Acupuncture is one of the oldest and most widely used medicines in the world, and we still have
misconceptions about it. At ERCA, one of our goals is to educate you about acupuncture. I am
happy to debunk these myths, so that we can spread the word to even more people about just
how useful and effective acupuncture is. Here are three common myths and some insights to
understand the truth.
Myth #1. You have to have something wrong with you to get acupuncture.
Many times I hear, “I don’t have anything wrong with me, so I’ve never had it.” However, once the client and I begin our initial interview, what most people think of as “normal,” including PMS, allergies, trouble sleeping, and bloating, are symptoms that should be addressed because it is possible they indicate imbalances that can be treated with acupuncture. Remember that just because something is “normal” doesn’t mean that it is optimal. Also, best to treat something that seems minor now before it becomes debilitating.
Myth #2 It’s all placebo.
Clients have said to me, “Acupuncture works, but only if you believe in it.” While it’s true that belief in any treatment is an undeniable factor in its efficacy, it does not explain why animals get such great results from acupuncture treatments.
Acupuncture has been used to successfully treat cats, dogs, horses, and other animals in a number of well-documented veterinary acupuncture studies. These animal patients do not understand or believe in the process that helps them get better.
Myth #3 They just put the needles where it hurts.
“The needles should go in my back, if I have back pain, right?” Not necessarily. Acupuncture is a sophisticated system of medicine and has been developed over thousands of years to treat pain. For example, your acupuncturist may use points on the ankles or wrists, in order to treat back pain. These are called distal points, and they are quite powerful. The next treatment may involve local points (in this case, points on the back) or distal points, or a combination! Your acupuncturist has a plan that takes into account the severity, duration, and nature of the pain.
We take pride in customizing treatment to fit the needs of the patient.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions about acupuncture. I’ve spent many years learning, practicing, sharing, and healing. Listen to your body. If there’s anything you would like to know about how acupuncture might help something you’ve got going on, well, there’s no harm in asking.