Acupuncture and Cupping

I an effort to figure out how to get rid of these horrible migraines a friend suggested Acupuncture. I have been a bit weary of trying this as I have an irrational fear of needles! But…after a month and a half of this issue I am game for just about anything. My appointment was at 9, and I visited the Teaching Clinic at the Bloomington Natural Care Center, for $35 dollars I got my intro session, interview and first treatment. That seems like a reasonable price to me, all of the students are doing a master degree and have instructors sign off on all of their work.

My intern was very friendly and through in everything she asked, we talked about how my migraines manifest themselves, what the pain feels like and where it is located. We spent about 40 minutes talking and she came up with a treatment plan for how to help get rid of the migraines and went to confirm with her instructor. He came in to review everything, took a look at me, my tongue, took my pulse and gave her a few pointers on what areas to work on. I was very nervous at this point and she reassuring and talked me through everything, I started face up and she inserted a few needles in spots on my feet, legs and hands that are tied to my liver channel. The purpose of this was to help drain some of the tension and pain. I was very worried that it would hurt, but was surprised at how little I felt. She had me take a few deep breathes and cough and would insert the needle on the cough, all I could feel was a very small prick. Not bad!

She repeated the process on the other side and worked the needles a little bit. She had me flip over and found the corresponding spots on my feet and ankles. I didn’t feel much during the process but felt my headache lessen after. Power of acupuncture or mind over matter, I am not sure but I will take it. She also did a technique called Cupping (the link shows a good example of this). I had heard of this but never knew how it worked or what it did. I felt the suction and it didn’t hurt but felt more like pressure and it felt good over some of the huge knots I have in my back.

My session lasted about 40 minutes and I felt pretty good after, minus the two huge red circles on my lower back! I headed to the gym after for a long cardio session, 30 minutes on the robot looking eliptical and 30 minutes on the bike. Followed by a little lifting. I felt very refreshed after! It was after 12 by the time I got home and I was starving, I should have eaten before my appointment. I was also in desperate need of a shower, a quick shower won out and then I threw together a sandwich for each of us on a whole wheat bun of a bit of guacamole, arugula, nitrate free turkey deli meat, sprouts and a bit of cheese. It was a good sandwich. We had picked up some flat earth chips at the store since they were on sale and I was bad and didn’t read the label. ICK! These chips are full of crap and I would have been better getting Tostitos. I didn’t want to waste them, and while they were good I won’t be purchasing these anymore.