If you’re like many residents of Monterey, California, you might be curious about how acupuncture works and how it might fit into your overall health and wellness routine. But where to begin?
When you partner with Terry L. Franklin, MD, you receive highly customized guidance and support, including access to medical acupuncture.
To begin, let’s be clear: There are circumstances in which pharmaceutical intervention is a good fit.
Certain acute medical conditions warrant the use of powerful drug therapy to alleviate pain and enhance function. Many people require prescription medication to manage pain in the days and weeks after a necessary surgical procedure.
But it’s also true that Americans rely on drug therapy far more than is absolutely necessary. In fact, many people experience a range of negative effects that come with medications. This includes unwanted side effects, and in the case of opioid pain medications, the ever-present risk of addiction.
Acupuncture offers a path toward pain relief, enhanced function, and overall wellness that does not rely on a prescription. This time-honored approach helps you reduce symptoms while also achieving improvement in multiple areas of health and wellness.
Acupuncture treatments use thin, sterile treatment needles placed into your skin. Historically, this form of Chinese medicine was thought to alter the flow of your life force, a specific type of energy, throughout your body.
It was believed that this life force, called qi (chee) could become sluggish or blocked, which would result in a multitude of different health problems. Acupuncture needles inserted along specific pathways called meridians were believed to help improve the flow of qi.
Today, practitioners believe the power of acupuncture comes from the ability to stimulate your central and peripheral nervous system. Treatment needles are placed in a manner that prompts the release of chemicals that boost your body’s natural immune response.
Acupuncture can be viewed as a method of prompting your body to heal itself from within. While the exact mechanisms of the treatment are not fully known, extensive research shows medical acupuncture to be a safe and effective treatment modality.
We use acupuncture to treat numerous health issues. It’s also a popular wellness treatment that delivers improvements in mood, energy levels, and restorative sleep.
Here are some of the medical issues that bring people in for acupuncture treatment:
This is far from a comprehensive list. Acupuncture improves pain and enhances function within a variety of different health challenges.
If you’re ready to learn more or want to give acupuncture a try, contact our office in Monterey, California, to get started. Share the full details of your personal and family health history, including an overview of the issues you’d like to treat and what you’ve done in the past to find relief.
We develop a customized treatment plan that takes your preferences and goals into account. In addition to acupuncture, you can explore our other holistic medicine options, wellness care, and lifestyle education, all of which can work together to improve your quality of life.
