top of page

The Well: Acupuncture

Writer's picture: Blake  StoreyBlake Storey

If Chinese Medicine were the Rolling Stones, acupuncture would be Mick Jagger. Everyone has heard of him, few have ever seen him in concert. Despite its popularity, the majority of Westerners have never used acupuncture. Lack of education and cultural acceptance are primarily to blame. In this post we will cover what acupuncture is, how it is used, and what it can help.


What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a treatment modality that involves the insertion of metal needles into the skin at specific acupuncture points. There are hundreds of distinct points on the human body including ones in the ears, hands, feet and face. Because of this plethora, the specific selection of points is a critical part of treatment. A knowledgeable acupuncturist will often use anywhere from five to thirty needles per treatment based on the patient's symptoms. All acupuncture needles are sterile, single use, and incredibly small and sharp, which means that they hurt minimally when inserted.


What if I'm afraid of needles?

Trypanophobia, also known as the fear of needles, occurs in about 22% of adults in the US population. The number is probably higher in children. This fear is best explained by a combination of factors, namely a general human fear of sharp objects and a forced vaccination schedule for most young people. Fortunately, once these forces are understood, the fear greatly decreases. Acupuncture needles are very different from the types of needles that are typically used by doctors. They are much smaller and specifically designed to go in with minimal pain. Furthermore, the acupoints that are used are not near veins, nerves, and other sensitive organs. If you have a higher than normal fear of needles, there are many things that an acupuncturist can do to reduce the anxiety and make the process go more smoothly.


Acupuncture treatments

Acupuncture treatments last anywhere from ten minutes to an hour, and can include treating both the front and back sides of the body. Private room acupuncture typically involves a more in depth treatment of local areas, whereas community acupuncture focuses more on using distal and auricular acupuncture. Both are effective ways of providing relief for symptoms and the option that patients use is up to personal preference. On the first visit acupuncturists will conduct a thorough health history intake in order to direct their treatment.


Chinese medicine diagnosis

Acupuncturists use a system of diagnosis that is fundamentally different from what most of us know about medicine. The Western diagnostic system is based on reducing disease patterns to single pathways of causality. For example, a cold is caused by a virus called influenza, a heart attack is caused by a blocked coronary artery, and cystic fibrosis is caused by a single gene mutation. This is a reductionist view, and is very effective in the treatment of emergent cases. The Chinese diagnostic system is based on generalizing disease patterns across multiple systems. That same cold would be seen as an invasion of wind and weakened defensive qi, a heart attack would be stagnation of blood in the chest, and cystic fibrosis is seen as accumulation of phlegm due to deficient kidney yang. This method is less effective for emergencies, but excels in the treatment of chronic issues that have a more complicated presentation.


What can acupuncture treat?

In short, the answer is pretty much anything. Because of its focus on underlying patterns of disease and not just alleviating symptoms, acupuncture can help with almost any issue. At our clinic patients vary widely. In a single day we may see several people for pain problems, some for fertility, another for labor induction after pregnancy, one or two for insomnia, several more with digestive issues, and others with stress or anxiety. Most people in the general population aren't aware how helpful acupuncture can be until they use it. For a full list of conditions we commonly treat check out this page.


What is acupuncture actually doing?

The physical process of acupuncture elicits changes in the muscles, fascia, and nervous system, that all promote the flow of blood and qi (energy) in the body. This increase in flow is what promotes healing. The effects are both local and systemic. Additionally, acupuncture increases the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is is responsible for directing tissue recovery and repair. Receiving an acupuncture treatment is akin to getting a musical instrument professionally tuned. The acupuncture meridians are like the various strings. They resonate best together when they are all in tune and properly maintained. The harder an instrument is played and the worse the conditions in which it is stored, the more often it will go out of harmony. The same is true with the human body. There are many positive small things that we can do for ourselves (such as regular exercise, sleep, and a healthy diet) that add up to help, but if we are using our bodies they will eventually break. An acupuncturist can be of assistance not only to fix us when we are broken, but to also develop strategies for lessening that occurrence.


Is acupuncture right for me?

A surprising number of our clients start as first time acupuncture patients. They have either heard of the benefits from the internet or their friends and come in to see what it's about, or they have run out of other medical options for their complex conditions. Some people have used acupuncture in the past and come in because they know it works. We are always trying to educate folks on the amazing breadth of benefits from regular acupuncture. If you are reading this you may be able to help spread the message. Acupuncture works!






51 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

コメント


Contact Us

Thanks for submitting!

Location

Hours

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

ACUPUNCTURE

M    

T     

W    

Th   

F      

S     

     

​

​

​

9am - 4pm

9am - 5pm

9am - 4pm

9am - 5pm

9am - 3pm

9am - 1pm     

​

​

​

​

​

9am - 6:30pm

9am - 4pm

9am - 6pm

9am - 6pm

9am - 6pm

9am - 4pm 

11am-6pm   

​

​

​

​

​

MASSAGE

M    

T     

W    

Th   

F      

S

Su     

     

​

​

​

9am - 6:30pm

9am - 6:45pm

9am - 4pm

9am - 6:30pm

9am - 1pm

     

​

​

​

​

GYM

M    

T     

W    

Th   

F      

     

   

​

​

​

© 2025 by Blake Storey and Carl Meadows - Chattanooga Holistic Medicine, LLC

*The holistic health services offered by Chattanooga Holistic Medicine, LLC are complementary in nature and should not be considered a replacement for conventional medical care. We do not assume any liability for any injury, loss, or damage incurred as a result of the use or misuse of the information or services provided on this website.

bottom of page