I won a gift certificate to a local acupuncture clinic from my yoga studio, as part of 40 Days to a Personal Revolution.
I was pumped.
I am very open to alternative medicine and fascinated by different holistic approaches. I think it goes without saying that if you aren’t open to those things, acupuncture probably isn’t for you. But I think the thousands of years of tradition behind it make worthy of exploring. I’m going to walk you through step-by-step of my first experience so you can get a sense of what it’s like.
I booked my appointment with Meridian and arrived 10 minutes early to fill out the paperwork. There was the common name, email, emergency contact info requested and then also a place to list the main health concerns I have and the medications or supplements I’m currently taking.
I was offered a water and filled out my form while a couple of different clients popped in to drop off and pick up their weekly herbal drinks. To be honest, the place was busier than I expected. I didn’t think Louisville would have such a big market for Chinese Medicine!
I was brought back to what looked like a typical massage room, but with more Chinese symbolism adorning the walls. Karen, my acupuncturist, sat down with me and we talked for about 10 minutes. She reviewed my form and asked me about what was bothering me. I told her about the congestion I’d come down with that day, and also about the chronic stress that brings about lots of neck and shoulder pain. I mentioned my SIBO diagnosis and that I was trying to prevent it from coming back.
She was so warm, kind, and quite honestly, normal. It made me feel totally comfortable. She told me about how her training was four years long at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego (four years!!?) and her certificates and licensure were up on the wall.
Karen began to explain the aspects of Chinese Medicine to me. I really appreciated this step, but this is where it’s going to get fuzzy since I’m not and expert on this stuff. She told me about qi (pronounced “chi”), the five elements, and the different energy channels or meridians. Basically, Chinese Medicine believes that everything in our body and life is based on energy channels. When energy gets blocked or stagnant, we start to feel sick or off. She told me that my wood element, my liver qi, and my gall bladder channel were going to be her main focus to try to relieve my stress. She said the stress could also be affecting my digestion.
After that she had me lie down on her massage table, which was heated as a nice surprise, face up. I didn’t have to undress or anything, just be able to roll up my pants and sleeves. I had on leggings and a loose top so this was no problem.
She wiped down spots on my body with something sterile, I presume, and then as if it were nothing popped in little needles. I was honestly shocked that she didn’t even warn me or mention anything about the needles, but I suppose I knew what I was in for.
Needles don’t bother me and these ones are pretty tiny. The acupuncture feel like a little prick -not nearly as bad as a shot or anything – and the needles don’t go in very far. A few spots felt more sensitive than others. I asked her about this, and she said those are the channels that are particularly “stuck.” As she expected, these were in my gall bladder channel where I supposedly carry my stress.
I wanted to ask her tons more questions about acupuncture and how she got into it, but it was time for me to relax. She left me for twenty minutes in a dim room with calming music and I just laid there. I closed my eyes, meditated, and admittedly lifted up my arms and legs to look at my needles. I’m not really sure what was going on, but I suppose my energy channels were supposed to be clearing and opening, allowing proper flow. It didn’t feel like much, but it’s always nice to relax in a dark room!
After 20 minutes she came back in and quickly removed the needles. Then she talked to me about cupping. She described it as the opposite of deep tissue massage. Instead of pressing into muscles and knots, you sort of suck the “stuff” — I supposed the blockages, stuck energy, knots? — up. Hey, if it’s gone get rid of the tension in my back, I’m in.
I took of my tops and faced down on the warm table, with my neck in a cradle just like it would be for a massage. I wish I could have seen what she was doing, but I think it was some sort of metal jars or glasses that she heated up to create suction. She somehow suctioned them to my back and then put two more acupuncture needles into the sides of my neck. A felt a twinge in one again. The gall bladder channel, of course, where I carry stress. Then she left and let me lie there for 10 minutes.
The cupping felt intense; it’s weird to describe. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t necessarily feel good. It was similar to the pressure of a deep tissue massage. She warned me I’d have marks, and boy do I still. It looks like I got attacked by on octopus! I have big purple circles all over my back, but they don’t hurt.
After 10 minutes she came in. took the cups off, and told me I was finished! She told me she’d meet me outside to talk to me about some herbal options she thinks would work for me, and left me to get dressed.
Back in the lobby she had a printed list of foods recommended for people dealing with a stagnated liver qi and wood channel. She also had a recommended herbal tea that they brew right there. They source their herbs from farms in China and brew individualized teas from them for each customer. A jar of tea for each day of the week, and mine would only cost $15. That was cheaper than I expected, but still I told her I wanted to go home and research and think before I decided to try it. She wasn’t pushy at all and actually recommended I look up more about Chinese Medicine. She also said to drink lots of water.
So the aftermath?
I’m not sure. I will tell you that my back felt great, akin to having gotten a great massage, and I woke up the next day feeling remarkably better compared to Saturday’s awful head cold. No telling if that is due to the acupuncture or just plenty of rest and fluids.
I couldn’t feel anything in my back until I went to yoga Sunday evening and did lots of twisting and back bending, and now it’s a little sore. It feels like I had VERY deep tissue work done, which I suppose means it worked.
If it weren’t expensive, I’d definitely like to try her herbs and continue my treatment to see if it made any different in my stress levels or digestion. Like I said, I’m totally open to alternative medicine and willing to give anything a shot. Unfortunately it can’t happen right now, but I am totally open to seeing her in the future in the situation arises.
Overall my acupuncture experience was a good one! I’m glad I went to a reputable place that taught me a little about the treatment. I’d definitely recommend Meridian to any Louisville locals interested in trying Chinese Medicine!
Do you have any experience with Acupuncture or Chinese Medicine?
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