatments are sufficient to obtain relief. It is suggested that patients with severe or chronic conditions return for a booster treatment three to four times a year.

How does it work?

Modern science is now verifying what the Asians have reported over thousands of years: not only does the human body have an electro-magnetic energy system, it courses thorugh defined channels referred to as “meridians”. In normal health this energy field flows unimpeded and is in a balanced states. If a disruption occurs, the altered energy flow can produce conditions and symptoms affecting certain organs or the entire body.

If we were to compare the body’s 12 primary meridians flowing throughout the body to 12 radio stations in any major city, we will see each station airs at a particular frequency. If a station is broadcasting at 94.5 and the listeners radio is picking up 94.4 there will be static heard. The same is true if the radio picks up 94.6. One frequency would be too high the other too low. However the effect is the same…. “static”. There is nothing wrong with the radio, just something wrong with the fine tuning. This is precisely what may happen within the human body when it is not operating at the ideal frequency.

Acupuncture’s goal is to restore normalcy to the body’s energy field by stimulating a combination of specific acupoints through a number of different applications. The needle is just one of them. Medical research continues in this country and other to explain acupuncture in western scientific terms. Today, many theories have been postulated as to why Acupuncture is so effective in pain control and condition response.

How many treatments are usual?

The number of treatments vary with different conditions and individuals. Chronic problems generally require more treatment than acute ones. Some patients notice an immediate improvement after the first treatment, whereas other may not notice any effect until the seventh or eighth visit. It has been shown that a certain percentage of patients receive maximum benefit up to three months following a course of therapy. A small number of patients will experience what may feel like a worsening of symptoms as the body’s energies are returning to normal. This is expected, no need for alarm.

Researchers internationally agree the usual number of treatments is between eight and sixteen with twelve being the most common. The usual frequency is two to four times per week. Patients are urged not to enter an Acupuncture program with the thought of “taking a few” to see what will happen. This would be comparable to a patient saying they will try only 45 minutes of the physician-recommended two hour operation because they want to see how it goes.

Patients are always encouraged to be patient with the healing process.

Are results Psychological?

Many critics of acupuncture have suggested the science is hypnosis of “mind over matter”. This criticism is totally unfounded as acupuncture has startling effects on infants and toddlers as well as veterinary applications. The effect it has in surgery as an anesthetic further disclaims the skeptics. Even total disbelievers report favorable response to acupuncture.

For a Free Consultation:

If you have questions, or if you’d like to speak with Dr. Bahr to see if Acupuncture might be right for you, please give us a call to schedule your free consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!

(605)399-2273