Pain Relief and Chinese Medical Treatments

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine are very effective in treating most types of pain.  It can help to increase blood circulation, stimulate healing, relax muscles, decrease inflammation, and decrease pain.  While it may not always be instantaneous, with patience and care, it can greatly reduce pain while also enhancing recovery.  This allows one to heal both faster and more completely.  I generally recommend a series of 4-6 treatments to resolve the issue.

AFTER YOUR ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT FOR PAIN:

• Please take it easy…. Rest your body and especially the injury.  This allows the body to heal efficiently and effectively.  Even after the needles are out, the body is continuing the healing process over the course of the next week.  Any stress that you place on the injury will disrupt the healing and therefore either lessen or negate the acupuncture treatment.
• What to expect in terms of pain relief…… most people feel a reduction in pain after the first treatment, either that day or over the course of the next few days.  Occasionally, it can take more than one treatment to notice a decrease in pain.  Please be patient, but know that deep changes are taking place within the body.
• Although some injuries will be resolved within the first treatment, a high percentage will require a course of treatments.  I usually suggest 4-6 treatments and if need be, re-evaluate after that to see if more treatments are necessary.
• In rare cases, there can be an “increase” in pain.  This is usually due to an increase in the blood circulation to the area.  Most of the time it resolves itself within a day or two.   
• As for ice…. According to Chinese Medicine, ice is only beneficial in certain situations (first 24 hours after injury, nerve pain, “hot” types of pain).  Therefore, do not ice directly after treatments as this interrupts the blood circulation to the area, and slows down the healing.
• Pay close attention to how the injury feels in the following days…. Was there a decrease in pain?  a decrease in the duration of pain?  a decrease in the frequency of pain? 

CUPPING:

• Cupping is very effective for loosening up muscles, breaking down “knots”, increasing blood circulation, and moving stagnation. 
• In certain cases, it can be more effective than acupuncture alone.
• The downside to cupping, is that it can leave “bruising” and red marks that can last up to a week….. however, the more that one has cupping done, the faster it heals… this means that after 4-5 treatments, one may not bruise at all.
• I suggest rubbing either Traumeel ointment or Arnica ointment afterwords…. This speeds the healing and decreases the bruising.

GUA SHA:

• Gua sha is done with massage oil and a massage tool.  The effects penetrate deep into the muscles.
• Like cupping, gua sha is very effective for loosening up muscles, breaking down "knots", increasing blood circulation, and moving stagnation.
• In certain cases it can be more effective than acupuncture alone.
• Unlike cupping, gua sha doesn't leave any marks and can be a good alternative to cupping if that is a concern of the patient.

Stacey Pribanic, L.Ac. – Licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist

1787 Mesa Verde Ave. Suite 140 Ventura, CA 93003

805-644-0461

 

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