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Some FAQs about Acupuncture & ERT
Q: What is Acupuncture and how does it work?
A: Acupuncture is the insertion of fine, sterile (and disposable) stainless steel needles into energy gateways known as acupuncture points. These gateways open access to the internal circulation of Qi and blood in the body via a matrix of energetic pathways (meridians) that cover the surface of the body as well as flow deep into the internal organs of the body.
Q: What conditions can Acupuncture treat?
A: Mental-emotional: anxiety, depression, insomnia, stress, grief, emotional difficulties, burnout, fatigue, post-traumatic stress, and OCD.
Pain/musculoskeletal and neurologic: arthritic pain, chronic muscle tension, inflammation, peripheral neuropathy, sciatica, disc problems, fibromyalgia, back pain, bursitis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel, frozen shoulder, stiff neck, Bell's palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, headache (migraine, tension, cluster, mixed), stroke sequelae, polio sequelae, sprains, strains, contractures, work- and sport-related injury.
Genitourinary and reproductive: PMS, menopausal syndrome, irregular periods, painful periods, amenorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease, vaginitis, infertility, morning sickness, prenatal, pre-birth, labor induction, post-natal; impotence, urinary retention, incontinence, nighttime incontinence, and bladder control.
Internal conditions: hypertension, ulcers, IBS, colitis, indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, diabetes, hypoglycemia, esophageal spasm, GERD, hyperacidity of stomach, edema.
Respiratory: colds and flus, bronchitis, asthma.
Skin problems: eczema, acne, herpes/shingles, wound healing.
Eyes, ears, nose, throat: tinnitus, earaches, dizziness, sinus problems, allergies, sore throat, tonsillitis, conjunctivitis, redness/dryness/blurring of eyes related to existing conditions such as glaucoma and cataract, tooth pain, post-extraction pain, gingivitis.
Side effects of cancer therapy: nausea and vomiting, dry mouth (xerostomia), dyspnoea, slow healing ulcers/wounds following radiation or surgery, intractable fatigue, insomnia.
Other: smoking cessation, drug withdrawal, weight loss.
Q: Does Acupuncture hurt?
A: You may feel the needle insertion on some points but any discomfort should be minimal and short-lived. Once the needles have been inserted you may also feel a “needle sensation” at some points indicating "obtained Qi" (De Qi) which may be experienced as a throbbing, pulling, or pressing sensation.
Q: What can I expect post-treatment? Are there any side-effects?
A: Post-treatment, you will feel relaxed and refreshed, and there should be some reduction of presenting symptoms. In some chronic pain conditions, you may find that initially there is some aggravation of pain, but generally, the day following treatment, there should be a noticeable improvement.
Rarely, there may be bruising at the needle site. If cupping has been performed, there may be painless circular discolorations on the skin. These will fade within days. Likewise, if Gua Sha has been performed, there will also be some painless apparent bruising and discoloration of the skin.
Q: What is Emotional Release Therapy?
A: Emotional Release Therapy is a body-oriented, non-invasive therapeutic process allowing for the release of deeply ingrained bodily tension patterns.
The human body is capable of trapping and holding on to unresolved emotional issues (commonly known as "emotional baggage"). "Trapped and stuck" emotions are held and stored as organized physical tension patterns in the torso. These tensions are held at a sub-conscious level and are not accessible to the conscious mind (repressed emotions).
Chronic emotional suppression/repression leads to the development of "armouring" of the torso (deeply ingrained tension patterns/blockages). Chronic "armouring" sets the stage for the development of functional problems affecting organs, glands and/or tissues in the blocked areas, eventually leading towards the development of illness.
Chronic emotional holding may manifest as mental symptoms, emotional symptoms and/or physical symptoms:
- Mental symptoms: poor memory/memory loss, loss of focus, loss of concentration, overactive mind, obsessive thinking.
- Emotional symptoms: emotional numbness, overactive emotions, repetitive emotions (incessant), explosive emotions, fear of emotions, draining emotional states.
- Physical symptoms: chronic pain, chronic muscular tension (due to suppression/repression), abdominal pain (such as IBS), breathing problems, migraine headaches, chest tension/pain.
Q: What can I expect post ERT treatment?
A: ERT therapy assists in reduction and resolution of stress-related symptoms, whether physical, mental and/or emotional.
Common post-treatment effects include:
- Transient feeling (emotions) of instability
- Emergence of memories
- Temporary altering of sleep patterns (you may sleep deeper, there may be an intensification of dreaming or nightmares)
